Failed First IVF & Unexplained Sub-Fertility

[rachherlihy]

Hi All,

So after finding out our first IVF failed a week ago I’m finally in a better place about and wondered if any of you ladies had any advice for going forward. We’re currently diagnosed as unexplained sub-fertility (they don’t seem to use the word infertility) and I’m just wondering if any of you ladies have success stories with a second IVF or did you get any more answers after your first IVF?

I seemed to react pretty well to all the drugs, grew 5 good sized follicles with 9 days of stims and got 5 eggs out of them. All 5 fertilised with IVF but then only one decent one at day 3 so transferred the 2 best. Unfortunately no luck. Anyone have a similar experience and did anything get changed because of it? Wish we knew the cause of our problems but bloods and HSG all normal and partner sperm analysis was okay (not amazing but still good enough for conception).

Anyway, sorry for the long post. Just anxiously waiting for our next appointment to come through to discuss next steps and want to have some things to ask.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi rachherlihy. So sorry to hear that your cycle failed this time, and I do hope you don't have to wait too long before trying again. I do have a couple of lists of questions I could email you in confidence if you want. to ask your specialist. Just contact me at [e-mail] and i will send them to you. My apologies if you already have them. Diane

[Emmaxxx in reply to DianeArnold]

Hi Diane. Could you possibly send me these questions too.? Thank you xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Emmaxxx]

Of course. Email me at [e-mail] Diane

[ashalez in reply to DianeArnold]

Hi Diane.Could you Please send me as well.Thank youxxxx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to ashalez]

Hi ashalez. Of course. Can you email me in confidence to [e-mail] and I will send them when back in office on Wednesday. Diane

[Emmaxxx]

Hi. I’m sorry it didn’t work first time. Mine failed too. Had 2 embies transferred on day 5 and took the test on Wednesday and BFN! I take it they failed to implant? It is just so heartbreaking and I feel a complete failure. I know it’s not my fault but I just can’t help feeling it is. We had ICSI and both blastocyst were good grades. I hope that we can get some answers and reassurance from our clinics. Let’s hope for both of us next time round is out time. Keep me posted on how things go. Take care xxx

[rachherlihy in reply to Emmaxxx]

Thanks Emma. I’m so sorry yours didn’t work out for you either. It’s so frustrating not knowing why. I know it’s hard but it won’t be anything you’ve done. I just try to remember that even in the most optimal conditions that it’s never a 100% success rate so sometimes it’s just unfortunately luck. Doesn’t make it any easier when you’ve gone through all we have gone through though. Let me know how things go for you too. Will be keeping my fingers crossed for you.xxx

[Emmaxxx in reply to rachherlihy]

Thank you. You too. Xx

[beauty1984]

We didn’t really get any answers after our first failed cycle, like you I responded well to the meds and ended up with 11 eggs, 6 fertilised but only one good enough to transfer which sadly didn’t stick. The only advice we got was to increase my dose of meds the next time round.

So our second cycle we increased the dose, responded well and got 15 eggs, 9 fertilised, we tried embryo glue also and got our bfp. Sadly we miscarried but at our follow up we went through it all step by step and again no real answers but I felt better this time round. From a medical point of view I responded well to the meds, got a good number of eggs and then embryos but it seems after day 3 of fertilising my embryos seem to slow down so was advised maybe having a day 3 transfer with 2 embryos, he also advised having the scratch.

Have they mentioned increasing your meds next time? Have you considered embryo glue/scratch? It’s frustrating not knowing the cause, all our tests came back normal too. I hope you get some answers at your next appointment xx

[rachherlihy]

Thanks Beauty. I haven’t seen them again since the BFN, I’m waiting for my appointment so just looking at things o can ask at the moment 😊. We actually did the endometrial scratch this cycle as part of a clinical trial to see if it can help on first IVF cycles (obviously not in my case). Hoping next time maybe to see if we can get more eggs to give me more of a chance of getting a day 5. I’m curious to see what they say 😊.xx

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

There are quite a few of us on here who had drug regime changes after a failed first round so do ask about this.

[rachherlihy in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Thanks Lizzie. I will definitely ask about this.xx

[Flimzee]

Hi there, sorry to hear your news. I was in the same situation this time last year after a failed first round with unexplained secondary infertility. For me, I responded a bit too well and had a bit of OHSS which I think really affected my egg/the embryo quality. We had one dubious morula which was put back in day 5 and didn’t take, which was gutting. Next round my consultant advised me to take 300mg ubiquinol daily to improve egg quality and she also changed my protocol to short protocol which, for me, worked much better. About a month before starting and throughout the second round I also followed a high protein, low carb eating plan. Thankfully our second round was much more successful. We had two good grade blastocysts put back in (frosties were never going to be achievable for us) and luckily/happily I am 32 weeks pregnant with a little boy. Please don’t lose hope (although I know it’s hard when you are going through it). The doctors can learn a lot from your first cycle and hopefully make changes for your next attempt if that’s what you decide to do. Good luck with it all xxx

[rachherlihy in reply to Flimzee]

Thanks Flimzee. I’m so pleased that your little boy is on the way to you. I will definitely looking into ubiquinol and doing a high protein, low carb diet. I’m really looking forward to my next appointment to see what my specialist suggests. I know a lot of people talk about the first cycle really just being a ‘test’ cycle so they can see how you react to the medications etc so I have a lot of hope still. I’m just enjoying a break from the meds and feeling a lot more human than I have done in weeks 😂. Again thanks for taking time to reply and the suggestions. Hope you have a smooth last few weeks of pregnancy and your son is with you soon.xxx

[saqana14]

As mentioned above I would recommend a high protein diet, include lots of eggs, lean meat, handful of Brazil nuts and pumpkin seeds every day. Ubiquinol is excellent. Take 300mg daily.

Also if you are able too, Accupuncture is very good and especially on transfer day. A session before and after transfer. Accupuncture promotes blood flow to the uterus etc and helps your body respond to the ivf meds.

Relax yourself during the process , easier said than done at times . But you must take out 20-30 minutes every night for yourself..you can download an app called mindful ivf which just allows you to switch off every day and breath - it can be so stressful as it is and I do believe having a calm mind can be beneficial overall to anyone not only when ttc

Keep going , it will happen. I wish you lots of luck xx

[rachherlihy in reply to saqana14]

Thanks saqana14. I will definitely look into all of those. I’m so glad you mentioned acupuncture as I actually got in touch with a couple of acupuncturists yesterday to try and get an initial consultation as I’ve heard really good things about it. Great to hear someone else also suggest it 😊 and confirm in my mind I should definitely look into it.

Ooh I will definitely look at the mindful ivf app too. I think I particularly struggle because I’m a shift worker and can switch between night and day shifts a lot which naturally stresses your body anyway. Hopefully some mindful time can help with some of that. I need to look into how I can organise my shifts most beneficially 😊 for both fitting my appointments in but also not stressing my body too much. Otherwise I’m a fairly relaxed person anyway and quite good at the day by day approach so hopefully I can try and bring that mentality into it.

Thank you so much for replying and for the suggestions. They are all really helpful. Xx

[cathy-martha]

Hey, there dear. This is definitely the toughest time. When one gets to know about infertility. There are many success stories from IVF and other treatments. One who is going through this really need to look into this. This helps a lot and motivate the person who is the in the mental setback. All the best wishes and prayers for people who are dealing with this matter.