Low number of mature eggs

[HelloLaura]

Hello ladies. We’ve just had the really disappointing news that of the 11 eggs collected only 5 were mature. The good news is 4 have fertilised. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Why would so few be mature? I’m 30 for context, and was feeling so hopeful yesterday after hearing how many eggs were collected but now it feels like we’ll be lucky to make it to day 5 with any 😔

Update: one 5AA hatching blastocyst transferred and one 5AB frozen 🥹 so pleased

[neonpg]

Hey I'm so sorry you're feeling disappointed, but I can assure you that I've seen stories of folks with fewer eggs retrieved who have gone on to get multiple top-quality blasts. One lady I saw had 3 eggs retrieved, 2 fertilised and made it to day 5. She got pregnant on a fresh transfer and one for the freezer; all from a cycle she was about to cancel! You've got age on your side and your fertilisation rate is incredible.

As for why this has happened, hopefully your treatment team can provide some answers. And if you need to do another round they can modify the protocol to boost egg maturity. Good luck!

[HelloLaura in reply to neonpg]

Thanks for your reply. I think I was just a bit shocked at the how far the numbers dropped but I am pleased with our fertilisation rate. Keeping my fingers crossed that these four are the cream of the crop 🤞 thanks again x

[SarahMEndo]

Hi Laura,

I would say that it a good number.. I posted on another tread already, but I think there is always a drop off, that is what my clinic told me. And remember you need at least one! (I know feels silly but it is true!)

My first proper IVF round I had 7 egg collected (I remember being disappointed), out of those 4 fertilised and 2 became blastocyst with a third one trying but wasn’t good enough for freezing on day 6. I am currently 17 weeks pregnant from a fresh transfer from that round.

Prior to that, I only did collection for freezing and we had 15 eggs, and 8 fertilised, and 2 where good enough for freezing as they became blastocyst.

Just saying numbers isn’t everything, as mine did stick first time and my number was lower then yours. It is more about quality and 4 fertilised is amazing. Keep thinking postive. You will hear soon!

They never told me how many where mature to be honest. But I think 4 fertilised from the 5 mature is good! Fingers crossed they all make it!

(Btw I am 35).

Goodluck!!!

[HelloLaura in reply to SarahMEndo]

Thank you Sarah! This is reassuring. We were told we had 12 after the retrieval so to go from 12 to 4 just shocked me a little but I’ve got my head around it a bit now. Fingers crossed a couple make it to day 5 🤞x

[Glaedy]

I spoke about this with my sonographer before my 2nd egg retrieval. So basically when they are stimulating egg growth it doesn't mean that they all are good or mature - in this case, size matters. For comparison with my last egg retrieval I had great numbers I think it was like 16 in my left ovary and 13in my right, but not all had the right size, to get a good mature egg, a follicle has to have a least a 15mm before trigger, because they still grow in the meantime before you trigger. And in my situation, I had definitely 14 follicles with size 15mm+. They harvested 27 eggs, from which 14 went for my treatment and 13 I donated. And out of mine 14 only 6 were mature, all fertilised, 1 stopped at day 3 and 5 took to blastocyst.

I don't think I will do retrieval ever again but it's always good to ask about sizes etc because if I hadn't asked last time I would felt for sure disappointed why out of 14 only 6 took but because I asked how many I have with good follicle size I could estimate that half should be mature.

If you had follicle sized 10mm they can still harvest it and count it as harvested egg but its too immature to fertilise. I hope it explains a bit?

[HelloLaura in reply to Glaedy]

Thank you. I’m feeling reassured and hopeful we still have good numbers come day 5. At our last action scan I had three follicles at 17mm and maybe another three at 15-16mm and then some between 12mm-15mm. The nurse told us to expect double figures but (probably naively) I didn’t consider whether they’d all be mature. So, on reflection, our numbers probably make sense. I think I was just a bit shocked to go from double figures to four. Thanks again for your message x

[HollyT7]

24 follicles, 16 collected, 9 mature, 3 fertilised. One chemical and two healthy boys. ❤️🤞🏼

[HelloLaura in reply to HollyT7]

That’s amazing! I hope our outcomes are similar 🤞

[Clayhugs]

7 follicles, 5 eggs, 3 mature, 3 fertilised, 2 transferred on day 3. 13 weeks after both took.

Fingers crossed for your 5! 🤞🤞🤞 good luck! ❤️

[HelloLaura in reply to Clayhugs]

Twins! That’s so great. Thanks 🥰

[Hidden]

hey Laura, my first 2 rounds I had low number of mature eggs. First round 7 eggs 2 mature, second round 13 eggs 4 mature (I think) more info in my bio. But my third round they were nearly all mature. For me it was just tweaking my protocol - change of drugs and lower dosage. I was pushed to hard too fast. Lots of luck to you x

[HelloLaura in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Elsidee. The embryologist said they’ll all sit down and review the cycle to maybe tweak things if we need another one ☝️