Talk with embryologist after egg collection

[Charmaine4]

What questions should I be asking?

i.e. number of eggs collected? Grading? Your help is much appreciated.

Thanks

[MightyB]

They should tell you how many eggs as soon as you come around after collection. Then they should tell you the following day how many fertilised. If you have more than 4 fertilised, they should then grade them on day 3 and based on how many are left and the quality they will decide whether you will have a transfer on day 3 or 5. So you will get little pieces of information bit by bit at each stage. Hope this helps and good luck!

[Caroliono4]

Hi Charmaine

I hope the egg collection went well. Usually straight after the egg collection they will tell you how many they collected and whether it was a straightforward collection. Then the morning afterwards the embryologist will call you to tell you how many of the eggs were mature, how many fertilised and how easily they fertilised (if having ICSI where they inject sperm into the egg). They don't grade the eggs.

You will then usually get a call on Day 2 or 3 (sorry I can't remember which) to let you know how the embryos are progressing, whether they are dividing normally, showing signs of fragmentation, have correct number of cells at each stage etc. If there are sufficient embryos they will let them continue to blastocyst stage when they will grade the embryos the day before transfer/ freezing.

I asked my embryologist a million questions as I was paranoid about egg/embryo quality after several miscarriages. They have always been really helpful so I'd ask them whatever is on your mind, even if it seems stupid at the time.

If you are using an embryoscope they will also be able to provide you with more detailed information on the embryo development.

Hope all goes well x

[Charmaine4 in reply to Caroliono4]

Carroliono4 - quick question. When is it worth having embryoscope (cost dependent) as I only have 4 follicles of the right size and when do I discuss this? Before or after egg collection?

[Caroliono4 in reply to Charmaine4]

Hi Charmaine, it was included in my current cycle and last cycle as part of a package. Prior to this on my first cycle we decided not to pay the extra (can't remember the cost sorry) as we didn't really see any benefit at the time. In the end we only had a few embryos for that cycle so I feel it was probably the right decision.

First time round we were asked if we wanted the embryoscope when we planned and paid for our cycle. I think you need to let them know a bit in advance of egg collection so they can book it in as they are often in high demand and might not be available the day of collection.

It was useful in our last cycle as it picked up that there was quite a lot of fragmentation with the embryos, although in the end there were only two that made it blastocyst and the embryologist seemed to say that if they made it to blastocyst that outweighed the fact that flaws were seen previously.

In reflection I think it might be useful if there were quite a few embryos to choose from at transfer stage, but really it is the final grading that counts

[Charmaine4 in reply to Caroliono4]

Thank you for your detailed reply. Most appreciated.

[Charmaine4]

Thanks for your prompt replies you both. Much appreciated.

[Hollibob]

I’d write your questions down so that you don’t get caught up with them ringing you.

You could always ask them how many cells they have and what they normally look for at that stage..good luck..I found the calls the most nerve wracking!

[Charmaine4 in reply to Hollibob]

Thank you Hollibob.

[Hidden]

Hi I just wanted to say good luck but also don’t get too hung up on grading. I panicked a lot on my rounds as they weren’t graded very well compared to what I’ve seen on this forum - turns out each clinic does it slightly differently! x

[Charmaine4]

Thanks Daisy1245. Really appreciate your support. Have a fantastic day x