Is this normal - 2 ivf cycles, 53 eggs collected, 2x day 6 blastocysts

[Ecas88]

I'm getting conflicting information and I don't know who to believe.

I'm 35 so it's DH, I've had 2 mild ivf cycles (due to ectopic pregnancies) everything else looks good with me.

No male issues - analysis, culture and dna frag all good.

My first cycle I had 28 eggs, 16 fertilised, 12 good on day 3, 0 blasts on day 5

2nd cycle I had 25 eggs, 14 fertilised, 10 good on day 3, ended up with 2 day 6 blastocysts.

My clinic abc (create) wasn't pleased with results but said the protocol all went to plan and want me to just try again with the same protocol.

I spoke with another clinic who said they are terrible results and not normal at all. They would expect to see around 10-15 blastocysts from that many eggs.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? Are these bad results? Should I change clinic?

I'm so confused 😔

@Seasidegirll so after the 2 short protocol cycles with Create (abc), I changed clinics and did a long protocol.

With the long protocol I had 21 eggs retrieved, 13 mature, 12 fertilised and I got 5 blasts. 1x day5 (4aa), then 4x day6 (4cb's and 4bc's). They let me do a fresh transfer with the 4aa...it failed to implant.

I then went back to create to do a frozen transfer with the 4bb as this was the next best quality and I'm currently 5 weeks pregnant....hoping with all my might that it works out.

The fact you got a 4bb is promising and shows that it can work for you...sometimes cycles just don't work out that month and the next month works out great. I'd say the first round is a bit of trial and error...maybe try the same again and if that doesn't work try a different protocol. You could always do the dna frag test as well or try icsi with zymot to improve numbers, but we just stuck with ivf for all 3 egg collections.

Don't be disheartened, it sounds to me like it's going to work out for you, you just need another one or 2 tries.xx

@Seasidegirll my embryo implanted but on my 8 week clinic scan we found out I'd had a missed miscarriage unfortunately. We're have a little break now and we'll have a look at our option regarding clinics!

@Ecas88 you've had such a journey! Absolutely everything crossed you have a happy and healthy pregnancy, congratulations ❤

I've got a similar story and not sure what to do next...

I'm 29, my DH is mid 30s. We've got a DC who is 2 and was conceived first month of trying. TTC for just over a year and just had our first IVF privately.
Results: 13 eggs retrieved, 8 mature, 1x day 5 embryo, 2x day 6 embryos. None euploid.

Those sound like awful results for my age?! AMH is 13 so not terrible, AFC was 20. A million investigations have been done on myself and DH (hormone profile, hycosy, follicle counts, scans, semel analysis... to name a few), no issues found at all. Our diet is pretty strict, absolutely no drinking for both, no red meat for both, no added sugar for me... taking supplements - ubiquinol, pregnacare max before conception, omega 3 etc for me and Impryl, omega 3 ans others (can't remember all) for my husband.

@strtng without intending to be rude, why have you gone down the route of IVF? Also bizzare you've been recommend PGTA testing at your age with no history of miscarriage. 12 months whilst frustrating is not that long to TTC naturally, particularly as you have conceived before. It's highly likely if you tried naturally for another 12 months you'd conceive with a positive outcome - far more likely than success via IVF. I worry you might have been miss sold IVF by your clinic, particularly if you have had such a battery of tests with no issues found. I'd strongly encourage you to not waste any more money, give it another 12 months naturally and revisit fertility treatment then if needed.

@strtng it sounds like you might have just been unlucky this round....your body doesn't always produce great eggs every month....that's why 1 in 4 women miscarry. Also in the UK, our HFEA (regulating body over ivf) advises women that on average it take 3 cycles to have 1 baby. It's not common for it to work first time....it does happen, but not for most women. Just try again and next time they could all be euploid. There's so much luck involved in this process 😔 one bad cycles means absolutely nothing. I wish you all the best with your next cycle, I hope it works out amazing for you x

@SErunner not rude at all, dw!! ivf because to me personally trying for a year without a single positive indicates that there's a problem sadly... and maybe something has changed since I've had my first child so I'd rather do something about it now at 29 than in 5 years time at 34.
we tested embryos just because it would be more costly (emotionally) for us to have loads of miscarriages, failed implantations, wasted time, than the (financial) costs of testing.

@Ecas88 thank you!! I'm aware it takes multiple rounds often, I guess I was over optimistic in thinking that maybe because I'm younger it'd be quicker... Also not really sure whether I should be pushing for a change in protocol or not?

Something like 96% of people who don't conceive in the first 12 months will go on to conceive in the second year, it's really not an indication anything is wrong. PGTA isn't recommended for the use you're describing, the HFEA only recommends it's use in the event of recurrent miscarriages and even then the evidence is not overly robust. It doesn't improve your chance of pregnancy and is wasted money. Their website explains this well. You're still very young fertility wise and could easily give another 1-2 years trying naturally without impacting your likelihood of success via IVF if needed. I only say this as the fact you've been advised you should pursue IVF and have been encouraged to have your embryos tested concerns me - I personally would seek an opinion elsewhere if you're wanting to pursue fertility treatment right now. Robert Winston writes well on this topic of the epidemic of needless fertility treatment. His book The Essential Fertility Guide is excellent as is his website The Genesis Research Trust. Wishing you much luck going forwards whatever you decide to do.

@strtng I agree with @SErunner if there is no reason for doing ivf, you should just track your LH surge so you are making sure you are getting the right timings, ivf seems excessive. If I didn't have to do ivf I 1000000000% wouldn't, unfortunately due to tubal issues I don't have that choice.

If you are set on ivf and money is no issue then go to ARGC and do what they suggest, they are the best of the best. I used them for my 3rd cycle and they got me 5 blasts ( I didn't pgt test though so I couldn't tell you if they got me any euploid) x