11 eggs to 4 embryos

[FluffySocksClub]

Looking for anyone with a similar story or experience that could help me understand what might be going on.

I am 39 and DH is mid 40s. My numbers and tests are all ok (except for my age). Sperm is very poor both motility and morphology. 1-2% range of normality.

Egg retrieval this month.

18 eggs retrieved
12 mature
11 fertilised
Outcome:
3 day 5 blasts
1 day 7
(So 4 in total)

This seems like a huge drop off rate. Feeling quite low especially as it seems that after PGTA testing (which we have been recommended to do) a now very likely outcome may be no embryos at all.

Any words of advice or hope? Thanks everyone

I don’t think this looks bad at all, in fact a good first round. But I completely understand that the attrition rate - especially if you’re not expecting it - can be really brutal.

I found chatGPT really helped to understand the typical attrition rate for each drop off stage given my age and I set my expectations really low.

I had a big shock as two months before I had found out I had stage 3 endo which had also impacted my ovaries and I couldn’t believe it was going to work out. I’d had surgery 3 weeks before the egg retrieval (there was a chance the surgery damaged my ovarian function so they did an egg retrieval straight after to preserve fertility) and I went into it with really low expectations only to be surprised. I was expecting the PGT-A stage to be a wipeout too and it wasn’t.

What has the clinic said? I would if you have chatGPT plug in your results and ask what typical ranges are for your age and I think it will give some helpful context / be reassuring

For reference I was 35 when I did my retrieval and got 7 embryos from 25 eggs so similar result to you. I’m 24.5 weeks from one of those now

Keeping everything crossed for you xx

I agree with the above poster I would say that is pretty good, especially the number of eggs in the first place. First IVF round we had 19 mature eggs and none fertilised! Second round we got 20 mature eggs, 10 fertilised and got 7 embryos (didn't have them tested though) but was in my late 20s. The second transfer from that round worked and is my 1 year old.

I hope that the odds go in your favour for the testing and you get some to transfer 🤞 it's very possible! Good luck 😊

Edit: I was told on average about 75% of mature eggs fertilise and then about 30-40% of those go onto being embryos. Obviously different for everyone though!

Thank you for taking the time to respond with this encouragement. It is hard! I will let you know how we get on.

I have my transfer tomorrow, very similar circs to you except I’m older (44 😩), 16 eggs, 9 embryos. I don’t have any info today just told that we’ll go ahead tomorrow but ‘no news is good news’ which isnt really reassuring.

have you had a transfer? Sorry I’m not totally clear on all the terminology.

9 embryos is fantastic!!! Congratulations I hope all goes well for your transfer. If we end up with an embryo I hope to follow you shortly ❤️

Thank you ❤️ no guarantee of quality though.. we’ll find out more tomorrow. I’m crossing my fingers for you!

These are similar to my numbers! I had 4 blasts from 11 fertilised. I’m 40 and PGTA tested - 2 euploids from the 4 tested. This is a good outcome at this age, and 2 euploids gives a really good chance of live birth. I would personally be feeling optimistic in your position. Many women only get 1 embryo to test each round, or even none. Having 4 to test gives you a real chance of an euploid. And a euploid gives you a very real chance of a baby.