ICSI and low fertilisation rates

I had a failed first round with no fertilisation with IVF. I’ve just had my second with ICSI 21 eggs, 14 mature and three have fertilised normally. A bit disappointed with low fertilisation rates. If there’s only one I’ll go for fresh transfer on Friday and if more than one I’ll go for day 5 Sunday.

Any success stories out there with low fertilisation rates with ICSI? Suppose we were hoping for it either to really work or in some ways if it hadn’t at all we could close this chapter and move on.

All very stressful and even more so when everyone around you is having them with little to no issues

[Hidden]

hi Newcastle - sorry to hear. Is there male factor? We had total fertilisation failure with icsi. So we tried AOA (calcium ionophore) on 3rd round and had a much better result. You could also discuss pimsi with your clinic. Wishing you all the luck and fingers crossed for transfer x

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

None known we have unexplained infertility

[soccerkt6 in reply to Hidden]

Hey lovely, I agree with Elsidee that you should investigate a possible male factor issue; that's an unusually low number of fertilised eggs considering how many were mature. A sperm DNA fragmentation test for your partner is easy to do and will give you more information about the quality of the sperm. It's possible to have high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation even when the standard semen analyses have come back normal. xx

[Greenleaves1]

I got 4 eggs, 3 mature, 1 day 5 blastocyst now frozen.

Cycle before that I had 6 eggs, 3 mature, 2 fertilised and 1 early blast which didn't work.

Good luck - this wait is the absolute hardest part.

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Newcastle. That’s not such a bad result. Large numbers often are due to immature eggs in with the mix. Hopefully, you will get some extra to store frozen. I really do wish you well. Diane

[Hidden]

thanks all this waiting is so difficult 😞

[Systema23]

hi Newcastle

In both my cycles only one made it to 5 day blastocyst. I’m currently 24weeks pregnant with the second round.

A lot of ladies will say it on here, it only takes one

Good luck xx

[Hidden in reply to Systema23]

Aw congratulations to you such great news

[Clayhugs]

hi, my first round we had 4 eggs and zero fertilisation.

Second round, 5 eggs, 3 fertilised, 2 transferred at day 3 and now 21 weeks with fraternal twins.

Low numbers doesn’t mean it can’t work. I hope this is your round, ❤️❤️❤️❤️🤞 good luck!

[Hidden in reply to Clayhugs]

Great news so happy for you

[Novbby]

Hi Hidden , Yes I had success my son is now 2 months. I only had one embryo that fertilised

Background

First round 4 eggs collected, all mature, no fertilisation with conventional IVF.

Second round

Second round of IVF this time with ICSI. Was told 11 follicles collected, 8 immature (couldn’t use), 2 (showed signs of maturity on day 2 so they injected that day).

1 (successfully fertilised and showed normal signs of cell division) so that was booked for a transfer on day 3 . Dr said no point in waiting for day 5 if only 1.

None frozen

The 2 injected on day 2 didn’t survive but on the day of transfer the embryologist told me that 6 of the 8 they said were immature are now showing signs of fertilisation (called it late fertilisation). They called two days later and said all 6 made it to blastocysts (with 2 even hatching, which is uncommon and a surprise to them). Unfortunately my clinic doesn’t do PGT testing and they missed fertilisation due to not using a time-lapse incubator, so I cannot use or freeze any of these embryos!

[Hidden in reply to Novbby]

Thanks so much for sharing hope you are doing ok

[WMolly88]

Hi Newscastle,

We also had a low fertilisation rate with our first round of ISCI resulting in 2 out of 15 eggs fertilising. Those 2 made it all the way to blastocysts, one didn't implant and the other ended in a BFP however that sadly ended in a miscarriage at 6 weeks.

I recently had my 2nd round resulting in 3 blastocysts and I'm now 3dp5dt.

Wishing you all the luck in the world 💞