I have never written here before and just read other people’s posts up to now but hoping for some help from you lovely ladies now.
I did a fresh cycle of IVF in March and that didn’t take and have been on a FET cycle for past 6 weeks. When we went to have transfer this week we were told none of our 3 frozen embryos had survived. It was devastating as we had definitely not prepared for that! I’m 29, we have male factor infertility and had been told we had really good embryos that were frozen and that I had responded really well to the ivf.
I can’t believe none of them survived - it seems so unfair and unlikely. Does anyone have any experience of this or have any suggestions for further testing we should have or questions we should be asking?
That was our final NHS funded round so now we will have to go privately - anyone have any recommendations for a private clinic in London?
I had naively hoped from the four embryos (one transferred fresh and three frozen) that we’d get all our children from that and now we are back at square one and truly heartbroken.
Any help or ideas would be very welcome.
Thanks
Written by
Firsttimeivf1
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
I don’t have any experience with failed thaws, or London clinics, but just wanted to offer my condolences & support at this horrible, horrible time for you.
What I would suggest is when looking at clinics maybe look at if they have an egg share programme, seeing as it’s the male factor that is the issue. Donating eggs can seem daunting at first, but the fact that you can help someone achieve their dream whilst trying to achieve yours is pretty amazing. 😊
You poor thing. You must be devastated. On my last transfer we lost one embryo but still had one left to transfer (I’ve had 4 transfers) and that was traumatic enough. All they could tell us is that it just failed to thrive.
Do you have a follow up appointment booked? It doesn’t happen very often but I do remember another lady on here who lost all her embryos at transfer, I think it was four in one go..
I hope you’re able to get some idea as to why it happened and you’ll have more success next time xx
Hi Firsttimeivf1. So, so sorry to hear that this has happened to you both and I do hope that you can get an answer as to why it happened, although this is not always possible. I hope you've got plenty of support around you just now, as you will be feeling very fragile. Be careful who you spend your time with at the moment, and perhaps just confide in a close friend or relative. The ladies here are already replying to your post, and I know that they, and more will follow for that support you need. I do have a couple of lists of questions I could email you in confidence if you would like them. Lots won't be appropriate, but there will be a few you can use when at your next consultation. If you want them, then email me at: support@fertilitynetworkuk.org and I will get them to you. Thinking of you. Diane
Hi Diane, the same has happened to me today, I wondered if you could send me the questions? I’m after any information that can help me as I’m so scared it will happen again - Thankyou genna17@hotmail.com
So sorry to hear this, my heart really does go out to you!! Similar to Tugsgirl, on our 2nd cycle we lost one in the thaw but still had two, and that was traumatic enough!! Sending you loads of love & strength for the coming days and hope that your follow up app’mnt with the clinic can shed some light for you!! xx
I am so sorry to read this Firsttimeivf1. It is so difficult - especially when they just don't have an answer. I guess at the follow up they might suggest further tests - genetics etc to try to understand further.
I can only send you hugs and warn against too much googling. Xxx
What?? How is that even possible!! Isn’t the clinic suppose to take care of them? I didn’t know that was possible!! You must be so mad!! So sorry to hear this! I wish you the very best
Thank you all for your kind words of support and encouragement. It was a total shock and heartbreaking really.
I will have my follow up appointment in a couple of weeks and hopefully I’ll get some more answers there, and I’ll do some more research into other clinics and things.
Oh my, I am so sorry to hear this and offer my deep condolences to you. Cannot imagine what you are going through. It never crosses my mind that embies may not survive the thaw (sure I have been told) but like you put it to the back of our minds I guess. Good luck in finding a clinic and hope it all works out for you xxx
I am so sorry to hear this. How upsetting and what a shock for you. Like others who responded I’ve lost one frozen embryo along the way but had another one to transfer and that was bad enough. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you that you get some answers that help and that you find a clinic for your self-funded cycle that you feel positive about. Xx
My clinic will bring one out the freezer 45mins b4 i get to hospital they then calll to half way thru to say it either met the thaw prosess or not ....if it not and u have more eggs they will bringanohet one and do the same process call 2 say either Yes or fine or no its not... when u get to clinic they then explain what stage it is at ready 2 go in and will also show a picture of a chart so u can undetstand more.
I know u r probably 2 upset at the moment but i would be asking for a 2nd appointment and for them to try and explain because to loose all is really unlikely. My friends friend is actually the lady who works with the eggs in my hospital so i will ask some questions next time i see her xx
This is really awful, it does seem so unlikely and I’ve not heard of it happening before. I’m so sorry for you. Good luck with finding a private clinic.
I’m so sorry to hear that this has happened to you. I don’t have any experience of thawing, I was lucky enough that mine all survived but I can pm you where we was treated in London x
Exactly the same thing has happened to me, I was due to have a FET today and they called and both high quality blasts failed the thaw. I wondered if you ever found out any more information about why it happened? Also did you ever go on to have an successful pregnancy and if you did freezing again did they thaw again? I’m so desperate to find out information, it’s so sad isn’t it, I’m so sad that it happened to you x
I’m so sorry to hear that Maria. I still remember 4 years later the pain from that day - it was definitely the hardest point in our whole ivf journey. We went on to have two more rounds of ivf and never had this issue again although the next one still didn’t work - it wasn’t down to a thawing issue. I do have a beautiful baby girl who is 2 now if that gives any hope. I did a lot of research and had my husband checked and we found that he had a number of varicoceales and his sperm DNA fragmentation was high. We used tesse sperm for future icsi and that is how we had my daughter. I believe this made a big difference for us. However for balance we did just recently have another frozen cycle with an embryo from that same round to try and have a second which did not take.
My main advice is to grieve this shocking moment and then to do your research and push for what you think you need next. Only you will ever care as much about your cycle. Look after each other - it’s a truly awful time and I’m so sorry this has happened to you. In the end I had 4 rounds to end up with my daughter and we will try for a second but it’s nothing like going through it when you don’t have one. Sending so much love and good luck for you to have your precious baby soon too. X
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Another fresh or use frozen embryos we already have?
Unsuccessful first fresh and frozen transfers - advice for second round 
2 embryos frozen today 
PGS testing on already frozen embryos
2 frozen embryos remaining
