Donor eggs success with endo

[Claire_2018]

Hi all. Hope you’re all ok as well as can be in this situation at the moment. I’m thinking about trying donor eggs after lockdown is over (whenever that might be) and just wondered if any one has had success with them with endo? I’ve had three failed rounds of ivf with my own eggs and hoping for some reassurance that it’s worth trying. Would anyone recommend any further tests before commencing? Thought about a sperm comet test and an nk cells test as well just so I feel like I’m not wasting anymore money on ivf. Any thoughts welcome thanks Claire

[WeeJacs]

Hi Claire gosh I could’ve written this, I’m in the exact same position. 3 fresh attempts with 1 frozen attempt. 2 out of 3 attempts ended in MC. We still have 1 freezer but it’s a 3BC so not getting my hopes up. I really think it’s all over for my eggs and not sure if I want to spend the money on the last frozen. We have discussed nk killer but our clinic doesn’t really support it, they stopped offering it last year. Tho my understanding is Dr Quenby is still doing it xxx

[Claire_2018 in reply to WeeJacs]

Hi there. Really sorry to hear about your MCs it’s just so unfair. Can totally relate to why you don’t want to try again as well but 3bc is still a good embryo that you have frozen and you may always think what if but also totally understand the money side of things. When did you do your last round and what are you thinking about next steps? Sending hugs x

[WeeJacs in reply to Claire_2018]

Thank u, like u say it doesn’t get any easier. 1st 2 fresh rounds were long, got lots of eggs but only 1 made it to blast each time. Both 5AB, both mc. Moved to a private clinic they recommended 3 months of DHEA, short protocol, AMH of 6.1 and got 10 mature eggs. 5 made it to blast, transferred 2 4AA’s BFN. 1st frozen attempt, 4AB perished in defrost. 4AC transferred, another BFN. DHEA defo made a difference in my egg quality but didn’t want to stick. I’m not sure what our next step is, had a review and even tho I have endometriosis the doc won’t consider steroids. In fact he doesn’t want to change it at all so kind of stuck as I really think something needs to change for us to have a chance, I want to throw everything at it with it being our last chance. Felt very positive when we 1st went them, they were so positive about being pregnant and said that’s although we suffered Mc’s it was a start that they do want to stick. I had blood tests after the 2 mc and they found nothing. Not sure if we should investigate further or move clinic. We are in Scotland so not really much options. Hugs to u xxx

[Claire_2018 in reply to WeeJacs]

How frustrating when you had such good grades embryos. What dose of stims were you on? I’ve always had the highest dose and wonder if this impacts on the egg quality at all.

It’s probably definitely worth investigating further but it’s such a hard road. Maybe consider other clinics but maybe take your time and consider your options. Hugs and good luck xx

[WeeJacs in reply to Claire_2018]

250mg of stimms. Yes I will consider before picking another clinic thinking abroad so having a look at some of them. It’s like a minefield tho. Good to get advice and support from others xxx

[KiboXX]

Hi Claire,

Sorry to hear you’ve been through multiple failed cycles, it never gets any easier. Have you been told the issue is your eggs? Just wondering what the history is with your three cycles?

It took me 4 fresh rounds to get a BFP that stuck xx

[Claire_2018 in reply to KiboXX]

Hi there

Congrats on your BFP it’s so nice to hear success stories! Yes told it was my eggs most probably due to endo which I’ve had most of my life but didn’t realise I had it. Also my husband has a sperm issue which meant we had to do Isci.

Our 1st round we had long protocol with 8 eggs fertilised and only 1 to transfer. Second round long protocol again 5 eggs fertilised and none to transfer. Third round short protocol. 3 eggs fertilised and only 1 transferred. Never had anything to freeze. ☹️

I think they only moved to short protocol because I asked and always on highest dose of drugs which probably doesn’t help either! Any suggestions for what worked for you on your fourth round? Thanks

[KiboXX in reply to Claire_2018]

Thank you! I don’t have endo but I do have a low AMH and my hubby has a sperm issue as well. First three cycles I did long protocol on Gonal F. Never had anything to freeze either, first two I had to do a day 2 transfer because of the numbers dropping off. Third cycle we used a time lapse incubator and we managed to get 1 day 5 blast.

I was convinced we were failing because my eggs were crap and we decided to get a second opinion and move clinics for our fourth round. They tested me for everything, NK, Thrombophilia and karotyping. All came back fine so I stopped taking any extras we had tried previously like blood thinners and intralipids.

Did a short protocol on a combo of Menopur & Bemfola for stims, we ended up with 3 blasts in the freezer. I couldn’t believe it based on what we had previously. We did a freeze all cycle and this pregnancy is from the first transfer.

I honestly think the game changer was changing clinics, the protocol was more suited to me and I think there lab is much newer and better which makes a huge difference.

I would have at least a consultation with another clinic before giving up on your own eggs. There is absolutely nothing wrong with going down the donor route but I would want be sure that I had at least got a second opinion first. My new clinic is in London, not sure if that’s useful for you but happy to send you details if it is!xx

[Claire_2018 in reply to KiboXX]

Great thanks for the info. What dose were you on for your 4th cycle? Definitely an option so thanks. Would you mind messaging me the clinic? Thanks

[KiboXX in reply to Claire_2018]

I was on 300 Bemfola & 75 Menopur. Previous cycles I was on 225 Gonal F. I got around the same amount of eggs but much better fertilisation and development. I’ll message you the clinics name xx

[Claire_2018 in reply to KiboXX]

Great thanks x

[haileyp85]

Hi My friend was a donor for me after I found out I had a low ovarian reserve . I have birth to a baby boy 3 weeks ago x

[Claire_2018 in reply to haileyp85]

Aw lovely news congrats x

[fay2399 in reply to haileyp85]

Such a lovely friend...congratulations

[KC-UK]

Hi Claire,

I’ve read your post, I’m in the same boat as you. I have stage 4 ends and after two failed cycles, I’m wondering if best route forward for me is donor eggs. I was on prostap to stop my period for 10mths and I have been off it for 3.5mths but haven’t got my period yet 😕...really worried

Hubby & I are considering donor option. Would love to hear how you get on. x

Regards

KC

[Claire_2018 in reply to KC-UK]

Hi there it’s so hard to know what to do what’s best. Sorry your periods haven’t come back yet. I’ve had prostap before and it really messed everything up (body and mind). It’s probably just trying to work it’s way out of your system. Fingers crossed they come back soon.

Will let you know how I get on but it’s taking me a while to get my head around things and what to do for the best. I wish I had a crystal ball xx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Claire. Have you had a hysteroscopy? If not it might be an idea, so they can see if your womb is OK and take a biopsy of your womb lining for testing. Gives the specialist a good "map" of your womb in preparation for treatment. Good luck! Diane

[Claire_2018 in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane. I’ve had a laparoscopy and the doctor said my womb looked healthy but didn’t have any biopsy taken at the time. I just assumed it would be ok. Thanks for the advice. Hope you’re ok x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Claire_2018]

Hi. My pleasure. I'm fine thanks, just locked away like everyone else! Diane xx

[WeeJacs in reply to DianeArnold]

Hi Diane I’m near enough in the same position as Claire. I have had everything hsg, karotyping, laparoscopy endo treated as best they could, I do feel much better for it. Can they tell from the lap what your womb is like? I’ve always wondered about this but it’s never been offered. Hope your keeping safe xxx

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to WeeJacs]

Hi. If your lap was combined with your HSG, then they can see the internal shape of the womb, and of course during the lap they see the outside. A hysteroscopy is a more in depth procedure where they can see the structure too and take a biopsy of the womb lining. You can always ask your specialist what was clearly seen during your laparoscopy. Diane

[WeeJacs in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane this wasn’t mention but I will ask at my next appointment xxx

[Bunnywoo]

Hi Claire_2018, I had a whole suite of tests following secondary infertility and 3 early MCs. The tests showed up high NK cells, ademyosis, low AMH and hubby had DNA fragmentation. It was really reassuring to have the tests as it showed to me a number of problems that somehow can be fixed. We opted straight for donor eggs due to low AMH, and the clinic we are with offers ICSI as standard (which helps against the DNA fragmentation, it doesnt offer anything more advanced like IMSI) but the clinic doesn't really agree with the NK cell theory. Which worries me slightly, but I am trying to just follow their lead. So it may be worth seeing what the tests may actually help you achieve. In a way it feels like I may have wasted my money, but then it did give me the answers I really wanted.

We haven't got to a transfer yet due to what feels the world being against us - a complete failure for any embryos to reach Day5 with our first donor, then a polyp was found which needed to be removed, meaning i couldn't have a fresh transfer with the second donor, and the Covid19 situation then cancelling everything (2 weeks away from first ever FET). We have 6 good grade embies in the freezer ready and waiting for the crazy world outside to get a little less crazy

The choice of using donor eggs is a huge decision, but there are so many supportive ladies on here that have helped me and I can't thank them enough. Good luck with your journey xx

[Picalilli99 in reply to Bunnywoo]

Hi Bunnywoo. Do you mind me asking how they confirmed you had adenomyosis? Which tests did they do for this? This has been a possibility raised by a couple of different clinicians along my journey but I’ve never had any specific tests for it, so would be keen to know (mainly just to get some answers either way like you mentioned). Much appreciated xxx

[Bunnywoo in reply to Picalilli99]

Yes no problem, they actually spotted during a hysterscopy. The suite of tests I had included a hysterscopy and biopsy for the NK cells. Does that help? Xx

[Picalilli99 in reply to Bunnywoo]

That’s great thanks. Were these tests at an NHS hospital? Or a private/more specialist clinic? Thanks xx

[Bunnywoo in reply to Picalilli99]

They were at a private ivf clinic, I did lots of research into which ones offered a load of investigations into recurrent miscarriages. It's actually a different clinic to the one which we are using for our donor egg IVF though. I can pm you the clinic name if you like? Xx

[Picalilli99 in reply to Bunnywoo]

Yes please if you don’t mind, that would be great thanks xx

[Claire_2018 in reply to Bunnywoo]

Hi Bunnywoo. Thanks for the info on the tests. My main worry is that the clinic have never looked in to any issues with my husbands sperm and they have always said it’s the endo and my eggs. I wonder if we do go ahead with donor eggs that they also find an issue with the sperm and it’s more money wasted!

Well good luck with when hopefully lockdown is over and you can finally proceed! Such fab news that you have some good embryos. Good luck xx

[fay2399]

Hi Clair,There’s no guarantee that donor eggs works as well... if you trying with fresh eggs you have a good chance...

I’m all stressed as I’m trying with frozen eggs and only 8😏

Is so unlucky that fertility is not that advanced compared to other area in science...

Hope it works for you xx

[Laurapax]

Hi Claire_2018 hope you are well. Appreciate this is an older post now but I find myself in the exact same distressing situation and would love to know how you got on. Sending hugs xxx.