Both high quality embryos didn’t survive thawing. Surely can’t be right? Is that just bad luck?

[Doglover5]

Posted this morning that we lost one embryo through thawing now both. Both high quality. Surely that can’t be right. Beyond devastated.

[Redsequin]

Oh no. I’m so so sorry. That is devastating. Does your clinic’s lab usually have a good track record? Have they been able to give you any idea why this might have happened? Of course it can just be bad luck, but I still think I’d want to give me some reassurance about their process/possible answers why your embryos both didn’t make it. Sending hugs xxx

[Doglover5 in reply to Redsequin]

I’m not entirely sure on their record. We didn’t really choose them as we had our Fresh round through NHS so kept our embryos there automatically. I don’t think they’re great For FETs but not sure. Can it be clinical error? It feels like the odds are all wrong to lose two when it’s 95% chance of survival xx

[Doglover5 in reply to Redsequin]

Thank you for your kind words xx

[butterfliez]

Hi I am so sorry that you’ve lost two embryos through the thaw process , it’s devastating & must be very hard to process how this can happen with both , on my 1st cycle a few years ago my only embryo didn’t survive the thaw. They say something like 95% survive.

I hope the clinic can give you some answers to why this happened .

Take care xx

[Doglover5 in reply to butterfliez]

Thank you lovely xx

[Sarakht]

Hi Really sad to hear both embryos not thawing. If I was you I would request my funding if with nhs to another clinic. It’s all very well going through the stimulation fertilisation ect but then having not thawing properly clearly at the hands of the embryologist. You can’t blame 2 embryos to bad luck! Are they freezing the embryos properly ect I think you can just question everything at this point.

[neverdance]

We had similar experience with a clinic in south London just last week. Our 5AA and 4AA didn’t survive thawing. We have asked questions but they didn’t give any definite answers. Mostly like “there are too many factors and it is hard to say”.

[Doglover5 in reply to neverdance]

Thanks for replying. So upsetting isn’t it. Such high hopes for strong embryos to just disappear in an instant xx

[joey81 in reply to neverdance]

@Never dance, Was this clinic King's?

[Seren0119]

Doesn’t sound right to me, I would insist on an investigation x

[Mudra85]

Hi Doglover, I'm so sorry you're having to go through this. It is beyond unfair!

Thaw survival rates are very high these days with vitrification (they should really be 95% at the very least). To give you an idea, it's upwards of 98% at my clinic, but it will vary between different clinics/labs

If your clinic is in the UK then you can find data on thaw survival rates for your clinic on the HFEA website. If you just google your clinic name, then HFEA you should be able to find your clinic page on the HFEA website. If you then scroll down and click on where it says 'detailed statistics' for your clinic you can then filter different options relevant to you. Once you've filtered and searched then there's a section that tells you why patients didn't get to embryo transfer stage, and one of the reasons given can be because the embryo/s didn't survive the thaw. Your clinic - one of the embryologists most likely - should be able to tell you their thaw survival rate too.

It probably is too difficult for them to say why your embryos didn't survive, but they should be able to give you details on what happened to them during the thawing process. For example, did the cells degenerate and at what point during thawing did that happen, or did the embryos survive initially and then later arrest.

Hoping you're able to get some more answers from your clinic if you would find that helpful.

[Doglover5 in reply to Mudra85]

Thank you. I couldn’t find anything on FETs on the detailed statistics. There’s no option only for IVF and ICSI

[Mudra85 in reply to Doglover5]

It can be a bit tricky. If you select IVF and ICSI as the treatment option, then select the option you want for age and then select fresh or frozen embryos with either donated or own eggs, and submit your search. Then in the next page under 'Cycle details' click to expand the 'Number of cycles cancelled between egg collection and embryo transfer' and you'll be able to see the reasons why patients didn't reach the embryo transfer stage. One of the reasons is 'Embryos did not thaw properly (when the cycle was using frozen embryos)'. This tells you exactly how many patients didn't get to embryo transfer stage because their embryos didn't thaw properly. If you're interested to know the data for your clinic but you're still having trouble, then if you PM me the name of your clinic I'd be happy to have a look for you.

[Doglover5 in reply to Mudra85]

Thank you so much x

[Doglover5 in reply to Mudra85]

I think I found the details although only goes back to 2017. It says zero so has happened to no one else 😢

[Mudra85 in reply to Doglover5]

I'm so sorry to hear that. It can feel so much worse thinking you're the only one this has happened to. It may be worth asking your clinic what their thaw survival rate is too if the data on the HFEA is only available until 2017. They should be able to give you the most up to date thaw rate. At my clinic, I find it best to ring up and ask for an embryologist to call me back. I prepare my questions beforehand so that I don't forget anything I want to ask. You might be able to get some helpful information for when/if you have your follow up consultation with your doctor. It does seems very unlucky to have 2 not thaw properly, so I think you deserve a thorough explanation of what happened.

[Sarascottxox]

I don't think this sounds right. 95% make it so I'd say there could be a fault with the clinic. I had a 3BB thawed in May that didn't take and a 3AB thaw on Monday and transferred. Both OK quality but not top. Do you know what grades they were?

[Doglover5 in reply to Sarascottxox]

They were a 4AA and a 3AB 😭from when I was 31. We have waited 3 years knowing they are there and now have to start from scratch.

[Sarascottxox in reply to Doglover5]

That's awful, I'm so sorry. Did the clinic give you any explanation as to why it happened? I would definitely consider moving clinics too x

[Doglover5 in reply to Sarascottxox]

Thank you. They sort of did saying something like some embryos just don’t like being frozen and they didn’t reexpand but I just keep thinking the odds don’t add up. They were frozen and thawed separately too. We are definitely moving clinics but have to do a fresh obviously and years older, so gutted. Xx

[Sarascottxox in reply to Doglover5]

I'd be upset at that too. Egg retrievals are tough work and stressful. I don't know how old you are but I had to wait a really long time for my EC due to COVID. Had in March when I was 35 (turned 36 in May) and still had a good response with 4 day 5 blasts. I'd take some time to process what's happened then research top clinic who disclose their success rates. I'm on transfer 3 (first fresh miscarried and then first frozen was a BFN) and obviously hoping and praying this one works but decided we're going to Prague if we need to pay privately. Great reviews, zero wait times and cheaper! Xx

[Doglover5 in reply to Sarascottxox]

I am 35 and we are eternally grateful as we have a little boy from our fresh round back in 2019 (when these frozen a were created) but I didn’t realise how heartbreaking it would be even after having our little one. I guess you just want the family that comes so easily to others, nothing wrong with that. Will definitely do some research. Thanks so much x

[Doglover5 in reply to Sarascottxox]

Best of luck to you with this cycle! Xx

[Sarascottxox in reply to Doglover5]

Thank you lovely ! This 2WW is the worst yet!! Xx

[Bettyboobyrbe]

hey I seen your post & wanted to reply .. yes this happened to me 3 embryos all didn’t make the thaw .. absolutely it was the fault of the clinic .. my clinic was repr#med . worst clinic it’s happened to a lot of people .. I’ve since moved clinics