My eggs or donor embryos

[Kp8485]

Im at a loss what to do next. I had an ectopic pregnancy at 27 i then met my husband and had what I thought where 3 chemical pregnancies but they may have been ectopic also. We started IVF at 38 i did 3 cycles in the UK all of them failed no implantation. I was told to use donor eggs. I had the emdiomentral function test at Warwick and they said everything was fine just needed the right embryos. I then went abroad had thrombophilia tests, karyotyping a hysteroscopy to remove a polyp and did another cycle. Before the transfer i had a single dose of lupron and that resulted in a chemical pregnancy. I then decided i would try donor embryos when i was preparing for that i got pregnant naturally that was a suspected ectopic that resolved itself. I transferred 3 donor embryos that failed then 3 PGD donor embryos that also failed. I had prednisolone, clexane and asprin the last 3 transfers. I have then just fell pregnant naturally again which is a confirmed ectopic. I was told i dont have hydrosalpinx but are now wondering if this tube is the reason for all my failures and has affected implantation. Also that now i have started to take metformin and myo-inositol and d chiro inositol that i might have a chance with my eggs if i remove the tube? I will be 41 in April and im so desperate now everyone around me is having children i just want to be a mother so bad im starting to think it will never happen. Any advice is welcome?

Wow, you have been through such a tough time, bless you ❤️ What scans have you had of the uterus? 6 failures of donor embryos really does sound to me like it’s more likely a uterine issue. I understand people talk about NK cells too but I would have thought the steroids should have helped if that was the case, plus the clexane etc if it was a clotting issue. Hopefully someone will come along with advice on the most thorough scans to have as perhaps it’s not just your tube that could be the problem.

How many embryos did you make when you were 38? I assume you have PCOS if you have just started Metformin and Myo-inositol (I think there’s some debate if D-chiro helps or not), I have PCOS as well. I started fertility treatment at 38 and finally conceived my only DC at 40 via IVF after taking Metformin, Myo- inositol, NAC, Ubiquinol and ALA - plus the highest dose of IVF meds (though it did take 2 cycles to have success). So if you got decent embryo numbers/quality at 38, I wouldn’t necessarily completely discount your own eggs at 40/41 too, providing scans can shed some light on the implantation issue.

Could you consider/afford to do a freeze all cycle using your own eggs now to buy you some time? Obviously there is more of a rush for that than for using more donor embryos. Then you can take your time having more investigations before any transfer. Good luck to you 🍀

Everything always looks perfect on scans i was tested for NK cells at Warwick and they said that was all ok. I had a hysteroscopy and they said i didn't need a laparascopy but i am starting to doubt that now. I got two embryos every cycle some where high grade others poor. I am starting to consider a tandem cycle where they use your eggs and donor eggs but think i need to get this fallopian tube removed fist 🤔 Congratulations on your success and thanks for replying x

I'm sorry to hear what you have been through that sounds so difficult. Particularly because you have done so many tests already. Did you have 12 transfers? I can't think of much else other than removing the tube (scary of course as you do conceive naturally) and a laparoscopy (although I have heard those could cut your AMH in half so a freeze all cycle beforehand might be worth thinking about). I would probably continue with donor eggs/embryos to maximise chances and because you said you understandably want it to happen as soon as possible but if finances aren't a problem I would do a freeze all cycle, remove the tube, have the laparoscopy, redo all the tests you have done previously and try to find an expert (would Tommy's the charity be able to recommend someone?) to get to the bottom of it. Hopefully the tube removal or laparoscopy will be the answer you need but if not then there must be another reason somewhere. Unexplained is so so frustrating!!!

So I went to the hospital today and they are sending me for emergency surgery tomorrow to remove the tube as the ectopic is not shifting! I didn't realise it would affect my AMH so maybe further egg collections are out the window now. I had accepted and was at peace with my decision to use donor embryos so hopefully I will finally see some success!! Thank you

Oh I'm so sorry I didn't realise you were going through an ectopic right this moment. Thinking of you and hope it all goes well. I believe it's the laparoscopy that can affect AMH not the tube removal.

Hi @Kp8485 Sorry to hear you’ve been through so much. Hope you made a full recovery after surgery. Just wondering how you’re getting on and if you have any updates on your treatment or IVF journey with DE?

Hello I went ahead with IVF with my own eggs i transferred 2 day 5 blasts after 2 months of lupron which was horrendous and had another chemical pregnancy. I have 3 day 3 embryos left but im having a break as the lupron really affected my mental health. The clinic are now suggesting an ERA which im not totally convinced on. In hindsight i wish i did the two months lupron then transferred donor embryos as im just getting older and still in the same situation .

Thanks for the response. Sorry to hear it didn’t work. Why did you have to do 2 months of Lupron? Do you have very low progesterone? That would’ve been really painful. I’ve never been on it but heard it’s very sore and can leave bad bruising. I was on Clexane and that was stingy but not a patch on Lupron apparently. What’s your next step now?

We’ve just had our 4th failed DE FET in Spain and considering our next move.

So, removing your tube hasn’t improved things then?! That’s rough. What we put our bodies through to get a positive test and some women just need to look at their partner and they end up pregnant. So unfair! 😞

The lupron puts your body into a temporary menopause it isnt painful I just had severe insomnia and panick attacks it really affected me. I had that for the endometriosis they found when i had my tube removed. Have you checked for that? That would by my next step if donor eggs are not implanting. I knew straight away thats what it was and got confirmation when i had the surgery none of the consultants realised that i had endometriosis.

I had a hysteroscopy and an endometrial biopsy last year. Would that have picked up endo? I’ve never had heavy bleeding. My periods are light-medium and have been since my 20s. Do you have a date for your next transfer?