stop development on day 3

[Itisajourney]

Hi

we have now completed 2 cycles and both had the same outcome. It stop developing after day 3 (the cells on day 5 are the same as of day 3). We understand that might be a sperm quality issue. Has anyone experienced the same situation and which advices can you give to us? Thanks for taking the time to answer.

[IAAM21]

Presumably you've had sperm tested? The medical knowledge is very limited on cause of this. I've only ever had day 3 and did transfer with day 3. The spare one we left to see if they could grow to day 5 but it didn't work. I've had day 3 transfer 3 times and it's never worked. Some clinics abroad do more tests on sperm but I forget the name. Wishing you all the best on the journey

[Itisajourney in reply to IAAM21]

thanks! Yes they did sperm analysis and found low count but motile sperm, and did Y chromosome test with good results. Have they told you why day 3 was unsuccessfully and what solutions you could pursue? I am desperately trying to find alternatives and I am now hopeless…

[Itisajourney in reply to IAAM21]

Hi. I hope everything is well with you. I am reaching out after 1year as I am still on the same position. I did my last transfer with a donor and out of 9 eggs just 3 fertilised with bad quality. I did a transfer on day 3 but I am suspecting that never arrived to blastocyst. I am quite desperate now. Grateful if you have any advice and I hope you are having better luck than I. Thanks

[Rhubarb5]

Hello, sorry to hear this. Yes, this happened to me. For me they believe it was more likely an egg issue. I tried a planned early transfer, day 2. I would recommend discussing it with your Dr. We also used the GERI incubator which films the embryos developing, so you can see what’s going on and so the best one can be selected early. I would recommend it but it is an extra cost. Because we thought mine was probably egg related, I also tried human growth hormone. We also tried both short and long protocols and got better results with the long protocol. Some women respond better to one over the other. Hope that gives you some options to discuss with your Dr. It did take a few tries with me - 4 egg retrievals and 5 transfers - but I am pregnant, so don’t lose hope. Xx

[Itisajourney in reply to Rhubarb5]

thank you. Embryologist told us that none of 7 fertilised eggs have developed after day 3 at all, which is quite sad due to sperm quality. Would you mind to share on a private message the name of your vlinic pls?

[Seren0119]

I would do a sperm DNA fragmentation test (called a COMET test). Embryos stopping on day 3 is typically a sperm issue (although can be a combination of sperm and egg). X

[LittleBlueOwl]

I think that early in the process they say it's due to the egg quality. I had a terrible cycle where only half fertilized and nothing made a blastocyst but after taking dhea and coq I had more eggs, 80% fertilized and 80% made it to day 5. Xxx

[Itisajourney in reply to LittleBlueOwl]

thanks! To us they told us that it was a sperm issue, as from day 3 to day 5 the sperm is the one that play the main role on the embryo development. Our last cycle we also just had 50% fertilised.

[Pipidugacarapa]

our embryologist said that widely accepted opinion is that first 3 days depend on egg quality (fertilization and first cells splitting etc) and after day 3 is when quality of sperm kicks in and that’s why we see lot of embryos lost from day 3 to day 5. That said my hubby has bad sperm morphology. Only 1% is normal (should be over 4%) so we had that problem and they did ICSI (they chose good cell from his sperm to fertilize my egg). We had two early miscarriages (stayed pregnant only two times in around 3 years of trying and lost both very early, one in week 6 and one was chemical) and doctor said that miscarriages might be due to my egg quality or chromosomal abnormalities of embryos (bad luck?!) and not staying pregnant more than only twice was due to bad sperm morphology.

[Itisajourney in reply to Pipidugacarapa]

thanks! And sorry to hear that. Can I ask how many times you have tried and did you experience the same as well - do embryos not develop at all after day 3 - not a single embryo? I am a little hopeless as he had sperm tested and they do not know what is the cause for this. Have they tried to you other techniques?

[Pipidugacarapa in reply to Itisajourney]

This was actually our first IVF and we did freeze all with ICSI in march and just had first FET now in June. We are pregnant, currently 5+4 today and for now everything is going good. I think I’ll relax after first scan (6+4). ICSI helped in our case because turned out that my egg quality was better than doctor expected and I responded really well to protocol. One of my friends had similar case like you, her embryos would stop developing on day 3 and the doctor said that they should transfer day 3 and not wait day 5 after two failed cycles. She got pregnant after double day 3 transfer. I’m sure your doctor will have some suggestions and ideas. They say that first cycle is trial and error but they learn and adapt. Good luck! 🙏🏻

[Itisajourney in reply to Pipidugacarapa]

Thank you for shedding some light on all this process and to bring up some hope so much desired! Our clinic doesn't do day 3 transfer but only day 5 transfer. Would you be able to share your friend' s clinic by private message? thanks!

[Pipidugacarapa in reply to Itisajourney]

we both live in USA, CA and clinic is here. I’m not sure if it will be helpful (most of the people I met here are in Europe) but if you’re still interested send me PM here most of clinics do day 3 and day 5 transfers, some do even day 2 and day 4 (mine doesn’t).

[Itisajourney in reply to Pipidugacarapa]

I am also from Europe but really thank you for all your great advices !