No embryos made it to blastocyst

This forum has defintly kept me going through my 2nd icsi cycle. I have loved reading and supporting posts of mommy dreams finally coming true, felt the pain of those posts that the end of the road- infertility cab be truly heartbreaking.

In just 10 minutes I changed from being content I could do no more/calm to then being told none of the 7 eggs fertilsed made it to blastocyst. We got the call from the embryologist on the way to the clinic for our transfer that she would have a chat when we got there....heart wrenching. We knew it was bad news. In our first cycle we got the call earlier that they wearnt quite ready the morning of transfer-🥺 although 2 good good blastocysts did get transfered it was bfn for us after 2ww😭

We had hoped that the two embryos they kept back to today would make blastocyst today but they didnt. They hadn't changed from yesterday. Our hope completely gone Cycle number 2 over.

They put it down to a bad batch of eggs, even though this time we were on long protocal-

Feeling heartbroken, angry alone...not to mention this time I didn't drink for 3 months, improved diet and walked most days with yoga- how could we get none to transfer? it is even rare- for this to happen- keep asking why over and over in my head?

Im over analysing everything, DH mortitality was just 3% even after taking impryl for 3 months. I was taking infolic. I've been worried through this cycle that although he has cut down on the booze, just 2 weeks before EC he mixed a small bottle of vodka and juice i found in the garden..... after this he didn't drink much he, but he didn't give up drinking like i did. He doesn't think he has a drink dependancy problem (past discussions have made him angry) but he did sometimes consuming up to 20 units a week at the start of the cycle...i know I shouldn't place blame just on his shoulders but I am trying to find answers.

I have no idea what to do now,

To go for number 3?- although this will be self funded

Consider changing clinic?

Go abroad for treatment?

Adoption ?

Where do you start? My body and mind are 💔

We will ask for further tests on sperm...egg quality they said they cant do much- and age isent on my side at 39.

Why is infertility so gut wrenching heartbreaking?🥺🥺

[treezuk]

I’m so sorry to hear what you’ve been though what a heart wrenching journey I haven’t been though something similar so I can’t relate but I didn’t want to not say anything either.

We had several natural miscarriages After having a child (his 11) and then I was diagnosed with premature ovarian failure and told my only hope was donor eggs at first I was distraught and had to grieve for what was going on and try to get myself informed when we finally did get ourselves sorted we looked into all our options and went to the fertility show in London we spoke to so many clinics that day but one stuck out for us they were very supportive from the get go and werent pushy like some they just took some

Details and contacted us from

Greece a few days later and that started the ball rolling - we spoke through both own egg and donor egg and decided that donor egg was gonna be the better option for us both money wise and not having constant failures with own eggs.

I’m pleased to say it took one loss and 4 transfers but we now have twin boys 15m old and couldn’t be happier , and one of the boys looks like me and one like dad so even the matching skills were fantastic we couldn’t fault the clinic at all from start to finish - I would 100% suggest going abroad especially if funds are tight and you wanna give it one last push.

[Hidden in reply to treezuk]

Thank you for your lovely message of hope, thats so wonderful that after everything you got your mommy dream

we will have the usual review with the Dr, hopefully a semen analysis done and ask some questions to see our next steps could be. Its useful to know your experience abroad worked, We have been thinking of abroad as an option mainly because of the money. It feels like such a minefield especially given this latest pandemic. Would you mind inboxing the details and the doctor, did you also have a holiday there? I have heard the care abroad is more personable. We would defintly like to explore abroad as an.option now. I found it less on this cycle, thats hard as its such a trying experience. You've given hope thank you so much ❤

[treezuk in reply to Hidden]

No worries at all I’m glad it’s given you some hope it’s hard to see the bigger picture sometimes but you eventually will get there just sometimes it takes a little bit longer.

I will msg you the details now.

We did both a fly in fly out and holiday the clinic is about an hour from beautiful halkadiki so there is the potential to base yourself there and then drive back and forth we decided against that instead we stayed in the town and did a few days trips.

[cggregory]

Hi, love. I went through this on my last cycle...15 normal fertilizations and no blastocysts. We have unexplained infertility, so no answers to be had, really. Trying a different protocol next time to see if the outcome changes. I don’t have much advice, but I know how unbelievably devastating that phone call is. I’m so sorry you’re going through this.

[Hidden in reply to cggregory]

ah thank you, I'm so sorry, its soul destroying isent it, especially as I always thinking getting to EC is tough. I do hope your next protocal is successful ❤

Will have some time out now nothing will happen until our review so just gonna have to ride this pain train for now🚆 wishing you all the very best x

[cggregory in reply to Hidden]

Thank you!! Starting stims next week so fingers crossed. Hang in there, and feel free to message me whenever.

[Hidden in reply to cggregory]

Ah thank you, will do, good luck with stims hope this one has a better result for you. We got our review next week so hooing that we still got options all be it we will be funding this one our selves x

[Cinderella5]

Hey I'm so sorry, this happened to us in out first round and I was heartbroken....I didn't even know this could happen. We went to to try twice more (after taking DHEA to improve egg quality) and get 2 early blastocysts (bfn) then 1 decent blastocyst (bfn). We basically got told they were putting it down to my age and that egg quality was the factor. I was 38 at that time and my hubby has severely low sperm count and poor motility. I was not expecting that! The clinic said we had a 5% chance of success with my own eggs which was devastating to hear. I did my own research and it did indeed look like egg quality was an issue. We moved onto DE abroad for our next cycle and got 6 top blastocysts so I guess that sealed the theory. Ask your clinic out straight what their thoughts are? What are your chances of this happening again? Can they change anything for future? Hugs, it's a shit day for you. Do whatever makes you both feel better....cry, eat chocolate, drink wine, and hold each other tight....xxx

[Hidden in reply to Cinderella5]

thank you so much for your hopeful message❤ i defintly will ask those questions, its funny the 1st cycle I felt like a rabbit in headlights now I feel like i know so much more about the process, it doesn't make it any easier though, Its great your doing your own research , where are you now in the process? we will defintly be doing our research. I spoke with my DH about egg donation id be happy to go to that option if we had to, if its sperm issue he said he wouldn't do sperm donner - what was the clinic abroad , it would defintly be worth me looking. Your message has given me hope, thanks so much x

[Cinderella5 in reply to Hidden]

We have had a couple of BFPs but they didnt stick unfortunately. Gearing up to try again. My husband is the same, ok with DE but not ok with DS which I understand. We decided to go to Greece as the waiting lists are non existent and the donation is anonymous unlike in the UK. It's not for everyone but definitley a very good option of you can get your head around finishing up with your OE. Ask the clinic loads, write down your questions....I always found that helped as I forgot everything when I sat in front of a Dr. Good luck.xx

[Hidden in reply to Cinderella5]

Thanks for your advice I will do- can you inbox the details of the clinic it be good to keep our options open. If I have any questions I'll inbox you if thats ok❤

[Hidden]

I am so sorry to hear about your difficult experience. It is so upsetting. Have you tried DHEA, Coq10 and acupuncture? As the other lady said, sometimes changing your protocol could make a difference.

I know a lady who was 46 and gave birth a baby using her own eggs. So you aren't old at all. Sending you lots of good vibes! Try for another cycle if you are ready. Xx

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your lovely message ❤ no i haven't tried those, do you have a reccomended brand? accupunture I was meant to start before our second cycle but covid 19 etc didn't start- did it help you?

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Hi Jaten, I have used Qunol Mega coq10 and DHEA from PipingRock. I would recommend going to a fertility acupuncturist if you can. Best of luck! X

[Peony85]

Hi Jaten, sorry to hear you’ve had this experience. I have as well, just a few weeks ago, after doing the same protocol that had previously resulted in 3 blastocysts. The odd thing was for us, that we were way healthier this time than in the last round, where I think I did 3 trips to the US in the 6 weeks preceding the cycle. We’ve gone back to the drawing board a bit, switching from short to long for the next protocol. We are also awaiting feedback on some more experimental add-one that show some promise in cases like ours but the studies are really limited. I also have added some new supplements. It’s worth checking out the book It Starts with the Egg which has a lot on supplements for egg quality.

For us - we aren’t ready to move to DE yet as we feel we haven’t exhausted the options with my own. Also knowing we were able to get pregnant before (and saw a heartbeat - even though we later miscarried) has kept us going on this path. It’s a really personal choice depending on circumstances and know that keeping going wouldn’t be right for everyone. Wishing you the best with your next steps xx

[Hidden in reply to Peony85]

thank you so much for your lovely message, its crazy isent it the healthier you the worst it is sometimes. The docs thought that long protocal would slow my response down as short accelerated it but it seems I didn't respond how they have hoped. Good luck with cycle, may I ask what supplements and add ons to treatment you had?

We are looking at having a comet sperm test - not sure what they can do re egg quality.

Wishing you well ❤ X