No blastocysts with DE?

[SJA14]

We have just had a failed cycle using DE where we didn’t get any blastocysts so nothing to transfer.

Has anyone else ever experienced this? And if so, where did you go from here?

I am feeling so upset and disappointed as I was really expecting to at least get to transfer stage with DE given that the message has always been that the chances of success is so much greater with DE 💔

Thanks xx

[TeenyTiny]

Oh god, this is so disappointing. Sorry I don’t have any experience with this. But, do the clinic not have to guarantee at least something to transfer and if not cycle a donor again for you !!? I’m still using my own eggs but may have to move to donor and I remember reading information from my own clinic about donor eggs and I was sure it said they would guarantee a transfer and if not they would cycle another round!!! You need to contact your clinic and ask them what they are going to do. Hopefully some of the girls on hear that have used donor eggs can give you some better advice ❤️

[SJA14]

Thanks for replying 💖

I know they guarantee eggs but I’m not sure about anything beyond that. We have a follow up appointment booked for Monday so I guess we’ll find out then.

[Caroliono4]

Hi SJ14, I'm sorry to hear about your cycle. At my clinic they guarantee a minimum of 6 donor eggs but beyond that it's all down to the quality of the eggs and of course there is no way of guaranteeing that. Our first DE round we had one to transfer and one to freeze but neither were top quality and there was a lot of fragmentation apparent on the embryoscope. The clinic told us that some eggs and sperm just don't get on (not very helpful, I know).

Have the clinic given you any feedback as to how the embryos developed i.e. % eggs fertilised, development of embryo at day 3, day 5 etc. , level of fragmentation, any extra cells/abnormalities etc.? Are they able to say how whether the donor had had previous children or successful donation?

We paid for the Access multi-cycle package which allows for up to 3 donor cycles and associated transfers/FETs (or 70% back if unsuccessful after all that!) so we have subsequently had another cycle. This was much better in terms of numbers and quality so it appears it was a different donor that made the difference.

x

[SJA14 in reply to Caroliono4]

Hi, thanks for replying. They collected 11 eggs which was great and 7 fertilised but by day 3 they said that they were developing slowly. They said they looked good quality but they were just slow and they then didn’t really progress any further so no blastocysts.

We have our follow up appointment on Monday so we will hopefully get some answers then but I was just wondering if anyone else has had this situation and how things worked out.

I think I’m just a blind-sided by this result as I was really expecting things to be easier with DE.

[Lou7744]

Hi there, I’m so sorry to read this. I haven’t any experience of using DE.

I totally get it that you’d expect to get to at least transfer stage and then I know whether you get a positive or negative, can be down to luck.

I hope the clinic are able to provide you with some answers 💕 xx

[Lynnr54]

Sorry to hear this. I’ve never personally used donor eggs but from everything I’ve seen on here I can understand why you would expect them to have a much better success rate. It’s worth checking out what your clinic promised you in your package to see if you can get any sort of refund or discount on your next cycle. I would be asking your clinic what success the donor has had before (assuming this isn’t grr first time) - if she usually gets a good proportion of blastos then could there be some sort of underlying issue with the sperm that you’re not aware of?

[SJA14 in reply to Lynnr54]

The donor hasn’t donated before so it was unknown but she does already have a child herself. My hubby has had all the sperm tests he can have and they have all come back normal and the clinic have said that his samples have all been really good quality hence why we felt that DE was the way to go. Hopefully I will get some answers at our follow up

[Lizzielizzielizzie in reply to SJA14]

Has he had karyotyping where they take a blood test from him and check his chromosomes? I know some clinics do this before DE but not all. There’s a small possibility that this test will pick up a problem which could be causing your embryos to stop developing.

[IVFGirlLondon]

I’m so sorry to hear this. I would too have expected DE to definitely work. I don’t have any experience yet with DE to offer but just wanted to send support and a hug. It’s hard enough to make the decision to use DE and to have it not work is really heartbreaking. Hopefully as people say the clinic may have some more options for you xxxx

[Hidden]

Hiya I’m so sorry to hear this. We had our first round with doner eggs in december (after a few rounds with my eggs)and we had nothing to transfer. They all arrested or weren’t good enough quality on day 5. We have decided to have one more go with de and hubbys sperm then if that doesn’t work donor for both xx hope your ok xxx

[SJA14 in reply to Hidden]

So sorry to hear this. I hope things work out better for your next round xx

[Hidden]

Hello with our DE we were guaranteed 5 day 5 embryos. Do you know the fertility history of your donor? Also do you know was the donor exclusively for you or were the eggs split with another couple? I'm so sorry to hear you had nothing to transfer. I was third time lucky with DE first was chemical pregnancy then a mc at 7 weeks. It's so dissapointing for you as when you make the move to DE you think it's the answer to all your problems. Hopefully your clinic will be offering a fresh round. Stay strong and good luck x x

[Starryeyes1984]

That’s so heartbreaking. Really sorry to hear that, I can imagine it’s incredibly disappointing and frustrating. I’m hoping to start DE soon and this is actually one of my big fears. The clinic I’m using also only guarantees 6 mature eggs so having anything to transfer is down to luck. I’m really sorry it hasn’t worked out this time but maybe with a different donor things will be different. Little Chef’s mum, could you DM me the clinic you’re using. I like the idea of having a guarantee around transfer!

[Carmel1001]

Its hard, but the trouble is first IVF is presented as a miracle cure. Then you do a bit of digging and realise it has actually a low success rate. Then donor egg (which is where I am) is presented as a miracle cure. If you do a bit of digging, a donor cycle has less than 50% chance of giving a live birth, but the clinics use pregnancy after 2 week wait which gives something like 70%

You were very unlucky, we failed after our first DE cycle, all you can do is pick yourself up and try again. I would suggest counselling, it was a godsend to me and no way I could have carried on without it.