Hi all,
I was hoping someone might have some advice. We got no eggs on our first egg collection. They are saying we can try another cycle, but we have to self fund. Do we try even though we got no eggs the first time? Can this happen again?
Our other choice is egg donation - do we try ourselves first one more time before considering this?
Any help is really appreciated - not sure how to process it all
Xxx
Sorry to hear this, Jozie. 
Has your clinic given you any advice? If it was me, I think I would try again, but I haven't actually been in this situation. Things can vary cycle by cycle and one go isn't much to base anything off of (as with trying naturally). Money is, of course, an issue, though. Hope someone that has been through this situation can help!
Thank you for replying.... they have said if we want to try again we can ... but we can also consider egg donation. I suppose I’m just scared if we go through it all again and same thing happens! But I wouldn’t be able to rest not knowing if we didn’t try?!? Always so confusing!
Thank you ☺️
That is definitely a valid concern about having the same thing happen again, but I'm sure, as you've already found out, you're stronger than you know. And, as everyone else is mentioning - there's no reason why this wasn't a one-off (as there's so many variables and fluctuations) and it would work next time. I can understand about not being able to rest not knowing if you didn't try. It's a matter of leaving no stone un-turned!
That must have been so disappointing. Do you know why you got no eggs? I guess I would want to know more about the reasons and whether there would be any change to protocol before making a decision. Take care of yourselves x
To be honest not really ... I had 5 follicles all at 18mm on the Friday, final shot Saturday ready for Monday collection. The consultant said it can happen, described eggs like being on a conveyer belt 🤷♀️ And at times there aren’t any! Isn’t something they can actually have any control over. Protocol was all ok, bloods showed right levels of hormones etc as they would expect. May change drug make next time, which is why we are going for a second opinion at a private clinic, just costs more.
Thank you so much x
That's strange. Definitely good to get a second opinion x
Hi there, my first round of IVF wasn’t great. I had 7 follicles, three eggs and only one fertilised but did not develop past day 8 cells and the round was unsuccessful. In fact we didn’t make it to transfer. I was gutted so can only imagine how you must be feeling.
For our second round, our consultant recommended taking DHEA and changed our protocol from long to short (which was much easier). She also changed my stimulation medication from menopur to Gonal F. Our second round was much more successful and had 6 eggs resulting in two good quality embryos. Unfortunately, the first one didn’t stick and we are waiting to transfer number two. However, my response this round was considered normal when I was considered a low responder in my first round.
I also gave up alcohol, took co-enzyme Q10 and a ton of Zita West vitamins (I would change these for a decent multi-vitamin if I were to do another round ... they are expensive and I feel you are paying for the brand). I also did acupuncture. It is hard to say what made the difference but I suspect it was the change in protocol.
Good luck if you do decide to do another round. I just wanted to share my experience because my two rounds have been like night and day. Having a round where I was considered ‘normal’ helped make me feel more positive that this could work over time.
Thank you so much for your reply .... it’s so good to know that the rounds can be different and that if changes are made it can be different. I think I feel so lost as we didn’t even get to freeze any to Give us another chance without going through the whole process. I just wanted to see if the new clinic would approach it differently and if they advise anything else.
I am taking a good multi vitamin and have started doing castor oil packs. I have massage and reflexology so really hope the next one can be different.
Thank you so much x
18mm seems on the large side, which is good as that’s a nice mature egg but I’m thinking perhaps your trigger shot was too late and you ovulated already! Maybe they messed up on your dates and not taking responsibility! I was stimulated for 18 days but as soon as I got 16 mm it was was like bam! That’s it! Let’s go! I think you might want to have a sit down. I think the weekend and your timing was out? Just my thoughts 🤷🏼♀️
Thank you so much for sharing.
I do agree - I keep saying to my husband something wasn’t right. We did the trigger shot at 9.30pm Saturday night and egg collection 9.30am Monday. From what they are saying it was all timed right and no eggs is just something that happens. There were cells in the follicles which makes me think there were eggs at some point?? It’s just so confusing and I really think something wasn’t right.
Thank you x
That’s not right! You do trigger shot the night before! This seems very odd! I would definitely after hearing this call a meeting! Waiting until Monday is far too late as the trigger needs to be done within 12 hrs of collection if I remember correctly! I’d be really mad! So sorry this happened to you!
I did mine Wednesday night and egg collection Friday morning and all was fine
Your tigger shot is meant to be 36 hours before so that sounds right in order for egg collection. For example I had to do mine at 11.30 on Sat night for 11.30 on Monday morning.xx
Yeah they said 36 hours before collecting so timing was right - it’s just how I responded maybe? X
I can only think that it has something to do with your protocol however I do know that just because there are follicles, it unfortunately doesnt mean there are eggs in them. I have seen a couple of ladies on here with the same problem over the years so yuo may hear from someone that had a similar problem....I can only remember one.....here is her threads below. See used clomid with stims....might be something to ask about?xx
healthunlocked.com/user/phi...
Thank you xoxox
Hi, so sorry to read this, can only begin to imagine how disappointed and confused you are.
I really believe our bodies take a bit of time to learn what to do with IVF, and clinics can change so much to try and make things better so I personally wouldn't give up yet.
My first round we got 3 eggs out of about 12 follicles - the others were all empty.
2nd round we got 9 eggs out of 12 follicles - this time we were short protocol when first time we were long protocol
3rd round we had 7 eggs out of 16 follicles
So its all a bit hit and miss, but the main difference for me was changing protocol made a HUGE difference = did your clinic suggest that?
I always thought of my first round as a warm up... try and think of it like that xx
Thank you for replying and sharing your story xx
I started the nasal spray 30th October then injections 19th November - egg collection was 2nd December.
I do think it was long and that my reaction to shot etc was quicker than they thought.
I just wanted to have some explanation but I feel that with it being our first free go on the NHS there is a little less personal touch. We have a consultation with the private clinic 24th Feb so really hoping that helps.
Thank you again x
That sounds like long protocol where you down regulate before you stim.
Maybe ask the next clinic about trying short protocol - where you don't down regulate you just stim straight away - this made a HUGE difference as you can see for my rounds.
You will get there I am sure, its a bump in the road but its not over by any means. if its any consolation I have never had any to freeze so have to do a fresh round every time - lots of us do! There is always a lot of talk about FET on this site but there are a lot of non FET people here too! xx
Hi sorry I am new to this! When you say you had none to freeze and did a fresh transfer what do you mean exactly?
Sorry for delay only just logged back on! If you get loads of eggs fertilised they will freeze some for future cycles. But I have never had that many fertilise so it means each cycle I have to start from the beginning all over again x
Can’t they freeze even if just one that’s fertilized?
Ok never mind I understand ! Sorry it’s just all so new to me. They froze all of mine and preferred to do a FET not a fresh trabsfer
I have only ever had up to 3 fertilised, so they have always transferred rather than freezing as I had so few and it was too risky to freeze (as no medical reason not to put straight back)
I didn’t know it was risky to freeze. I have to do a hysteroscopys on Monday so couldn’t transfer fresh anyway. I hope my embryos are ok
Ah thank you so much .... it’s so easy to feel alone and like it’s only me! But it’s good to have people
To take to who understand.
It felt like forever ... my down reg spray was
From 30th October to 31st December. I felt awful. The stim wasn’t great either. I had a lot of abdominal and back pain and just felt crappy.
Thank you again for the advice ... I will def be asking all these questions when we go for our app.
X
Hi Jozie19, sorry to hear what you said. I had a 1st ivf attempt that was unsuccessful in November last year. My advice would be to look over your CCG's guidelines. My area only offer 1 NHS round but the CCG class anything that didn't result in a transfer i.e. no eggs to collect, non fertilization etc as a failed round. According to my CCG a failed round means you get another go on the NHS. Although my clinic appeared to think that was the end of it, being armed with that knowledge allowed me to get confirmation that I am now having 1 more round on the NHS. Each CCG will have different rules so best to check what yours says and go from there. X
Thank you so much ... sorry what is CCG?
I had asked in my review if we would be entitled to another go on NHS but they said no as what I had classed as one cycle. I had asked since we didn’t get past egg collection surely we would even get a discounted round; but no luck!
Sorry, this place is already full of abbreviations I should of explained better. The CCG is short for NHS Clinical Commissioning Group. Each Local Authority has one. It is in fact the CCG who advise of the rules for who can have IVF, the terms this covers etc. The only way I believe a clinic would be able to differ from those rules is if they felt another round would not be successful but as others have said this doesn't mean other clinics will have the same view if this was the case.
Assuming you're in England, I've copied a link with a bit more info and at the bottom of the page is a link to all the CCG's across England. You will look for your borough and they should have a document re: ivf. It may be possible to just Google your 'borough name ivf CCG', or something along those lines too and it should come up. Good luck x
Thank you so much.
I’m in Northern Ireland so I fear that things will be completely different here! But I will certainly check it out! Doesn’t hurt to make some calls!
Thank you x
Hi lovely, so sorry you didnt get any eggs at collection 😪 my clinic is a one round on nhs. However on my 1st round i had 10 eggs and only 1 fertilised and didnt make it to transfer, I was devastated, so I thought that was it our cycle used up. But they said as the cycle was abandoned before transfer they would fund another round. Definitely check it out and make some calls, good luck xx
Thanks so much... I am praying that maybe we can find out some more. I have emailed the trust and am waiting on someone getting back to me.
Can I ask where you are?
Thanks
Joanne x
We are in Shropshire. I am sure everywhere is different but keeping everything crossed for you 🤞 xx
Hi sorry to hear this. I had over 20 follicles and only got 7 eggs. There is a 20% of it happening again. Nobody knows why it happened but suspect it has to do with the trigger. I will definitely do a double trigger my next round.
Hi sorry to hear this news, I have just come back from abroad and I only had 1 egg and grade 3 bad quality, doctor did say because of age I should go DE but I didnt wish I had now, this year I am 40 and will be doing DE in the hope something might work. xx
I’m so sorry to hear that xoxo
We are considering DE but going to try one more IVF first.
Take care and I hope you have better news x
Oh I bet you are on a knife's edge Just thought I'd drop in that you can do something called a tandem cycle which is where you proceed with IVF with your own eggs but also stimulate a donor as well, so if you don't get any of your own eggs you have the donor eggs to fall back on. Or you can freeze the donor eggs for when you are ready (emotionally) to go for donor. This is self funded of course, I know you can do it in Cyprus but I believe you can also do it in Spain. Best of luck x
Thank you idea this.
The clinic we are going to have a programme with IVF Spain so they said once we have the consultation they will advise us what is best way forward. I suppose it’s really just about the cost as well. I researched a clinic in Dublin and their egg donation scheme is €7900!
Thank you again x
You're welcome and good luck 
the cost of IVF let alone donor eggs anywhere in the UK is absolutely disgraceful!!!!
It really is ... there’s a company called Access fertility and they offer refund finance programmes! But then the cheapest is £8700! And that’s without meds?! 🤷♀️
They do a 3 cycle programme paid up front for £13,700 with a 50% money back if unsuccessful! That’s without meds too!
It’s all crazy money - but if I had it I’d pay it x
So sorry you've had to go through that disappointment. I've had a couple of rounds with no eggs collected too. I've got low AMH and been to egg collection usually with 1-4 follicles. Early ovulation can happen or if egg quality isn't too good it's harder for the egg to come away from the follicle wall into the fluid to be collected.
I would recommend another go with your own as I have had a cycle where I got 5 eggs too. But know this all depends on how you feel and finances ect Maybe worth looking into supplement s like ubiquinol if you're not already taking.
Wishing you the best
Xx
Thank you so much for replying.
I had 4-6 follicles - one then ended up a cyst - it’s really good to hear that having no eggs the first time doesn’t mean never. My AMH is low also. I think at this stage we will find the money! I don’t think I can just give up.
Thank you ... take care xx
Hey dear
So sorry to hear this.
Even my first cycle was same as yours ,no eggs were retrieved inspite of having 10 follicles ranging from 1.8 to 2.
So my doctor said it's known as" empty egg syndrome "
So according to my doctor ,patients ovary react in different way to long protocol ovary stimulating drugs.
So next cycle my Doctor changed the protocol to minimal stimulation of ovary and yielded eggs in next cycle...so don't worry all ladies are born with good number of eggs and you have many as well ,only thing you need do is to ask your doctor about your next cycle protocol.........
And dont give up.........
Frankly even I am bored of ivf ,don't feel like doing it ...but in your case you are only in the beginning stages and you should never give up like me
Hi, i cant help but im in the same situation as you 😓. I had my first egg collection today after a mild ivf cycle, and had a huge follicle but they couldnt find an egg in there. I too am concerned wether to try again or not, as i dont know the cause, and worried i have no eggs left!
I just saw your other post, i have endo too and a bicornate uterus.
Thank you for replying ☺️
Have they done bloods to check your FSH levels etc?
Can’t believe we have so many similar things going on!
It is just devastating and tbh I think I was just in shock.
I can only say how I feel and if they say you can try again - I would! I just need to do it to make sure I’ve given it everything xo
Take care x
Yes i had fsh done and all looked good according to them. I had a mild cycle, obviously wasnt quite right as the result was so shit. We do have a lot in commen, what are you going to do next? Im still not sure, they really need to have a good plan for me if we are going to try again x
We are currently waiting on a consultation with a private clinic - our first was NHS - who would do same thing again just we self fund. So I wanted a second opinion as I don’t think the same protocol again would be good?!? As it went the way it did! X
Same, but i know being on high doses of stims also is pointless, so it needs to change but not sure how x
I think it all depends on how you responded to the meds, how were your follicles on the scans leading up to your egg collection? What’s your AMH like for your age? What advice have the clinic given you? Can you afford to try again with your own eggs? So many variables. I think if there’s medical hope on paper then go for it again with your own eggs, but if your chances look very small ‘on paper’ then maybe consider going for donor eggs to massively increase your chances? So sorry, it must have been heart breaking to go through all of that and have had no eggs xxx
I totally agree - if you can go again def try. There are so many options and like your saying so many variables. I suppose they can’t predict it all!?! If only! X
Egg collection this morning 
Egg collection done! 6 eggs
Egg collection - 19 eggs
Egg retrieval with no eggs
