Egg retrieval less than expected

[LittleDoveLove]

Hello I was hoping for some positive stories or insights.

I had my eggs collected today. I have decent stats for my age - just 40: AMH 13.4 and 16/17 follicles. Doing ivf due as advised to due to to reoccurring miscarriage and this giving us more chances.

At egg collection today they only got 3 eggs. I feel like somethings gone a bit wrong here, with my medications maybe as they where aiming for 10 mature follicles and I only had 5.

Has anyone had a positive story of a pregnancy or has this happened to anyone else with decent expectation of egg collection but so few retrieved?
Thank you

Hi lovely!

I didn’t want to read and run! It can be so daunting expecting more but not quite getting as many as you hoped.

Not every follicle will produce a mature egg. I had 18/19 Follicles and got 11 eggs (which at the time I felt so sad about but I soon realised this is a great number) and I think no matter the number you will worry and be upset.

But for what it’s worth, a friend of mine had 3 eggs collected, 1 made it to day 5 blast, she’s now 8 weeks pregnant 🤍 the other 2 got left another day to see if they’d catch up unfortunately they didn’t but she’s obviously super grateful for the so far healthy pregnancy. So I hope that gives you a bit of hope. I’m assuming this was your first round of IVF? Often (I’ve only done 1 round but read lots into it!) the first round is a little bit of trial and error figuring out how your body will react to the drugs x

@Izzie94x thank you, yes first round. I have a 3 year old, conceived no issues with them. But have had 3 miscarriages in last 18 month. Doing the ivf as they said we should to basically bank up embryos to give more chance due to age - so just finding it really confusing why the follicle count and AMH is realistically good and they expected about 8-10 eggs but so few eggs.
It is reassuring on your friend. Crossing everything it works and if I have to do it again I'm going to ask for different stims. X

I had 19 follicles but only 6 eggs collected. Only 4 of them fertilised but then only 2 actually went on to divide. One of those is now my wonderful teen.

Wishing you lots of luck, it’s such a rollercoaster isn’t it?

I am 39. Got 5 eggs all fetilised and went to blastocyst stage, but only one was good enough to freeze they said.. hope to do transfer in next few months..I have lowish amh of 7.2pmol so was expecting 5 to 10 eggs. I had 7 biggish follicles but they rushed my egg collection as didnt want it at weekend so I believe smaller 2 were not given a chance. Best of luck with your 3 eggs x.

I am 39. Got 5 eggs all fetilised and went to blastocyst stage, but only one was good enough to freeze they said.. hope to do transfer in next few months..I have lowish amh of 7.2pmol so was expecting 5 to 10 eggs. I had 7 biggish follicles but they rushed my egg collection as didnt want it at weekend so I believe smaller 2 were not given a chance. Best of luck with your 3 eggs x. 🙂__

Thank you @KayRanRanRan that's given me some hope: trying to be realistic but it's such a balancing act isn't it of being positive but trying to protect self from the disappointment.

@Bubblesdublin best of luck with your transfer - I bet you are looking forward to it!

The clinic rang this morning 2 of the 3 fertilised. They think they are aiming for a Day 3 transfer so I'm just hoping at-least one makes it. 🤞🤞🤞

Hello! I'm looking for another thread and came across this so wanted to add some positivity!
After being told I was high risk of OHHS I only had about 11 follicles, with only 4 eggs retrieved. I was devastated even though "it only takes one"! We then were told only one had fertilised (more tears) but the day before my transfer mentioned 2 eggs, that due to having the time lapse thingy, they seen a second egg catch up and both became day 5 blastos. One was transferred and second frozen, and that 'little egg that could' is now my 6 month old son 🥰
It's so very hard to stay positive when it doesn't seem like fantastic news, but we decided the ones that do make it have alot more fight 💓 Wishing you every luck ladies, I promise its worth it 🥰

@LivingonaPrayerandGin thank you that's great to know! And yes that has just happened to me, I've now got three as one was a late one and it's caught up. Hoping they make to Day 5 🤞🤞 x

Keeping everything crossed for you, it is not easy 🤦‍♀️ my other half didn't get why I didn't look at the positives, but it's so hard sometimes!! But it is 100% worth it xx

Try not focus on numbers too much, it's all about quality. I had 34 collected on my first round and only end up with 3 good ones to freeze. Currently on my 2nd round. Hoping for much less numbers.

Agree, don't focus on the numbers as it only takes one good one!

I had 18 eggs: 9 fertilised: 3 embryos: 1 baby, 1 chemical, 1 unsuccessful

My friend had 21 eggs: froze 11 embryos and only get pregnant on the very last one

Large numbers don't necessarily mean you get pregnant or that you have a collection to draw down from.