Egg retrieval with no eggs: I’m sorry... - Fertility Network UK

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Egg retrieval with no eggs

green121292 profile image
20 Replies

I’m sorry in advance if anyone finds this triggering, but I’m mentally preparing myself for my next round of IVF. I learnt so much from the first one, but I still have questions.

I wanted to ask anyone who had an egg collection with no eggs, did you know how many follicles were looking bigger/ they were looking at when going in for scans or was it just a complete shock on the day?

Thank you xx

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green121292
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20 Replies
Infragilis profile image
Infragilis

My first egg retrieval resulted in no eggs. I think the clinic let the follicles get too big. I'm a low responder so ever only have a maximum of 3 follicles. I went on to have more egg retrievals which where then ok but I made sure that I told the clinics not to let them get past a certain size.

green121292 profile image
green121292 in reply to Infragilis

thank you so much for your message! I have diminished ovarian reserve, so im trying to mentally prepare for none. I was lucky first time round, but our one 5 day blast resulted in a miscarriage.

Out of interest, did your clinic stop before retrieval or did they wait until the day of egg retrieval?

Infragilis profile image
Infragilis in reply to green121292

I am the same as you. The clinic went ahead with the retrieval and found no eggs as I had the follicles.

HopeNotTooLate46 profile image
HopeNotTooLate46 in reply to Infragilis

What size did you ask for? Mine were 23 and 14mm

Infragilis profile image
Infragilis in reply to HopeNotTooLate46

We tried to go for 17/18mm.

Hi green121292, I just had an egg collection yesterday, once they got in apparently I had already ovulated. I'd never heard of such a thing (I have now) - I had in my mind maybe there were no eggs or there was only 1 of the 2 and then after that fertilisation might happen etc etc. But ovulating before they could pick them up? They've been quick to offer me a refund for the egg collection but I want answers how they got the timing wrong. I had scans 2 and 3 days (waited another day for little egg to catch up) before the egg collection - and blood tests 2 days before EC - should they have spotted something wasn't right? Wondering now if should have had the collection on a day earlier on a Sunday or was it convenient to allow the extra day so collection fell on a Monday.

Hope all goes well for you green121292 🤞

Sarascottxox profile image
Sarascottxox

This can happen but the doctors generally know in advance if you're going to have a low number as you'll have a number of scans. What's more likely is thar not all the eggs will be the right level of maturity and not all will fertilise. For example... I was told I had 11 follicles before egg collection. After, I was told I'd had 13 retrieved and out of those 13 .. 9 were mature. Our of the 9, 5 then fertilised. Then you've got the dreaded waiting game to see how many reach to 5 day blastocysts. I was fortunate and had 4 out of 5 that did but its not uncommon to only have 1 or 2 that might make a good 5 day blast. They call it the attrition rate. Hope that helps. I read a lot going into my egg retreival and think I saw the optimal amount of eggs they like is between 10 and 15. Some people, especially those with PCOS get 20+ but that's not always good as quality can then drop x

Sarascottxox profile image
Sarascottxox in reply to Sarascottxox

I also had low ovarian reserve but took DHEA for 4 months prior to egg collection. Not sure if this helped but I'd read really good things about it!

effecta profile image
effecta in reply to Sarascottxox

did your clinic allow you to take it? My clinic told me that there is no any evidence that it can help.

Sarascottxox profile image
Sarascottxox in reply to effecta

They said it was up to me. There aren't any UK studies but there are tonnes of US ones that demonstrate its improved egg numbers and quality.

effecta profile image
effecta in reply to Sarascottxox

this is great! How did you manage to get it in the UK?

Sarascottxox profile image
Sarascottxox in reply to effecta

You can buy online easily enough. I bought this brand biovea.com/uk/product/detai...

effecta profile image
effecta in reply to Sarascottxox

thank you very much for sharing!! May I ask you if you noticed any changes after taking it?

Sarascottxox profile image
Sarascottxox in reply to effecta

Not really. I took for around 4 months prior to egg collection. DHEA is a health supplement and some ppl report it increases general mood but I didn't really notice anything change. I've no idea if it helped or not... but I did my research and weighed up the benefits and had a good response to IVF and now 34 weeks pregnant so was worth it for me x

effecta profile image
effecta in reply to Sarascottxox

I am soooo happy for you❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ ok, gotta order it and see how it works for me! Thank you and wish your pregnancy goes well xxx

Sarascottxox profile image
Sarascottxox in reply to effecta

Good luck to you too!!! Xx

KediT profile image
KediT

I was scanned from day 2 and that was before I started stims,I had only 4. Even after stims nothing changed. I did 6 days of injections & meds then was asked if I still wanted to proceed. I went ahead and all 4 were retrieved but only 2 were matured. Both fertilised and only 1 made it to blast at day 6.

Did they not scan you regularly? I’m asking because I was scanned regularly and even on the day I told dr that I was in pain (ovaries were painful). He immediately started with my procedure and said they could spoil (I guess he meant I could ovulate while waiting)

Poop84 profile image
Poop84

hi I had the same no eggs in my third cycle.

I ovulated before egg retrieval sadly. But the cycle after they scanned me before sedation in theatre and I had three follicles. Similar to you I’m a low responder. But all three had eggs.

If you want to ask any questions or tweaks to my protocol since the no egg cycle DM me x

effecta profile image
effecta

I had one follicle with no egg.. it was a surprise for both me and the doctors…and it happened on my birthday :( last december

Butterfly83000 profile image
Butterfly83000

it happened to me that they only found one egg which I froze to accumulate more eggs with each cycle as fertilization of just one was too expensive and was too risky it wouldn’t work. Cause naturally your body releases one egg as well. Wish you the best of luck that next time it works 🙏

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