Lazy ovary : Hi all, anyone else... - Fertility Network UK

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Lazy ovary

MiniCeeCee profile image
8 Replies

Hi all, anyone else experienced one ‘lazy ovary’ during ivf stimulation scans? I had my first scan this morning (day 6 of stims), and one ovary had lots of healthy looking follicles, but the other was looking pretty dormant, and the follicles within it were all very small and hadn’t grown. The doctor said the other ovary must have been taking all the stims, and this ovary was called a lazy ovary. It may catch up over the next 2-3 days. Anyone else experienced this? And if so, did the lazy ovary catch up? As I only have one egg collection on the NHS, I just want to get as many good quality follicles / eggs as possible. Thanks in advance!

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MiniCeeCee
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8 Replies
Kitkat10 profile image
Kitkat10

Hi, yes I had the same happen to be after down regulation. One ovary just didn’t wake up again so the other one did all the work. This persisted until egg collection and it was just too far behind.

When I changed to short protocol, both ovaries pitched in and stimulated equally, producing similar numbers of follicles so for me it was the down regulation that one ovary clearly didn’t agree with.

I was 5 years older than you though, so I think that makes the effects of down reg even worse. Still a good chance yours will catch up 🍀🍀

MiniCeeCee profile image
MiniCeeCee in reply to Kitkat10

Thanks for the reply, really good to know! Hopefully it catches up, but if not fingers crossed for one good batch! x

MrsOrangejuice profile image
MrsOrangejuice

Yep, first and second rounds both took forever to respond but R was faster and had more. First round got 6 from R, 3 from L, next time it was 5 eggs collected (mainly from R), then final disastrous round was just 3 on R and all too small on L, and they only got one egg total from the R. Having said that, all the eggs they got were good quality and on our second round they all went to blast stage and I have a daughter from that, and frosties, so even if just one ovary bothers you can get quite good number and good quality, and sometimes the other one catches up.

MiniCeeCee profile image
MiniCeeCee in reply to MrsOrangejuice

That’s really reassuring, thanks so much and so glad it worked for you!

Twiglet2 profile image
Twiglet2

I’ve had this on my 2nd last cycle. To be honest we ended up with same number of eggs and embryos as the cycle before and after it anyways (just mostly from one ovary) but I do always wonder if that round would have had more embryos if my left ovary had woke up a bit more! Every cycle is different but defo doesn’t mean this one won’t give you that embryo that makes your baby xxxx

JB124 profile image
JB124

Hey this did happen to me on my last cycle. I was on a long protocol and one of my ovary’s was slow catching up after down regulation. We managed to get fewer mature eggs from that cycle. Currently on Second cycle (short protocol ) and it seems my body reacted better to this, as we managed to get more mature eggs on this round. It’s all testing and trialling and getting the right doses/protocols for you. All the best :)

Babyhope8 profile image
Babyhope8

hello . This happened on my 2nd ivf cycle . Right ovary went to sleep completely and refused to wake up after down regulation . My usual egg retrieval numbers were 6 to 8 per cycle ( I did 4 cycles so far ) . But because right ovary was dormant that cycle I was down to 4 retrieved and only 2 blasts. My experience is for a veteran like me , atleast one experience of this incident is common .

MiniCeeCee profile image
MiniCeeCee in reply to Babyhope8

Thanks for sharing your story, helpful to hear from others in a similar situation. I have final scan tomorrow before hopeful egg collection on Monday, so 🤞for some good follicles across both ovaries!

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