Advice please - complaint?: Hi all I've... - Fertility Network UK

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Advice please - complaint?

Sa_Ra profile image
27 Replies

Hi all I've been lying low following my BFN last week so my condolences to those in the same situation, congrats to those who got their BFPs and hang in there to those in 2ww.

So basically I'm not convinced my embryos should have been put back in after being told they were low to medium quality and only 5/6 cells (3 day transfer, 2 embryos put back) I feel cheated out of a cycle- am I overreacting? Can I make a complaint that the embryos were not good enough? I only have one cycle left with no frozen embryos so to say I'm anxious is an understatement. I hope to start again in November and wish everyone else the best of luck xxx

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Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra
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27 Replies
Cyantist profile image
Cyantist

Sorry the cycle didn't work out. If they hadn't put back the embryos surely it would still have counted as a cycle? It's that way in my area and the one I lived in before.

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply toCyantist

Thanks Cyantist it's our first cycle so don't know the full ins and outs x

embiemomma profile image
embiemomma

hi, I doubt you have a complaint as the quality of your embryos is not the clinics fault, it's just how it is. If they have embryos, I would think they'd always transfer regardless of quality - you could have 5 cycles and never get a better embryo so if you think about it they can't predict the future so I guess it's always better to try. Also, my 1 year old nephew was a 2 day transfer and wasn't good enough to freeze so you just don't know what goes on once transferred... I think it's best not to get hung up on grades and just think of it as a live embryo. I think a cycle is classed up to embryo transfer but poor quality ones isn't a reason to abandon as far as I know... Do you know the reason for only 2 embryos after egg collection and why they might be poor quality?

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply toembiemomma

Hi embiemomma other then me having a low AMH (7.06) we were classed as 'unexplained infertility' so no glaringly obvious reasons why. We had 6 eggs collected in total but only 2 made it to day 3 which i had put back in.

DianeArnold profile image
DianeArnoldPartnerNurseFertility Network UK

Hi Sa_Ra. So sorry to hear that your recent cycle was negative. I think perhaps you need to speak to your embryologist, as it is his/her decision as to when to transfer your embryo(s). Perhaps they were only developing very slowly, not going to make it to blastocyst, so the decision was made to transfer at the 3 day stage - I don't know. When we first started IVF, embryos were all transferred at the 2-3 day stage, and we still got pregnancies, before blastocyst transfers happened. Perhaps it was thought that your embies would be better off back inside you, where they belong, rather than risk them perishing?? Lots to think about I'm sure, and I do wish you well when you do have your other embryo transferred. Thinking of you. Diane

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply toDianeArnold

Thanks DianeArnold just down to luck I guess. The embryologist did say they may have a better chance inside. I'm doing everything I can to prepare myself for the next round x

DianeArnold profile image
DianeArnoldPartnerNurseFertility Network UK in reply toSa_Ra

Hi Sa_Ra. Just wanted to let you know that I do have a couple of lists of questions I can send you in confidence if you want. You can email me at support@fertilitynetworkuk.org Most won't be appropriate, but there may be a few you hadn't thought of asking. Diane

Newqgirl1 profile image
Newqgirl1

I've heard about successful pregnancies with low quality embies. Don't no what makes the embryologist decide wether to implant or not, experience I suppose. I know it's pretty shitty, my transfer was cancelled today due to deteriorated embies, all was fine at day 3 but today it's all gone to shit. It's not nice to deal with but it's not their fault and all you can do is hope that they investigate properly and try something different next time ❤️ lots of love and luck xx

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply toNewqgirl1

I'm so sorry to hear that newqgirl1 after everything we go through and to get nothing out of it is utterly soul destroying but I'm not giving up, I'm doing my best to prepare my body for the next round x

Cinderella5 profile image
Cinderella5

Hey, I completely understand how devastating this can be and how cheated you feel. We had no embryos to transfer first time around and nothing had prepared me for that even being a scenario....you'll see my posts if you want a nosey back at my profile. I decided to try DHEA after such a rubbish cycle and Im sure its what made the difference for me. Unfortunately I didnt get a pregnancy but I did get some blastocysts. Might be something worth thinking about asking your clinic in prep for your next round. Im not sure how old or how your bloods are but I was 37 when we started with an AMH of 7.19. Feel free to ask any questions etc! Take care xx

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply toCinderella5

Thank you Cinderella5 I'm 35 my AMH is 7.06, not sure what I'm looking for in bloods? Also what is DHEA? X

Cinderella5 profile image
Cinderella5 in reply toSa_Ra

Yes bloods, I meant AMH bloods. Mine was classed as ok for my age but still on the low side. DHEA is a bit hard to explain but....its like a testosterone steriod that converts to oestrogen in females. It creates an environment that helps with egg quality. Have a wee Google and see if you think it's worth taking. I had decided I was taking it after my cycle went very wrong and I did much better. I did check with my clinic though and they weren't fussed either way. However now they recommend it for low reserve/poor quality eggs! Also YouTube Dr Gleicher. He is thoroughly behind it. I took 3x25mg, 75mg in total every day for 3 months and I felt it really helped!! Hope that helps!!xx

stephkp profile image
stephkp

Hi. On my first cycle, I had the only embryo that survived put back at day 5 and that hadn't made it to blast, and got a BFN. I have just finished my second cycle and this time had a high quality blastocyst put back and that resulted in a BFN also. Unfortunately even a good quality embryo doesn't guarantee a positive. The embryologists will say to do a transfer if they are still developing, even if they are slow because it is better than them waiting till day 5 and for you to have nothing at all. Is your next cycle on the NHS? x

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply tostephkp

Hi stephkp sorry to hear that, yes we got 2 cycles on NHS I guess I'm just upset this is in effect our last chance x

stephkp profile image
stephkp in reply toSa_Ra

I know it's hard but I would try to look on the positive side in that you at least have another chance on the NHS. If you do get any to freeze they may be included in you 2nd cycle. Speak to your clinic to find out for sure though. We were only allowed one round, and then we have had to pay privately. x

AmbK profile image
AmbK

That's a beautiful message! It's really a great place for people like us - struck by infertility to fight the evil of together. I'm glad that instead of feeling lost you're at least fighting the despair. Wish you luck and will look forward to your updates in November. :)

About the complaint, I don't think that will make much difference. It's mostly the egg or the sperm responsible for the quality of embryo; if it had been external factors it wouldn't survive long enough for FET. Also, when you go for next cycle try to talk to the clinic about a 5-day transfer. It does not guarantee the success but reduces the risk somewhat. The blastocyst being only a day away aid in implantation. Take care on yourself and stay optimistic!

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply toAmbK

Thanks Ambk I'm trying my best to stay positive. I had a good cry and now I want to just prepare for the next round. I thought I would be in a lot worse state to be honest following my BFN but I've surprised myself. im just taking extra care of myself and bought my husband some wellMan tablets to take aswell x

AmbK profile image
AmbK in reply toSa_Ra

That's really very brave of you! :) And hope others (including me) can be inspired from you to look forward to the next step in getting pregnant than feeling so lost to give up on hope. Women are emotional beings and babies are their greatest treasures. So, it's hard to abstain crying at a failed attempt to get pregnant. The good part is, crying sort of reduce the agony and suffering. I have had withdrawn myself for a while too from everyone after my MC but then I had to speak up, I had to cry, share whatever I was feeling with my SO. Only then I got some relief and finally was ready to move to the next chapter of fertility struggle. :) I sincerely wish you get a BFP in next FET. Sending you baby dust!

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply toAmbK

Thank u so much Ambk and I wish all the other women the best of luck too. It's perfectly OK to cry and mourn our losses but we shouldn't let it take over our lives. We should reflect on the things we do have and remind ourselves of how blessed we are.

AmbK profile image
AmbK in reply toSa_Ra

I totally agree with you! Having lost a baby in early pregnancy all I can say is - a regret, a grief and a void will always be there in your heart. The body will heal though! And planning ahead to get pregnant is perhaps the only way to fight infertility. There's no giving up and with a little support from all you lovely ladies fill me up with hope. Have my IUI in December, hope I get a BFP thereafter. Finger crossed!

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply toAmbK

Sorry for your loss, fingers, toes everything crossed for you! Keep us posted x

bluewanderlust profile image
bluewanderlust

Hi I am so sorry this round has not gone as you had hoped. The thing with ivf is that there are no guarantees and you can start with lots of eggs and none can make it, others will get 1-2 eggs and end up with twins! I think it can be quite a shock when you don't get as many embryos as you had hoped. I had a rollercoaster of a cycle with 10 eggs, 8 mature and thought here we go bound to be some to transfer and freeze. By day 2 only 1 had fertilized. I immediately thought it must be clinics fault. But that little emby kept developing and I had a 5 days transfer with it only because it made it to blastocyst. I am now incredibly fortunate to be 15 weeks pregnant. I am really glad I held back from having a go at the clinic as I realised it really wasnt there fault and they were as disappointed as I was at the time. I hope you feel better soon, and wish you lots of luck and love for the next cycle. On another note I took DHEA and ubiquinol to improve my egg quality (I am 44 and used my own eggs!) and really felt it helped :) xxx

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply tobluewanderlust

Aww bluewunderlust I'm so happy for u and that's definitely given me more hope, I will look into DHEA x

emmab178 profile image
emmab178

I think our clinics policy was that if I didn't respond to the drugs or no eggs at EC unofficially we could pay for the treatment up to that point privately and then save the full nhs funded round for the next try.

Since you went through 95% of a cycle and you had two chances at day 3 it was probably worth the chance. Lots of stories of lower quality embies sticking.

Hopefully on the follow up appointment they can advise what's best to try for the next round x

Sa_Ra profile image
Sa_Ra in reply toemmab178

Yes I think it's all just down to luck at the end of the day. They already had me on a fairly high dose of menopur (375) so I wonder where we go from here x

emmab178 profile image
emmab178 in reply toSa_Ra

At least you are trying x big hugs

Oh and a lady on here one cycle only came out with a medium quality embryo. Next fresh cycle apparently no difference in meds or anything. She had a top quality embryo and 4 Frosties on that round. Things can change x

JAL1992 profile image
JAL1992

You wouldn’t be able to complain, regardless of the embryo quality it still counts as a cycle. At least it wasn’t an abandoned cycle though, and here’s hoping the next one is the one (fingers crossed) xxx

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