ivf challenges

[Eva88]

Hi!! I am undergoing ivf treatment and after egg retrieval embryos have stopped growing in the lab. What are the reasons of it despite of the fact that 13 eggs were fertilized ?

[Nenad]

hello, so sorry to hear this, not easy news to receive. This usually suggests a problem with egg quality or the sperm itself (or both). If you have a male partner, did they do a semen analysis or sperm DNA etc? If the results are fine then usually this signals a problem with egg quality.

[Eva88 in reply to Nenad]

there were altogether 20 eggs 13 were fertilised had around 25 plus trigger shots also and they extracted sperms through Testicular biopsy. I am confused as do all eggs had bad quality and not a single to make up to blastocyst. The doc said one cant find a reason for embryo arrest as it can be genetic or chromosomal defect.

[Nenad in reply to Eva88]

did they do IVF or ICSI? Sounds like there’s an issue with the sperm for which ICSI tends to work better (or even IMSI). We have male factor so ICSI was used, standard IVF wouldn’t have worked for us.

[Eva88 in reply to Nenad]

they have done icsi and they do not have any substantial reason for the embryo arrest. She wasnt sure either its egg quality or sperm. How did it go for you?

[Nenad in reply to Eva88]

we ended up with embryos through ICSI but all transfers have failed. We’re doing the sperm DNA fragmentation soon (suggested below) to see how big the sperm issue really is. Our new clinic is also suggesting IMSI next time, which selects better shaped sperm (my husband has low morphology I.e. shape isn’t great).

[Eva88 in reply to Nenad]

best of luck with that👍hope it works for you. One should try all alternatives for betterment.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Eva. One for your embryologist I think. He/she is the one watching over them. Maybe a sperm DNA fragmentation test if you have to go again. See what your specialist recommends. Diane

[Eva88 in reply to DianeArnold]

she didnt have any rational reason. Seems like trial and error. Mybe genetic as i have history of one miscarriage already the growth stopped at week 4. Didnt know about this test whats it like?

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK in reply to Eva88]

Hi Eva. Obviously done on sperm to see whether there are any defects in what appears to be normal looking sperm. Speak to your embryologist to see if it might be beneficial . Diane

[Eva88 in reply to DianeArnold]

thank you. I will definitely speak about it. One should have alternatives so that things work. Keeping my fingers crossed.