Donor Egg quality in UK v abroad

[Runnergirl40]

I have had 1 round of donor egg ICSI. I had 6 frozen eggs, 5 survived the thaw and only 1 egg fertilised. My understanding was it developed to a small blastocyst and was transferred on day 6. Got a BFN.

I am waiting for the follow appointment from this round.

Was wondering as only 1 egg had fertilised that it could be likely that the eggs were poor quality. If this was the case, thinking of our next steps.

Next round we will have to pay. When choosing a UK donor other than physical characteristics was there anything else you were looking for in a donor ie their lifestyle on the profile, age, whether they had children? My donor was 25, been to university, never had children. I know everyone is different and you never know the lifestyle that someone has led before being a donor etc. Of course forever grateful to the donors.

Or have you found the egg quality abroad has been better? Likely the lifestyle of egg donors abroad could be better not necessarily the case as you never know.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi. Should anyone want to mention a clinic by name, please do so by private message, so as not to advertise. Thank you. Diane

[Marisa32]

I think using fresh eggs rather than frozen eggs helps to increase the number of embryos. I was planning on using a donor in Czech Republic. She was only 23 but we got 8 eggs at retrieval, 7 fertilized, 6 blastos, 5 PGS normal. Also have to be sure sperm has no issues, as that may play a role. Can't comment on live birth from these, as I got pregnant naturally right before any of these were transfered.

[Runnergirl40 in reply to Marisa32]

It does seem that abroad like to use fresh eggs for donor egg transfer. That was a good number of embryos. Yes when I have my follow up appointment, I am hoping that they can tell me the reason why only one fertilised. Congratulations on your pregnancy x

[Cinderella5]

Definitley consider a fresh egg cycle. Embryos freeze way better than eggs. We did fresh aboard and my OH had a very low sperm count that were also lazy and eith ICSI we did really well on the blastocyst front. Can your clinic suggest what they think the issue could have been? We eventually had success with twins and I know a fair few DE ladies through this forum that also has success but most had fresh eggs too.xx

[Runnergirl40 in reply to Cinderella5]

Yes will definitely consider fresh eggs next time. Same here my husband has a low sperm count and also lazy and when we had our initial consultation they weren’t concerned about it. I have my follow up appointment in a couple of weeks so I will ask what they seem to think the issue is. I will send you a private message as I got a few questions, hope you don’t mind. Xx

[JenRoy]

Sounds like an egg issue to me. And frozen eggs definitely don’t do as well as fresh. My donor is 23. She gave us 19 eggs and we got 15 blastocysts!! We froze the best 9 as the embryologist felt the other 6 wouldn’t survive freeze/thaw. Sorry about your BFN. So disappointing for you. I hope you get answers and a fantastic new donor!

We mainly asked for young age and physical match with a preference for uni education but not a deal breaker. We didn’t mind if no children.

[Runnergirl40 in reply to JenRoy]

Yes I will look to use fresh eggs next time. You did well on your embryos. I expecting around half to fertilise. I will send you a private message to ask a question. X

[Ladycoco20]

Sorry for your bfn , so heartbreaking 💔 I’m with a Greek clinic DEIVF pls feel free to msg me xx