Shocked by abnormal fertilisation after ICSI

[SB342]

Does anyone know why abnormal fertilisation happens?

I've had several IVF rounds with high fertilisation and never any abnormal fertilisation.

In my latest round, we decided to do ICSI/IMSI at a new clinic. 13 out of 14 eggs fertilised, but only 5 fertilised normally on Day 1. I've never had abnormal fertilised eggs before. It was shocking.

Has anybody had this before? Do you know why? I'm wondering if Covid infection might have had an impact.

Thank you

[B4mb1]

So did your partner have covid shortly before the cycle? If so and the results are not normal for you both then I would say it’s a strong possibility as there is some evidence that covid effects sperm quality. My clinic enforces a 3 month wait post covid infection in male partner. What have your clinic said?

[Koala365]

We had a couple of abnormal fertilisations in our cycles and were told that not all eggs fertilise correctly. One of ours was where two sperm had managed to get through the egg's barrier to try to fertilise it which obvs cant happen with ICSI. Another was just said to be something to do with the pro nuclei and probably age-related. I did read a medical article which said the effect of getting COVID as a woman doing IVF was a reduction in the number of top quality embryos and they recommend waiting 3 months after having COVID before doing IVF but they are only really just finding out the possibly effects of COVID in IVF because clinics were closed during the first lockdown and presumably they need time to set up these kind of studies.Also similarly it can have an effect on the man's sperm.

[Hidden]

We had this once and my partner had been really Poorly with flu three months before- we had 9 embryos but 7 were abnormal fertilisation. The embryologist told us afterwards it was probably his flu that was the reason! We would have delayed the cycle if we had known!! 🙄 xx

[letro112]

So actually this came up for us this week. We have struggled with recurrent MC due to immune issues. Throughout the last 4 years my hubby has always had super sperm - words used by every clinic we have been to. Since my last MC I decided to get a few things retested AMH and his sperm quality again.

He has had covid twice and only took one vaccine as most of my doctors advised us against getting any shots due to my immune system. Anyways his sperm quality has now come back with 97% abnormal sperm .. and they have even gone as far to say it will be very difficult for us to have a natural pregnancy. To date we have had both natural and IVF pregnancies but none have made it to full term.

I now have him on Vit D, folate, b12 and Coq10 and omega 3 to replenish and hopefully regenerate his sperm that the quality might come back.. although the studies I have read have said even after 6 months post covid men's quailty did not improve. But I'm hoping this is just because this area is no being studied in depth yet. I am hopefull my hubbies sperm may return to the super soerm results he once had.