2 rounds of ICSI both low fertilisation and failed

[SKS_1]

Hi, I am hoping someone will have similar experience and be able to advise.

We had our first ICSI in 2020, we were told to do ICSI as my husbands morphology was low. I’ve had a fertility check were they deemed everything was ok with me, tubes fine and good AMH for my age - I am 34 now. We went straight to private as covid and NHS waiting/BMI requirements.

9 eggs retrieved, 4 mature, 1 fertilised - grade 2, 8 cell transferred day 3 - failed.

Our consultant just said these things happen and did not offer any other advice.

A year later I was close to starting my NHS cycle but was diagnosed with Hashimoto Thyroditis, thyroid levels were all over the place. Was put on 100mcg of levothyroxine. I decided to put the IVF on hold until my thyroid was in a better place.

In the mean time I was given leterozole, I had another private scan and was told my ovaries look polysistic but it’s nothing to worry about. I was given metformin to take.

My husband got a DNA fragmentation test privately which came back fine, this time morphology was also looking good.

Last month I finally had my NHS ICSI round and again 9 eggs retrieved, 5 mature, 1 fertilised - grade 2, 6 cell transferred day 3 - failed.

I have my follow up with our consultant tomorrow and I don’t know what to ask and I’m worried they will just say the same as our last consultant. I am really struggling with this mentally and would like to try everything possible to have a child.

We have been trying naturally in between, taking supplements and vitamins, both had Accupuncture and I tried Chinese herbal medicine and reflexology too.

Thank you in advance for your advice.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi SKS. I assume you have spoken to your embryologist along the way for any guidance. All I can think of is Fallopian tube ck and hysteroscopy to check your womb out. Perhaps different protocol? Oh I do hope they can come up with something to be successful. Thinking of you. Diane

[Watermelon82]

so sorry to hear you’ve experienced this, it’s heartbreaking. There’s quite a few threads on here relating to fertilisation failure or low fertilisation. I would be researching and asking about assisted oocyte activation with calcium for sure. I’ve had success with this as have others with fertilisation issues. Something to ask about in your case 💜

[Hidden in reply to Watermelon82]

Hey, sorry you haven't had much luck. I just want to say don't stop trying naturally. My boyfriend has low sperm motility. Everything fine with me. We had icsi that resulted in early misscarraige then had another icsi round that ended in nothing. After this round the clinic called me to say when they looked at his sperm things had got even worse with motility. I felt so low. So I ovulated once since that second round. Made sure we had sex qt the right time and am pregnant naturally! I have no idea how or why but its happend. I had been trying to get pregnant for 2 years every month. I just think don't give up on it naturally. Not to he crude but try certain positions that encourage the sperm to he deposited right by your cervix. This seemed to help. I wish I had known that there was a chance as clinic made it seem like there wasn't. I also feel like it became so draining trying that some months I was quite despondent and didn't put much effort in. But make sure you do try every month around ovulation. I used strips. Best of luck xxx