So on Thursday I had the retrieval and I was told that they managed to get 8, which I thought it was a good number and today I've been told that only 4 got fertilised....
This is my first cycle so I am trying to learn and understand lots of things.....
My question is.....is 4 a good number?? It feels like there is not going to be much option unless all of them are good quality.
2 days ago I was feeling so positive and today...I feel a bit down.
Any advice?
Thanks
My donor has just had egg collection, she had 7 eggs collected and 6 of them were mature, 4 of them fertilised.. 3 of them made good quality blastos and are in the freezer. It can be more than enough so please try not to feel despondent. Good luck xx
Thanks for your feedback😊.... I think my problem is that I don't have any perspective on what's good or bad.
I will try to keep a positive mind otherwise I will go crazy
Bless you - to be honest there isn't really a normal. Some people get 22 eggs and have 1 embryo by the end, others get 4 and have 4. The main thing is you have some fertilised and now they need to do their stuff. Try and think positive - heaps of luck xx
Hey Daisy,
On my second round I had 3 collected, 2 fertilised and 1 made it to day 3 and was transferred.
I'm currently 8 days post transfer and got a BFP yesterday.
Don't dwell on the numbers too much, trust me that's what I did! I was convinced it wasn't going to work but it did! Still in shock to be honest!
You just need one to make it and as of now you have 4 chances so I would take that as a positive!
Fingers crossed for you 🤞🏻❤
🤞 you are right I have to think about the one that they will implant, that's the key!!!
Thanks
Hi MammaMia. Ideally we always look for more, but if the 4 grow on to blastocyst, then that is not so bad. Fingers crossed they all behave and get to Day 5 successfully. Diane
Thanks! I have crossed all my fingers.... 🤞🤞I confessed that I was hoping for more.
I mistakenly thought that because it was the first time my body was going through the stimulation, I was going to be able to produce more mature ovaries. I guess I was naive
Hi. We always wish for more, but if these are good, then keep those fingers crossed. Thinking of you. Diane
Thanks😘 I will hope now for super A quality
I'd be happy with this number ❤ quality is the most important thing. Come on little embies! X
Thanks for your reply!! I am getting happier the more I think about it. I will cross my finger for good quality🤞🤞🤞
🥰
Hi Daisy, you seem to be in the same boat I found myself in after egg collection: I only had 4 eggs, though all 4 fertilised.
I was devastated, but the first embryologist we spoke to said in the vast majority of cases at least half make it through. He was right! We ended up with 2 making it as far as day five (4ab and 4bb blasts) and being frozen (we weren't doing fresh transfer).
Wishing you so much luck! Wouldn't it be amazing if they all made it to blast?! ⭐
It would be the most amazing thing!!! I think I will be dreaming about that from now until we found out.
It's fantastic your case!!! How many are planning on transfer?
Something that really helped me through the wait was thinking a) anything we get would be a positive result—it's proof we can make an embryo! b) even if we don't get anything, the doctors will learn so much about our case through doing this round.
And thank you! We were relieved to have something to freeze! We will be doing a second round in January in the hope of getting at least one more for the freezer and one to transfer fresh. The main reason we couldn't do a transfer this time was I had a polyp removed, so my womb might not have been hospitable.
I hope you have a smooth recovery from the polyp removal.
I am so glad to be able to talk and be able to share all these experiences with others that are in similar situation because it is a great support.
Thank you so much for letting me see the positive side😊 and you are right we can produce an embryo, which it is a first for us, so it is a step forward
I think this is definitely a decent result! 👌 A 50% drop-off is very common, and tends to continue through to blastocyst numbers (but equally, all 4 may make it!). It is completely natural to hope for more of course- we all do 😍 But it just isn't realistic for many of us. And you often read on here of large numbers of eggs leading to only one 5 day embryo, for instance. 8 collected and 4 fertilised is super. Hopefully the quality is good and you'll get a great outcome 🤞The wait is very tough 😣💜 xx
I think that I have learnt a lot from this cycle so far.....
1. Take 1 or 2 days off on the retrieval day (I wasn't expecting to have the discomfort I felt.
2. Have more realistic expectations
3. Expect half the number of embryos from the early mature ovaries.
I am sure I will keep on learning as this process moves along.
I don't lose hope on having the 4 making it to blastocyst in great quality.
Trying to keep my mind busy...but sometimes it is not easy.
Thanks for your best wishes
I understand your mixed feelings about it. I’ve done 2 collections now, on my first cycle in 2020 I had 9 eggs collected 5 fertilised and then 3 made it to blastocysts one of which I did get pregnant with however miscarried.
Second round in the summer I had 10 collected with 4 fertilising and then 3 making it to blastocysts (all frozen ready for new year).
I know it’s disappointing when you hear the numbers drop however it really is quality over quantity.
Best of luck to you xxxx
Thanks!!!! You are absolutely right I have to pray for quality of those embryos.
I am sure your next round will work!!
I think I read somewhere, that sometimes the first pregnancy there is a miscarriage because the body doesn't know what to do, but on the second pregnancy has learnt it and it is able to remember what it should do.
2023 is our year!!!!
Yes exactly the same as me! And I gave birth to a beautiful boy from the one they put back in me on the 08/11/21 😍 All the very best ❤️
This gives me hope!!! Thanks for your support😘
Hey, it's understandable to feel like they especially with your first time. My first time around I had 22 eggs collected, 8 fertilised, 3 made it to blasto and was frozen. I had a frozen transfer for one and that resulted in my currently 7 month baby! So don't lose hope! Good luck! X
What would I do without all of you??? Thank you for sharing you story I realised that the quality is what matters and I can only hope for all of the to make it to blastocyst with a fantastic quality so they can froze some but I only need 1 to make it happen😘😘😘🤞🤞🤞
It is like people have already said - you never know really. You just got to let them develop and hope they are all good quality!
Like Hidden said - all 4 could be good quality and keep developing or not.
We had 9 eggs collected, 8 fertilised, but 5 days later 6 did not make it and 2 did! So a higher fertilisation rate does not always mean a higher number embryos at the end.
Hoping they all will keep developing beautifully for you!! 🤞🧡 Wishing you all the best with your round!!
Thanks for the support !!! I have all my fingers cross thinking that they will developed. I wish I was having a camera to monitor the evolution 😁
Please try to stay positive, I know how difficult it is as I was in your shoes a few weeks ago! I had 10 collected, 8 mature and only 2 fertilise.
I’m now pregnant and we have the other one frozen.
I was devastated but everyone kept telling me that it only takes one and it really did.
My clinic said it’s all about quality not quantity!
Best of luck 🤍
Thank you thank you, it feels so good to here your story. It gives me so much hope, I don't know how to describe it😍😍
Hi 👋, I totally get the concern I felt the same on my second cycle. I only had two that fertilised, one was transferred day three the other did not make it. I was devastated 😢. However, even though it felt like the odd were stacked against me the little one stuck and I now have a crazy little three year old ❤️ .
Thanks! I realised that even these are the numbers this round, it doesn't mean it cannot happen and also if we have to go through it again it might be different.
It is so amazing your story! Full of hope for anyone😍 thanks
I only had three eggs collected & only one made it to a good quality blastocyst - I’m now seven months pregnant with our daughter. It only takes one!
So different how I feel from yesterday than today, and it is thanks to all of you.
By the stories you are telling me have made me see this as not something bad and it has give me hope.
😍😍 thank you I don't have words to describe it
I only had 4 retrieved and 2 fertilised via ICSI I had a 3 day transfer and now have a beautiful little girl who is now 9 months 
Just remember it only takes one x
😍😍😍 you are right it only matters 1!!!💪💪💪 thanks
Hey, I thought I would try and put your mind at rest a little, my first round we had 6 eggs collected two fertilised and only one made it to a 2day transfer…bfn. My second round almost got cancelled as I only 2 follicles but four managed to make it right at the end. I got four eggs, 3 fertilised and all three made it to day 5. We got our first BFP which did end in chemical unfortunately and the other two weren’t good enough spec to freeze. However we thought that the second round was the terrible and it ended in our best yet. Bigger numbers don’t always mean better quality. I have everything crossed for you x
Such a rollercoaster, the numbers are not always the key.
Thanks for telling me about your story I hope you are continuing the path, as I am sure that now that your body has been able to get pregnant once, it will be able to happened again😍😍 best of luck
Hi I would say be very positive with 4. Some women have lots and then non make it and others 4 and 3 make it after the 5day wait. It really is just so different and unique for each woman’s story.What I will say is it only takes one and I had 9 eggs collected, only one fertilised due to the sperm and that only one made it to day 5, it then implanted and I’m pregnant. Try your hardest to be positive .
I have to confess that I was worried about the sperm side as my husband has motility and quantity, so the fact we were able to get 4 fertilised was so good to hear. I cannot wait for transfers day!!!😁🤞🤞... so good to know that you are pregnant now😍😍
Hey MammaMia, feels like such a rollercoaster doesn't it after egg collection. I have recently gone through egg collection from my first round of IVF (after 5 failed rounds of IUI) and had 22 mature eggs. Only 10 had fertilised by the next day which I thought ah well that's nearly 50% surely that's good. I then had to wait for that call everyday, 9, 5, 2, 1....only 1 made it to day 5 blastocyst. I guess they keep telling me you only need one so trying to stay positive! By this point they had also diagnosed me with OHSS so we had to freeze to give my body time to recover. Now my worry is what if that one little blastocyst doesn't survive the thaw and we are left with nothing. Kind of glad we are getting the break now over Xmas even if it means recovering from OHSS. I wish you all the best and sending you lots of positive vibes! I know sometimes it's hard to feel positive, but as they say, it only takes one so I have my fingers crossed for you xx
I can see that now....to be honest I never thought that someone with lots of mature eggs would not have many getting to blastocyst. Such a rollercoaster for all of us. But everybody is right what matters is 1and my thoughts from now until the day of the blood test are going to be positive 😍😍😍.
Thank you for tell me your story, best moment to have a break is now Christmas is always busy and crazy and then in 2023 your baby will come😘😘
Maybe or maybe not? If you are looking for positive stories, both of my successful pregnancies were from egg retrievals (@36 & 39) of 8 eggs where only 4 were mature and fertilized. So I'm one of those in the quality vs quantity boat.
If you are looking for a dose of reality, they reckon over 35 you need 25-30 mature eggs (not from 1 retrieval but total) to have 1 live birth. So if this round does work out it may be a numbers game and another round will 😀
Good luck!
You are right and we cannot forget that there is a factor that it is important, which is the numbers.
But I admit that thanks to this forum and all the amazing stories that people shared here I was able to realised that numbers is not the only important factor. This is what I am choosing to focus on.
Thank you so much for writing to me, I wish I was able to thank each and everyone in person😘😘
Hi MammaMia86
I can totally understand your worry but from personal experience 4 can be more than enough. One of my cycles from 6 eggs collected, 4 fertilised and 2 made it to day 5 and were frozen.
Sometimes IVF can also be unpredictable as Daisy 1245 mentioned because I had another round were I had lots more eggs collected and none were frozen. However after that disastrous round, I had a round were 5 fertilised and on day 3, 4 were looking good, I transferred 2 on day 3 and one stuck- currently 29 weeks pregnant. Another 1 out of the remaining 2 made it to day 5 and was frozen.
It just helps to be as positive as can be as so much is outside your control. I will be rooting for you and your embryos 🙏🏾
Thank you so much!!!! I am definitely on a positive mindset right now😊
I think after accepting the news yesterday, now I am looking forward to transfer day.
You are so close to have your baby with you😍😍 how exciting👏👏
Thank you so much for your kind words. ❤️
Please do keep us posted on your progress…
I will thanks😍😍
The number isn’t the only important factor, try not to let it get you down! Our first round we had 8 fertilize, only 1 passed genetic testing, and that little one is now my 1 year old boy ❤️
You are right!!! And I will pray to be as lucky as you. 1 fantastic embryo to make it through and stick. Only positive thoughts from now on😊😊
Thanks for sharing😍 it means a lot
It’s all relatively important, numbers and quality.
I know that collecting too many eggs is not good either, as usually they tend to lack in quality when they retrieve so many. An average of 8-15 eggs is good. I had 16 retrieved and had OHSS for a week.
In terms of quality, I transferred a 5AA blastocyst, I which was healthy, and I miscarried. All the tests on the fetus and on me (anticoagulant, thyroid, antibodies etc) came back normal.
So even when you transfer a top quality one there are no guarantees!
Of course you can end up with only one fertilised and you can give birth to that child, that’s true! But in the end of the day we hope in having something to freeze too.
Best of luck xxx
You are right, for me I felt a bit gutted because I would like to have some embryos frozen. It gives me hope, and it is silly because that it it is no guarantee of anything.
I think with this first cycle I am learning to have perspective, learn from the experience and not to loose hope.
Thanks for writing to me😊
It was my first cycle in July and when they told me they retrieved 16 eggs I was so disappointed, see how naive I was 😅I have PCOS so I have numbers but do not have quality apparently.
In the end I had a top quality one who did not stay (although this might be for some reasons we still have not found out).
It might be that one of my frozen that are not as nice in quality will stick and stay, who can tell!
Keep us posted on your progress xxx
It is frustrating this process lots of variables and so much out of our control.
One of the most difficult parts it is to accept that it is a long journey, but I believe that it will happen to all of us😍🤞🤞
Always believe it will! x
I had my egg collection Thursday too. I got 7 eggs and only 3 have fertilised. Hoping to have at least 1 embryo to transfer on day 5 Tuesday. If we get frozen too then that’s a bonus at this point. I feel so scared and nervous that with it being a seemingly lower number my odds of them surviving and being good quality seem low. But have to try and stay positive and hope for the best. Try not to worry about numbers and just focus on that perfect end result we all dream of and fingers crossed it’ll work. Wish you all the best. Good luck x
We are in the same situation Tuesday will be my transfer day....
Why do you think that the odds are low on getting good quality?
Is this your first one?
It’s my second egg collection. I had first one earlier in the year, only got 6 eggs, 4 fertilised, of those 4, 2 didn’t make it, got 1 day 5 transfer and 1 frozen, but unfortunately neither worked for me. So I’m just scared that these 3 won’t make it, I’m 38 now and we’re trying all the extras this time so I’m just fearful of it not working in general, but that isn’t healthy! Good luck for Tuesday sending lots of baby dust your way x
Good luck to you too!!! I will stay positive and I hope you too😊 we are going through this and it will happen 💪💪💪
One follicle, stage 4 endometriosis and egg collection decision 
12 eggs collected, 8 fertilised, 4 top grade, ET tomorrow! 
Is 6 eggs enough?
***SENSITIVE POST**** 12 week scan
How many eggs is enough? 
