Thoughts on IVF success?

[Jessy1280]

Just read an old post on here which suggests ladies who have first time success usually don't have problems themselves and is much more likely to lie with the guys. Started to get me worried.

My OH has 2 children from his marriage then had a vasectomy. He has since had it reversed which has been successful in terms of count but motility only to improve with time.

I've never had children. All my blood test results have been awesome. I have fsh 4.4 and naturally high amh at 45.2 for my age but despite this my first FET failed. I'm starting to worry that there something wrong with me instead despite all the fantastic results I've had. I had 18 eggs, 16 mature and 13 fertilised but only 3 made it to good quality 5 day blasts.

What are everyones thoughts on this? Could there actually be something wrong with me despite what the Doctors have said?? I'm due to start cycle 2 any day and I'm petrified. I was on long protocol last time which felt like an eternity and was too much for my body as I went onto develop ohss. I'm doing short protocol next time but I'm frightened I won't get as many eggs. Looking back I didnt know a thing about ivf. I understood it on a very basic level. I was barely taking any supplements only folic acid. Even after transfer I didn't rest and carried in with everything as normal. I carried on eating crap, housework, heavy lifting, everything. I feel like it's my fault it failed.

This time, Ive changed my diet. I've stopped the ultra high sugar intake and stopped a life long addiction to Pepsi max (I kid you not). I'm taking high strength vits c and D, omega 3, coq10, dhea, folic acid and inofolic.

I've also ordered melatonin as I've heard that's good too. I'm waiting for my book it starts with the egg to come. Even trying to cajole the oh into taking supplements. I felt so ill prepared for my first failed FET but kinda expected it.

This is such a tough thing to go through that when we finally get our miracle babies, they are just that. Some people will never understand the pain and the longing x

[LunaLovegood11]

Hey there, hope you’re ok. I think there are so many factors in the process that it’s very hard for doctors to say. Sounds like your results have been really good, but I guess it’s not that simple - loads of couples have seemingly great results but still struggle. We want answers but don’t always get them, it’s so frustrating! Keeping my fingers crossed for you x

[Kiers27]

I agree with Luna above ... there are really so many factors.

Don’t give up I think for now ... you seem to have lots of eggs ... so will keep everything crossed for your second cycle.

I have friends that had 10 eggs and no 5 day blasts ... and another friend who had only 2 and one of them went to blast and then onto pregnancy .. so really is so varied.

Hoping you are ok xx

[Jessy1280 in reply to Kiers27]

Thanks ladies. Like most on here I'm scared time is running out. I'm nearly 39. Im struggling to understand why it failed when I had such a good embryo and all my tests results were so great. I'm just so frightened it's never going to happen for me before it's too late. I have no children and I yearn for it. Sounds melodramatic but I feel like I have a gaping hole in my heart x

[Kiers27 in reply to Jessy1280]

Definitely not melodramatic at all ... all very real feelings and I hear what you are saying on the time running out ... (I’m 43 last month .. still hoping to get pregnant 🤗) .. being 38 doesn’t mean you can’t be a mum ... don’t give up yet .. hope next time works out for you. Xx

[CAS2]

By round 3 my consultant realised I needed much bigger follicles to produce decent mature eggs. Like you I was getting lots of eggs but very few blasts. He kept me going longer until they were massive and increased the trigger shot and it helped no end. I even ended up getting frozen ones.

Being healthy and focussed is great too. I relaxed a bit more in round 3 and had some cheeky glasses of wine tho and Am currently pregnant after round 3.

Think the thing to remember is that us older ladies have fewer good eggs so it takes longer to find the one. Also consultants learn so much each time.

Good luck with it xx

[Bungleboo]

Hey, I had two extremely different rounds. I am 38 - All of my results were good and I was not expecting such a poor first round! First round - Got 11 eggs, 5 fertilised and 1 made it to day 5 (very poor quality and wasn’t given much hope). At my review appointment the consultant was pretty negative about my future chances. Anyway I changed clinics, took a shed load of vitamins, ate well, did yoga and acupuncture.

Second round I got 9 eggs, 6 fertilised, transferred 2 on day 3 and have 4 Frosties. Also got a BFP!

I did short protocol both times. First time with menopur and cetrotide, second with gonal-f and buserelin.

Good luck! x

[Jessy1280 in reply to Bungleboo]

I don't think they're down regulating me this time although I could be wrong. They're going to use a drug beginning with f. Sounded different on the phone so didn't catch the drugs name. I'll find out weds during treatment planning. I find it even more difficult I suppose because I don't have low amh, I don't have pcos or endometriosis. I produce good quality embryos on the whole (4xab, 4-5ba and 4bb on first cycle). Its hard when everything is amazing considering my age and yet still no baby.

[Bungleboo in reply to Jessy1280]

A lot of it is down to luck I think (which is frustrating!) it’s really positive that you’re producing good quality embryos xx

[Skippy1982]

Hey Jessy, I know exactly how you feel. I had a similar run to you on my first round. Got 17 eggs 15 mature, 13 fertilised. I ended up with 7 blastos. My cycle went amazing well and quick, I triggered on day 10, everyone kept telling me I have done amazingly well. My fresh resulted in my first ever pregnancy! But sadly I had a missed miscarriage. That was a good quality embryo- 4aa. My first FET- another good Quality embryo- failed. My 2nd FET was a chemical:(. So now I’m down to 4 Frosties left. I like you worry that maybe there’s something wrong with me? The consultant said I need to stay positive and still have a good chance. Like the other ladies have said a lot of it seems to be down to luck! I have a low Amh and I worry that may mean my eggs are rubbish but the consultant said my body reacted to well to the drugs which is a good sign. Try not to worry I’m sure there is nothing wrong with you but I do know that hard to do! Xxx

[Skippy1982]

P.s it’s not your fault your FET failed- it’s nothing you did! I try to think of it as we’ve not met the right embryo yet! X

[Hidden]

Hi, i think we are in very similar situations. I am 36 and going through IVf as my husband had a VR which initially worked but unbeknown to us by the time we started trying scarring had occurred which has now affected count and motility.

We started really well, short protocol, 18 eggs, 16 usable and 8 fertilised. We only ended up with 1 blast. We had confirmation today after blood test that the cycle has failed. My emotions are up and down like a yo-yo.

I am keen to get started again but also petrified of the next test being negative. We took vitamins but didnt make any drastic changes. Im worried about our follow up appointment and where we go from here.

I would imagine we all have these thoughts, it would be weird if we just breezed through without an ounce of stress. I am looking into acupuncture and a mindful course. I think the biggest and most important thing for me to work on is my mind and getting myself back into that positive place.

I completely understand how you feel but be kind to yourself, sometimes it just doesnt work, otherwise we would all only have one cycle. I hope you start to feel better about it all soon xx

P. S is your OH taking anything in particular to help? Mine has been taking wellman but i have read proxeed is good (although very expensive)

[Jessy1280 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for the reply. My oh was taking wellman but is now on superdrugs male fertility sachets. More expensive but heard wonderful things about them x

[Novice_knitter]

Just a quick one to share my story if it helps?! I was similar to you, high amh for age, told could have PCOS as this can be an indicator but unclear (I took meds anyway for this). Long protocol & OHSS first cycle, felt awful during first cycle, then second cycle short protocol so much better for me, no OHSS, less eggs but better quality & more made it at higher quality to 5 days blastos.

I wondered whether short protocol gave me quality over quantity. I got my first BFP with the short protocol, hoping you get similarly positive results xx

[Jessy1280 in reply to Novice_knitter]

OMG thanks for the story of hope. Maybe it is quality over quantity xxxx

[Novice_knitter in reply to Jessy1280]

That’s ok. The other thing I wondered was that with the second round, I didn’t get sick with OHSS so thought it all went better because I felt better.

Good luck with your next round xx

[Jessy1280 in reply to Novice_knitter]

Thanks so much. With my ohss after egg collection they stopped treatment it was so bad. I then had to wait 2 bleeds before o could have my fet. My embryo thawed perfectly however next time hoping for fresh transfer x