Was over the moon yesterday after my egg collection when I was told they got 9 eggs. My last 3 cycles they got 4, 4 and 0. Only 1 embryo for each of the first 2 cycles, which both ended in missed miscarriage. I was brought back down to earth with a thud this morning when the clinic phoned to say only 2 fertilised. Absolutely gutted, I know its still 2 more chances than I had the last time but I don't have much hope from previous experience. From what I've read I think this is most likely an egg quality issue. I was intending to do donor egg after my last failed cycle but changed clinic and did 1 more round with own eggs and short protocol instead of flare. I definitely responded better to short protocol but obviously have poor eggs. Don't think I can carry on with my own eggs and donor eggs are probably the way forward. Any words of wisdom?
Low fertilisation: Was over the moon... - Fertility Network UK
Low fertilisation
Hi Tara, sorry to hear about your stressful update. I have been there myself with a haul of 13 eggs and only 2 fertilitised! It's a horrible feeling but hopefully they both continue to develop, they are your two wee fighters!
Try and stay positive and I've everything crossed that you get better news over the weekend. Ivf is never bloody straight forward is it!
Big hugs to you babe x
Thank you, its really difficult. Trying to keep myself busy this weekend.
I can understand why you feel that way after being so optimistic for 9, I would have been the same I think, this journey is an emotional rollercoaster!. After this cycle it might be a good idea to have a meeting with the embryologist and the consultant to get all the info on what happened and why and their recommendations? but I’ve never seen any women on here ‘regret’ their decision to move on to DE when the time is right 🤗however you might not need that chat as Fingers and toes crossed for those 2 little embryos still very much in the running 💜✨ xx
Hi Tara, I had a similar situation, 2 rounds of egg collection, 1st - 21 eggs, only 3 fertilised, none made blasto, 2nd - 20 eggs and only 1 fertilised which they transferred but it didn't stick- so I know the disappointment you're feeling! For me it was an easy choice to move to donor as I didn't want to go through another heartbreaking egg retrieval.
But I've heard so many stories of only one egg fertilised, which turned out to be the one that worked and you still have two in the running! I know the angst of waiting for those phone calls, wishing you all the luck with these 2!
Yeah I know what you mean the only reason I had one last round with my own eggs was because the offered me a completely different protocol which my last clinic refused to do.
Good luck with your donor egg journey.
We've gone the donor embyro route actually. I had a donor embryo transfer on friday so just settling into the dreaded TWW 😬
Thank you, good luck to you too! I really hope you get good news from the clinic soon
Oh wow good luck ❤️
Hello, I'm in a very similar boat to you at the moment. I had egg collection on Thursday - 16 collected, 11 mature and only 4 fertilised. I asked the embryologist for a breakdown so I know exactly why fertilisation failed for each, which is possible with icsi. I assume that you had ICSI too. I get my day 3 update tomorrow. I had a cycle in April and only 2 fertilised but both made it to blastocyst on day 5. Wishing you strength and luck and hoping we both have positive news on Tuesday xx
My collection was Thursday too. I don't get a day 3 update as they haven't used the embryoscope as it was £900 extra. In some ways I prefer that as waiting for these calls sends my anxiety into over drive. I don't get an update till Tuesday, slightly tricky when my clinic is 250 miles away! Good luck on Tuesday, fingers crossed for us both.
I only had IVF not ICSI so I don't think I'll get that information.
Gosh 250 miles, that's a long way, but if you're at the best clinic for you that's the main thing. I'm surprised they haven't suggested ICSI if you're having fertilisation issues. Settle back, think positive thoughts and hoping Tuesday is super, you've two good shots x
It's donor sperm so I think that might be why but certainly a question to ask.
Tarasunny Hi you two. I hope you don’t mind me jumping in on this conversation! I also had egg collection on Thursday. They only got 4 eggs & said the others may have over-matured already after leaving me on stims a couple of days extra this cycle to try and get more eggs. In actual fact it ended up worse as I got 9 last time.
Only 3 of the 4 were mature and only 2 fertilised. I too have to wait until Tuesday. It’s horrible. I’ve opted for FET at some point next year (if any of them make it), as I seem to be in so much pain after egg retrieval and this (my second cycle) has been no different. Only just starting to feel normal(ish) again today!!
We have done ICSI both times with 2 embryos the last cycle which didn’t stick. I’m 41 now so this is our last shot.
Fingers crossed that Tuesday brings us all a little luck. I’ll keep an eye out for an update from you both 🤞🏼🤞🏼🤞🏼
Good to hear from you. This is interesting to hear. Let's hope luck is on all our sides on Tuesday. Don't despair with your age - 41 isn't so bad, I'm 43 now! Not really sure how that one crept up on me! Positive thoughts all round 🤞xx
I know! I can’t believe I’m 41! I’m sure I was 30 a couple of years ago! This is our last cycle that we can afford so age is not the only thing against us. Let’s see what Tuesday brings. Maybe 2023 will be our year?!x
That's so frustrating, I had similar situation in my first 3 rounds. First round I had 7 follicles but the 3 biggest ones were empty. Second round only 4 out of 10 follicles had an egg and 3rd round I had only 2 follicles and both were empty. I was delighted to have 9 eggs this time but obviously I think there is a quality issue. I'm almost 39 now and I think time is running out. I don't think financially i can keep going as all my rounds have been private due to being single. Just hoping Tuesday brings us all good news ❤️
I totally understand. We have had to go private too and this is our last paid on cycle so it really is the final attempt for us as we have no more money left to throw at it.
So sad that it comes down to finances in the end.
Just got to keep hoping that this is our time and Tuesday brings some good news 🤞🏼
Hi ladies, I got my 3 day update and I still have all 4 in the game. Super pleased for now, but realise all could change as the embryo's genome kicks in from now. I've seen a few cases were fertilisation has been poor but then all make it to day 5, maybe as they 're the stronger ones and the weaker ones just left the process early. That's what we've got to hope. 🤞for us all for Tuesday and successful transfers x
oh my word I forgot you got a day 3 update. That’s amazing news. 4 is a fantastic number. Let’s hope it’s like you say, survival of the fittest. Really pleased for you x
Hi guys got my day 5 update this morning. Both are early blastocyst but look good and are suitable for transfer they are checking them again a bit later to see if one is better than the other. Not sure if I'm getting a single or double transfer. Need to discuss with doctor when I get to the clinic. So happy 😊. Hope you both got good news too 🤞
Aww that’s fantastic news. Really pleased for you. Unfortunately, as predicted we have nothing. They’re waiting until day 6 but it’s looking highly unlikely. Feels like such a waste of time, effort, emotional turmoil and money to have absolutely nothing to even try with. Sorry to bring the mood down. Fingers crossed the next phase for you is a success xx
I'm so sorry to hear that and wish you luck for whatevers next for you ❤️
Hi both, Tarasunny - fab news, did you transfer one or two? I had a morula and blastocyst and transferred both, but quality not top. Maybebaby - don't loose hope yet, mine often don't make blastocyst until day 6, there's hope yet. Thinking of you and hoping you get good news tomorrow xx
Thats great news. I decided on the one. The other one is a bit slower so they decided to just keep it till tomorrow and hopefully freeze it then. She said they were both looking good so 🤞. Now I have to find somewhere to get my beta done before Christmas! They want it done on the 22nd but I'm not doing an 8hr round trip for bloods. The clinic said ask my GP but I doubt they'll do it. Might ask my old clinic which is about 50 mins away at least then I'll get the results the same day!
Really pleased you had something to transfer. I’ll keep everything crossed for you and will keep an eye out for your updates 🤞🏼xx
My 2nd embryo has made it to freeze 🎉
Fabulous news. Neither of ours made it. They were left to day 6 but not good enough for freezing. So glad you had some better luck x
So sorry you had nothing to freeze. My other ones didn't make it on day 6 neither. Tarasunny - great news for you! This really is pot luck and random so who knows what will happen. Hoping you both get good outcomes soon xx
I know Orangeflowers it really is just luck, which is something I haven't really had on this journey 🤞
So sorry your little embryos didn't make it. I pass on a bit of my luck to you for the next part of your journey ❤️
That's amazing news x
hi I understand how you must be feeling, in my last round in October I had 8 eggs collected, which is the most I’ve had in all 3 cycles . Out of those 6 were mature & only 2 fertilised , this was with icsi too so literally injecting the sperm still resulted in 4 not even fertilising, . I asked the embryologist why they thought the 4 did not fertilise, they could not give a definite answer , she said it could be a number of factors.,
Lucky that those 2 we had made it to day 5 blastocysts & have been frozen. So there is always hope ! I felt deflated like yourself at this stage waiting for those dreaded calls & disappointed about the numbers but there’s still a good chance for yourself , I wish you all the best 🤞 x
That's good to hear. Good luck with the transfers when that comes around.
So sorry this has happened. I think it's interesting how different clinics say different things. We had this with one round where we had 9 collected and 2 fertilised normally (6 abnormally) and when we asked why this would have happened they asked if my other half had been ill at all (ill enough to have a temperature) .. which he had been.. and they said that was the likely cause, as it was often the sperm issue when it came to fertilisation. Hope that doesn't confuse things too much x
Thanks it was donor sperm I used so I'm hoping that wouldn't be the case. I suppose you never know.
hey reading as I got my day 3 update, I got 3 eggs collected (one more than first round) I have low AMH so was happy with that. 2/3 fertilised and we were happy. For the day 3 call and one is doing well and 10 cells and one is not doing so well and they said unlikely to make it. They said I may not have a blastocyst to transfer. I was devastated as we had a 16 month wait for this cycle. Trying to be positive they both make it to tomorrow when we are booked to have a transfer. Such a stressful wait but I am trying to be positive and praying they don’t call today! Good luck everyone xxxx
Good luck. Hope this is your time 💜
Good luck. Hopemyou get some good news tomorrow 🤞🏼x
Not what you're looking for?
You may also like...
Advice for low fertilisation rates?
ICSI and low fertilisation rates
Low number of eggs retrieved, low fertilisation rate (low ovarian reserve)
Final Fresh Round… Any tips for low fertilisation?
Fertilisation..
No fertilisation 
No fertilisation
Kinda low eggs, smoking partner & low fertilisation with icsi 
Help - failed fertilisation on IVF and ICSI
