Next Steps - from 30 to 0

[Wehavethis]

Hi All

I am 42. Did my first IVF weeks ago. 30 follicles with 15 eggs removed, 7 of which fertilised and 6 made for blastocyst but only one suitable for PGTA testing which was grade 3bb. Found out yesterday that it was not suitable for transfer. So upset - from 30 to absolute 0. So upset but will assess next steps.

Wondering whether I should do round two with some tweaks to protocol?

[Georgie17]

I have not had pga testing so I am not sure the reason for doing this. Are you remaining 5 blasts not viable for transfer?

[Wehavethis in reply to Georgie17]

Hi Georgie

None are viable.

[Wehavethis in reply to Wehavethis]

Hi, Did PGA due to my age.

[Dogpark]

Hi Wehavethis

I am 42 and went through 4 rounds of egg collection while being 42.

Response to stimulation changes with each round. For example, I had: 10 eggs/5 blasts-4 eggs/1blast-10 eggs/6 blasts and 31 eggs/4 blasts. You did produce a good amount of blastocysts from 7 fertilised eggs. I would look at steroids+growth hormone, as well as nutrition for fertility to try and increase quality: dhea, coq10,fish oil, PQQ and vitamine D in addition to folate. It did help me. Also, I read that at our age, some cycles will produce multiple normal embryos, others none, regardless of the number of embryos so, once again, expect results to be random.

[Wehavethis in reply to Dogpark]

Thank you for the guidance. I was thinking about the randomness as well and that maybe I hit a bad month. I will try again subject to Dr’s views. I was taking ubiquinol for 3 months 300 mg a day re quality and will look into the other suggestions you mentioned - will raise at consultation. Thank you so much

[CAS2]

How big were your follies? On my third round doctor realised I need really big follicles to produce mature eggs so stimmed me for longer and did a longer trigger shot. Took stuff for egg quality (DHEA, melatonin, l’argenine, but e, vid d and omega). All this helped but the protocol change made such a difference and got 20 eggs of better maturity xx

[Wehavethis]

Hi CAS2 Thanks so much for your message. I did not make the connection between size of follicles and mature eggs. There was an issue with the size but it was “addressed” a bit late. I will speak with my consultant about the timing of the trigger as well. Can’t recall the length. Will email the clinic.

[CAS2 in reply to Wehavethis]

I was on 6 vials of Menopur (my AMH is low at 8 but I have an antral follicle count of 20 so there is a bit of a mismatch there but that's why he said I could take such a big dose of Menopur!). He stimmed me for the full 12 days (I'd done 11 previously) and I believe I had a 38 hour trigger shot from memory (so an extra couple of hours to ripen). follicles were between 17 and 26! I got 5 to freeze and 2 on board. Currently 27 weeks pregnant, although it's not been that straight forward as I lost a twin at 16 weeks

I am 40.

What dose and protocol did they give you? I read somewhere that all follicles produce an egg so when they don't pick up from a follicle it's usually due to immaturity from an egg perspective, which is why I wanted to share my story with you xxx

[CAS2 in reply to CAS2]

P.S. I'm sorry you had such a disappointing round by the way. It's such a hard process I can only imagine how gutted you were xxx

[Wehavethis]

Sorry what was your protocol change?

[Wehavethis]

Hi CAS thank you for sharing your story. I was on the short protocol and stimmed for 11 days. Trigger on a Tuesday and collection the next day. I pray my consultant will recommend a second cycle and tweak protocol. The embryologist was in favour of a second go given the number of follicles and eggs produced. How many cycles did you do?

You are an inspiration.

[CAS2 in reply to Wehavethis]

We had 3 rounds in all. I was convinced the third wouldn't work! I did Gonal F on my first round then moved to Menopur. My eggs didn't fair well on Gonal F at all. They had 'vesticals' whatever they are! Second round wasn't too great either. We got 11 eggs but only 4 fertilised.

With your follicle count I think they would recommend a second go and change your protocol up a bit. I'd ask the consultant a lot of questions about your follicle sizes if I were you and what you can do to mature them. Ideally they should be aiming for as many mature eggs as possible, as at our age we need a fair few to select a decent one as we have less normal eggs left! Good luck with it. Let me know what they say xx

[Wehavethis]

I was on Gonal F medication.

[Wehavethis]

Hi @CAS2

How are you doing.

The consultant recommended a second round and switching to Menopur which is what you did?

They will try lower level of drugs to avoid mild over stimulation. Hopefully this may be better for the quality.

My consultant did not recommend DHEA.