Low number of eggs retrieved, low fertilisation rate (low ovarian reserve)

[Skittles11]

Hi

So we had our egg collection with our new clinic yesterday and I have to say I am so disappointed with our numbers. We had:

5 eggs collected, 4 mature, only 2 have fertilised (an extra one fertilised but in an "ambiguous" way so it is likely non-viable).

I find the low numbers quite distressing.

I was on different drugs to those I have tried before, doctor expected 6-8 eggs. It was also our first time trying ICSI due to harder egg shells rather than male factor.

I have had 0 eggs in the past so clearly it is better than that, but I have also had 6 eggs on cycles two and three. It probably was unrealistic to expect a dramatic difference in trying somewhere new but I at least hoped for like-for-like.

Has anyone had similar numbers at egg collection and fertilisation and what was your outcome? It is becoming very difficult to continue to hope after 0 eggs and a TFMR combined with generally low numbers at every point.

My doctor wants to do a back to back cycle and we therefore need to debrief this outcome in the next few days. Any suggestions of questions to ask or discussion points?

Thank you as always xx

(I also hope this does not trigger anyone as I also realise these numbers are better than some may have. It is all relative and I know its hard when you might wish for such numbers and someone else may be disheartened with them).

[hazzahill12]

Hi

I am 36 and had very similar results

Although I was always told this would be the case by drs.

I got 4 eggs first cycle only two fertilised and only one fertilised normally and went on to be a 5AB blastocyst which I had transferred but not successful.

My second round almost the same except 3 fertilised 2 abnormal and again just one normally that made it to day 6 blastocyst and I have frozen this one.

I guess in my head I’m not ready for a donner option and so to only get one is as they say is all you need. Although this can become very stressful & costly as you have so little to use and end up doing full cycles each time to just get one or perhaps none.

I was on the long protocol and had zolodex for 6 months before. I also have endometriosis and adenomyosis also took Uberquinicol and DHEA.

I changed my focus to trying to get as many good embryos as possible before thinking about any transfer.

Sorry might not be very positive but it was my experience.

However, I then fell naturally after my second cycle and am now 38 weeks pregnant. So miracles can happen. Please stay strong.

[Missionofendo]

Sending my very best wishes to you my friend remember it only takes one 🙏💙

I’m thinking of you,

Claire x

[Skittles11 in reply to Missionofendo]

Thank you Claire, that's lovely of you. Hope you are taking good care of yourself xx

[Fudge1980]

I was 36 at ER I got 4eggs all fertilised but we ended up with 2 on day 5. One fresh transfer (chemical) and one FET = BFP!!! It can happen with low numbers. You want nice quality embryos/embryo that are strong enough to keep growing after transfer 💗 stay positive and hold onto that hope 🤞🏼🙏🏼 I will have everything crossed for you lovely xx

[Hidden]

Hi! Don't be sad!My best friend who is 36 a month ago had her first egg retrievel. Got 4 eggs and 3 made it to day 5.

Me who is 29 had 2 egg retrievals in almost 1 year...1st 6 eggs, none made it to day 5...2nd 15 eggs and only 2 made it do day 5.

Sometimes it's not about quantity, it's about quality!!

I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you!!!!🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞🤞

[Hoop123]

I don't have any specific advice sorry but I just wanted to say that I have all my fingers crossed for you for some good news 🤞🤞🤞! And hopefully the debrief is helpful as you head into back to back cycles. There's certainly some good news stories from one or two embryos x

[Abloured84]

We always face a similar problem.

Doing ICSI due to (initially) a sperm issue but now it seems age is against me and I don’t get large numbers of eggs 😫

Cycle one - 6 eggs - 1 fertilised and went in for ET at day 3 - BFN

Cycle two- 6 eggs - 2 fertilised and went in as a double transfer day 3 - BFN

Cycle three now - EC tomorrow (as you know with “mum” 😫😂) - drugs have been increased and have 13 follicles (not all will be eggs I know ) but am not expecting large fertilisation numbers given our padded history.

What annoys me is I feel the clinics dismiss when I ask why we are failing to get the “70%” fertilisation expectancy .

[Skittles11]

Thank you everyone for sharing your stories. I appreciate it as it does help to see that things can turn around and also helps me feel less alone xx

[Llizzie]

Hi there, it’s so hard not to focus on the numbers, because we look at fertilised eggs as X many chances to have a baby. I got 14 eggs (we had MFI) but only one blastocyst and I felt disappointed and convinced it would fail. But it was the one we needed and my little boy is currently sleeping on me. I hated being told it only takes one but that’s what we needed - one right egg and one right sperm. I will be wishing for you that you find them x

[dexy1389]

Hi,

It’s definitely quality over quantity, so I wouldn’t worry about the number of eggs that much.. I was 39 when my third IVF cycle was successful- 4 eggs, 2 blastos, one is my 6 weeks baby boy and the other blastocyst is in the freezer. It’s only the quality of eggs- and you only need one good egg. I had some friends with really great egg numbers- 10, even 15 which ( according to my doctor), were bad quality and didn’t result in a BFP..

If you are a low responder, and your doctor is ready to implement this, I found this article so helpful academic.oup.com/humrep/art... Two tablets of 0.5 dexamethasone each day during the stimulation and during the 2WW - that was the only difference in my successful cycle where I was able to get 2 high quality blastos from only 4 eggs.. Good luck!!🍀

[Ivfgotadream]

Definitely agree with quality over quantity - my twins are from the cycle I only had 2 eggs x

[Em2022]

Hi Skittles,

I am 32 and had 10 eggs collected, 8 were mature and only two fertilised.

Try to remain as positive as you can, I know how hard that is because I spent the whole week crying and saying they were going to fail by day 5.

Both made it to day 5 blastocyst and were top quality.

I’m currently 20 weeks with one of them and the other has been frozen. It really does take one even though I didn’t feel like that during the week wait.

Best of luck to you and those embryos x

[Jana483]

Due to severe male factor infertility I would get high number of eggs but then only 3 or 4 would fertilize (icsi) and I don't even reach blasts or have embryos to freeze, I can only do 3rd day transfers.But the good news that I hope would make you feel better is a have a toddler and currently pregnant (4 fresh cycles and 6 transfers)

So really don't think about numbers you only need a good embryo!!!!

Good luck!!

[Pupster83]

I am 38 and have done 4 full rounds of ICSI with low nos of eggs retrieved each time. Round 1 - 3 egg none usable, round 2 - 5 eggs with 1 usable which was transferred and resulted in a missed miscarriage, round 3 - 2 eggs none usable, round 4 - 5 eggs eggs with 2 usable and both transferred at day 3. I had lost all hope and had no faith that our 4th round would work, so much so I had already phoned about setting up an appointment for donor egg treatment but it worked and I am currently 22 weeks pregnant. Low numbers are rubbish and so disappointing and I hated hearing “it only takes one good egg” but I now know it is true. You just have to keep hoping for that one good one! Good luck! X

[Zbez88]

I have been the same with both my rounds.

Round 1 I had 2 eggs collected, both fertilised and 1 was transferred on day 3 - that round ended in a bfn.

Round 2 which was 3 months later, they increased my meriofert and I had 4 eggs collected, they rang and said 2 had fertilised again and penciled me in for a 3 day transfer, however when I was about to leave for transfer the clinic rang to say one had fertilised late and I had 3 good embryos so I ended up having a day 5 transfer, I'm currently 36 weeks pregnant and the other 2 embryos were good enough to freeze.

Although it's disheartening to get a low number of eggs retrieved, anything can happen, good luck to you x

[Jjleo]

Don't give up! We only got 4 eggs, 2 fertilised and I had both put back on day 3. I'm now 23 weeks pregnant with twins!!

I too thought it eould fail and I was so distressed after the follicle scam I just didn't see any point. At 29 it was so hard to accept but it worked. Our first ivf cycle also so there are miracles.

Stay strong and fingers crossed for you xx

[Lau_22_uk]

Hi Skittles11,

On November 2021, I had EC only 4 eggs after 3 days only 2 fertilised, my doctor suggested to transfer 2 embryos day 3 which we did now I am 15wks pregnant and all good. So all you need is one egg. On previous treatment I had 7/ 8 fertilised but fail to implant. The only different thing I did this cycle was to see a fertility Accupunturerist. Fingers crossed all the best

[Mudra85]

Hi Skittles11 I'm so sorry things haven't gone the way you hoped for! This part of the process (waiting for the embryology results) is particularly tough and you're currently right in thick of it.

I haven't had your specific experience, but I do have a friend who got very similar numbers to you and despite not getting that many eggs each time she was able to get roughly two excellent quality blastocysts on each cycle. On one of her cycles they had just two fertilise, but those two went on to become top graded blastocysts. On the flipside, I ended up with only one PGT-A normal blastocyst after testing (which ended in a chemical pregnancy), despite having good numbers up until that stage. Quality is definitely more important than quantity.

I totally get that hopeless feeling. As you know, I've had a TMFR and a failed IVF cycle myself. The uncertainty of not knowing if it'll ever happen is exhausting. You're not alone in how you're feeling and it's completely normal to feel disheartened going through this emotionally draining process.

I'm keeping everything crossed that your two embryos make it!

Please feel free to PM me any time on here.

Take care xx

[AuroraXen]

Hi Skittles, I had a similar round in June - it was looking poor from my first day 8 scan to be honest and I was tempted to cancel. But we went ahead with EC and got 5, but only 2 were mature (I'd only had two large follicles at final scan). Both fertilised and we got classic 50% drop-off to give one day 5 4AB. BFN sadly but hopefully there is some reassurance that we got to day 5 at least! I'm sorry, it's so disappointing. I felt just wretched. That was basically 4 grand to get that one 4AB 😪If it's any consolation, my next (4th) fresh cycle was quite a lot better! xx

[Skittles11]

Thank you everyone, all really helpful input. I wish things could be different but I do find your words of comfort is so helpful at a time when I feel anxious and helpless xx