Where did the other 6 follicles go?

[Yogagirl37]

Since finishing my 2nd IVF this week with a BFN I’ve been trying to do a bit of research before I go back and speak to the consultant. Before egg collection I had 11 follicles on scan. All a good size for collection. But they only actually got 5. I asked what had happened to the others but the embryologist said she was unclear and that it was a question for the consultant. Has this happened to anyone else? Also I’m guessing she is going to suggest another SP cycle. I’m just wondering how many stimms are safe to go through? I can’t seem to find anything concrete online? Anyone been advised on this?

[gemmy999]

Hi so sorry to hear about your BNF 😢 I have had empty follicles before. When they see them on the scan doesn’t mean there are eggs inside. Or they may not have been big enough when it came to collection. I don’t think there is a limit on stimms. Some women go through 8/10 cycles. I think the hardest bit is to find the strength to go again. I hope your on the mend. I would advise to take time out. When my first one failed I wanted to go again straight away. I had more time between 2nd and 3rd and found it very beneficial. Big hug xx

[Hidden in reply to gemmy999]

I agree with everything gemmy999 said above. Xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I would add that some people seem worried about the drugs. The drugs are taken for a short period of time and not continouosly for years, so they do not carry the same risks. Xx

[Yogagirl37 in reply to Hidden]

I was just wondering how safe it is for the ovaries etc to do repeated cycles. I was on the highest dose of menopur.

[Hidden in reply to Yogagirl37]

Someone once told me it's like revving an old car engine up again and again. That certainly put me off. But I would ask the clinic really. Could you let us know when you have found out? X

[Yogagirl37 in reply to Hidden]

Of course I will 😀

[Orla9298]

I had the same... I had 11 follicles at trigger, with around 7 of them perfect collectible size between 17 & 22 and the rest very close behind. In the procedure the woman said there were only 4 follicles left, regardless of their size, from which I got 2 eggs. This means I lost 7!!! I think I must have released them... the clinic didn’t do any bloods or anything so no reason could be given.

I was “ready” to trigger on the Friday but that would have mean egg collection on Sunday which the clinic didn’t do, so i had to stim another day, to allow collection on the Monday, which I think messed it up, did anything similar happen to you? All my other rounds I have had 3 follicles with 3 eggs, 6 with 6 eggs and so on, so I’ve never had empty follicles.

[Yogagirl37 in reply to Orla9298]

Hi Orla9298 I think my situation is very similar to yours. On my last scan some of my follicles were looking very large 24! That was on the Friday. So I also went through another day of stim before trigger. I also got lots of fertile mucus on the Saturday then it changed by the Monday for collection. Not sure if mucus really counts on an IVF cycle but I definitely think I ovulated the larger eggs before collection. Not sure if they will be honest about it and tell me. We will see what they say..

[Tugsgirl]

Unfortunately not all follicles will contain an egg no matter how big they grow. I would take a few months from your last cycle for your body to rest. I don’t know of any risks associated with how many times we put our bodies through treatment. Hopefully you’ll get some answers from your consultant xx