Very disappointing egg collection. Completely different from last time only a year ago, any advice?!

[Pebbles345]

Hi,

I hope you're all doing as well as you can given the general uncertainties at the moment.

I was hoping for some advice. I had an egg collection in March 2019 using gonal F, we retrieved 12 eggs and had 7 good quality blastocysts. 1 year later and many cancelled transfers later we decided to have egg collection again and keep 6 embryos on ice.

This time round (with a new clinic) we had menopur and we only retrieved 4 eggs, 1 of which has made it to blastocyst. I feel absolutely devastated. I can't understand how this cycle has gone so wrong for us, does this mean my egg reserve has significantly reduced in one year (there has been no indication I have low egg reserve) or has the quality of my eggs changed significantly or was it due to the medication. I just feel so angry and upset that my body has let us down again.

Has anyone had a similar experience? I've tried to book a phone consultation with the clinic to try and give me some answers but I'm just not sure where to start in terms of questions.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks xx

[KiboXX]

Hi Pebbles345,

Sorry you had a disappointing cycle 😢 but just to hammer out the old saying, it really does just take one.

I also had a very disappointing second egg collection, first one I got 10 eggs and the second one I only got 4. Unlike you I was identical doses of Gonal F both times and had the same number of follicles at both my baselines. The clinic told me that sometimes you just have a off cycle where your body doesn’t respond as well and not to be disheartened. I ended up having two further egg collections and got 8 eggs both times with those so it did seem to be just a crappy random cycle!xx

[Pebbles345 in reply to KiboXX]

Hi,

Thank you so much for your reply. It's good to know that it's not just me but also sorry that you have had a similar problem.

Can I ask if you made any to blastocyst stage? Did anything you did on each cycle seem to make any difference?

It's such a hard situation, I feel like it's one bad bit of news after the other at the moment!!

I hope things have got better your end xxx

[KiboXX in reply to Pebbles345]

We always struggled with fertilisation rates and big drop offs during development. First two cycles I did day 2 transfers, cycle three we got one 5 day blast. For our fourth cycle we changed clinics and changed to short protocol, made a huge difference for us! We got 3 blasts, PGS tested normal. I’m 13 weeks pregnant from my first transfer of one of those xx

[Hidden]

It is more about the quality then the quantity. As women we aim so high and focus on the numbers but in all honesty you only need one. i had 3 follicles. All 3 made it to day 5 blastocysts after pgs testing i had 2. we put in to but one took and it split so i currently have 2 little beans in there. So don't be to hard on yourself.

[Pebbles345 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply and congratulations! That's really lovely news to hear that it can work.

I just wish I didn't have my crappy lining to worry about as I could be happy about my little blastocysts. Must keep remembering that we are lucky I lots of ways.

Good luck with your journey xxx

[JoP32]

Hi Pebble. I’m afraid I don’t have any advice but just wanted to say that I’d love to hear some too!

I’m in a similar boat - 1st cycle 18 months ago: 7eggs, 1 ‘perfect’ embryo transferred (BFN) & 3 good quality frozen blasts. This cycle, 4 eggs, only 2 suitable to be injected, 1 fertilised and 0 blasts.

Like you I don’t know whether it was the medication (we also changed clinics), whether my eggs have become crap in the past 18 months or what?!

If you find some answers / suggestions of what we could do differently next time I’d also love to hear!

Amazing that you have 6 frozen though - that is hugely positive! Xxx

[Pebbles345 in reply to JoP32]

It's such a strange process with so many unanswered questions. From reading lots of people's experiences it just seems as though it's a bit of a lottery but I'm sure that doesn't make it any easier for you or me!

We have an appointment wiht the consultant next week so if I find out anything new then I'll let you know.

I hope you're OK and getting through this weird time xx

[Hidden]

Hi just to say this has happened to me also. I’ve had four rounds now and I sort of expected them to get better each round but instead my second round was by far the best and my most recent round was one of my worst. There are so many things that can influence it doesn’t necessarily mean things are going downhill and your next could well be heaps better again - great that you have so many Frosties - I’ve never made it to freeze so always have to have fresh cycles xx

[Pebbles345 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your reply.

Sorry to hear that you have also struggled and had different experiences. It's just so hard to manage your expectations when it's so variable.

I guess we just need to keep the faith and take each day as it comes and keep going through the cycles. It works for some many ladies on here, we just need to hope that it happens for us xxx

[Cinderella5]

Awwww Im sorry! Ive seen a few women on here over the years who have had both drugs and responded differently so perhaps you just respond to gonal F better than Menopur? Im sure your egg reserve hasnt changed so much in just a year! Im glad that you have one blastocyst but understand why you are so upset after your first cycle went so well. Hugs.xx

[Pebbles345 in reply to Cinderella5]

Thanks so much. How are you getting on?

You often pop in to my head as a thin lining lady, you've given me lots of advice when reading your posts. My stupid lining is still misbehaving.

I've just decided to drink wine and cry /rest for a while xxx

[Cinderella5 in reply to Pebbles345]

Im ok thanks.....also self medicating with wine! Ha ha ha Our treatment all on hold like all the others and goodness knows when we'll be allowed back into Athens! I hate all the uncertainty but it is what it is! What is it with blooming linings eh, as if its not hard enough doing this!! Sounds like a plan, rest up and be kind to yourself....enjoy that wine!!xxx