Egg retrieval day

[Xmishell37]

Today is egg retrieval day and I was feeling fairly positive until I spoke to the consultant and she told me she's expecting the egg number to be in single figures (so anything up to 10). I know quality matters over quantity but am now freaking out as I got 20 eggs last time and only 3 embryos, so thinking we might be lucky to get 1 or 2 day 5 blasts this time 😭 urgh, DNA fragmentation is also an issue and im now wishing we went for ICSI over IVF 😞 this is round 2 so I only have 1 more try on NHS after this 😞 dreading the next few weeks/ months of unknowns.

[Millbanks]

Hi lovely,

I know its all very stressful when it's unknown.

I had 2 egg collections where I got 18 eggs and 4 embryos each time - then I had one where I got 12 eggs and ended up with 8 embryos - so like you say it's quality over quantity.

Try not to worry too much at this stage. Also I know it is an age old adage but it really does only take one.

best of luck today xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Millbanks]

Thank you ❤️ sometimes I feel numb to the whole thing and other times the emotion is unreal - like this week I keep bursting into tears at the slightest thing 🙈 looking forward to getting sedated so I don't need to think about anything for at least 45 mins as il be unconscious 😅 xx

[Millbanks in reply to Xmishell37]

Oh god I know that feeling. It’s such a rollercoaster isn’t it. I had no idea what to expect when we started and was constantly surprised by the ups and downs…

TBH the sedation is my favourite part of all things IVF!!

Good luck. You’ve got this xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Millbanks]

I'm the same, been totally shocked at how much this has affected me to the point I feel my whole personality has changed (not for the better as I'm alot less sociable these days!) but I feel like there isn't anything I can do now to change the outcome of this ER so will just try relax ❤️ xx

[Millbanks in reply to Xmishell37]

Yes definitely - there is nothing you can do. It will be fine

If it helps, I do think "you" are still under there - and you'll be back xx

[Millbanks in reply to Millbanks]

How did you get on? xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Millbanks]

11 eggs, hoping for the best and preparing for the worst ❤️💔 it's going to be a tough week ahead!! Xx

[Millbanks in reply to Xmishell37]

That's great!! Well done - hope you're resting up. Everything crossed for the next few days xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Millbanks]

Thanks ❤️ going to lie on the couch while the other half brings me pizza ☺️ I defo don't feel bad bloated and sore as last time so risk of OHSS less than last time! Xx

[Et88 in reply to Xmishell37]

Hey that’s a great number!! All the best!

[Xmishell37 in reply to Et88]

Thanks fingers and toes crossed for Sunday! (day 5)🤞🏻x

[Xmishell37 in reply to Millbanks]

Just got the call and 7 have fertilised normally 🥲 xx

[Millbanks in reply to Xmishell37]

Brilliant! Now come on little embryos - let's keep growing xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Millbanks]

Last time 8 fertilised normally (5 abnormally) out of 20 eggs and I got 3 embryos in the end but I'm hoping with our positive lifestyle changes they are all better quality and have a better chance 🥲 just need to try stay sane between now and Friday/Sunday 🫡 xx

[Millbanks in reply to Xmishell37]

3 embryos from 8 eggs is great! Fingers crossed for a similar number.

Haha yep, there are so many "waits" in IVF and they are all awful! xx

[MammaMia86]

Hello!!!

don't overthink it....this is completely out of your control.....I had same experience as other people here.....on my first try I've go 8 eggs and end up with 2 embryos....got pregnant with the first 1 (at the end we lost it but I got pregnant), on the other egg retrivals that i've had it was 14 eggs and got 4 embryos....didn't get pregnant with any.....and in my last retrival I've got 18 eggs and 3 embryos...I am on my 2ww of the first embryo....so we will see.

The first one compare with the second one seems to be the medication....or at least that's what I was able to guess from the reaction of the doctors.

Best best of luck😘

[Xmishell37 in reply to MammaMia86]

Thank you and good luck to you too ❤️ fingers and toes crossed for you it's a long journey🤞🏻 I did change stims medication this time so will wait and see, I was off work last time and I'm working the next 3 days so hoping thats a welcome distraction 🫡 xx

[MammaMia86 in reply to Xmishell37]

I understand the frustration because we will follow everything that the doctors tells us....so it is normal to assume that it should work....but sometimes it doesn't....we can go crazy thinking over and over again what we have done that cause it....I know at the end we will all have that baby that is waiting for us, we just need to be patient 🥰

[Football61]

Hi. I switched to ICSI after egg retrieval - when the embryologists told me that my donor sperm wasn’t looking as good as they first thought. Do you still have time to tell them you’ve changed your mind? Wishing you the very best of luck x

[Xmishell37 in reply to Football61]

Thanks ❤️ going to accept that it's out with my control now and see how it goes, will defo opt for ICSI next time 😞 xx

[raverg]

One thing I wanted to add was that when we did our NHS round, even though we were recommended ICSI at the consultation, the decision was eventually made on the day of sperm collection. The sperm didn’t look great so they went with ICSI, but it sounded like if it did look good, they could have done IVF / ICSI potentially. Maybe ask your clinic when you go in whether it’s possible to switch to ICSI at this stage given the DNA fragmentation issues.

[Xmishell37 in reply to raverg]

Thanks, when I spoke to them at the previous consultation they didn't seem keen on ICSI and it felt like it was just up to me rather than them making any recommendation, they only seem to recommend it if low fertilisation rate (I had some abnormal fertilisation last time but not low), NHS don't have procedures like IMSI where they separate out the fragmented from good sperm so it's a bit frustrating , will defo do it next time unless they come to me and suggest it today which I doing as my partner's sample has always looked ok (but NHS dont look for fragmentation) xx

[raverg in reply to Xmishell37]

Ah i feel for you. You work with supposed experts in their field and yet at every step decisions are being put back on you because they have no clue if something will work or not. It’s infuriating.

Good luck today! Xx

[Spacey84]

I really feel for you. I’m near the end of my 2nd round which will be my last as I’m private (I had a tubal tie years ago) Egg retrieval was Monday, I had an update yet to say from the 8 they retrieved, only 2/3 were fertilising. I will get an update tomorrow but I’m due transfer Saturday. I was only meant to be off work 2 days but I’ve ended up taking the rest of the week off I’m worried about receiving bad news on Thursday whilst at work. X

[Xmishell37 in reply to Spacey84]

Sorry to hear, it's the worst wait and such an emotional journey 💔 but as people keep reminding me it only takes one so id be grateful for that 🙈🤞🏻 I hope you get good news this week ❤️ xx

[Hidden in reply to Spacey84]

Just wanted to say I wish you the best of luck and hope it’s great news when you get the call! I only had 4 fertilize and 2 make it in the end for transfer. Try not to worry I know it’s easier said than done! X

[Estherlovescats]

Hey I know how stressful it is have you asked for zymot for the dna fragmentation?

[Xmishell37 in reply to Estherlovescats]

Hey I've not heard of that, I've only asked them about ICSI which I will be requesting next round if this one is unsuccessful 🙈 NHS don't seem big on the more specialist treatments all seems very bog standard treatment they offer 😞 xx

[Estherlovescats in reply to Xmishell37]

I had to push for zymot on top of nhs treatment was allowed to pay for it was something like £200 extra. Icsi has mixed reviews in the research I found as I read natural ivf can be more effective as they dont fully know about the eggs role in choosing her sperm!

[Xmishell37 in reply to Estherlovescats]

Thank you that's really helpful and something worth asking about at my next consultation! Dreading the call from the embryologist today 😭 xx

[Estherlovescats in reply to Xmishell37]

Yes deffo ask. I actually did 2 rounds of ivf that failed and got pregnant naturally with the help of mira. They never told me about timed intercourse or meds like letrozole. Had to find it all myself. Id advise these forums and facebook forums to keep gathering info and being ur own advocate. All the best to you as I know how hard it is. Hardest for me was the 5 day wait on embryo reports.x

[Xmishell37 in reply to Estherlovescats]

I agree, feel like NHS recommending folic acid and vitamin D just isn't enough, I don't think it does them any favours not getting more information out there as surely more people need to go back for second/third rounds when they might not have had to 🙈 in urgh anyway, the saga continues, wishing you all the best on your journey 💓 xx

[Estherlovescats in reply to Xmishell37]

Yes deffo id recommend it starts with the egg book. Its like the ivf bible. I also had coq10 600mg ubiquinol life extension brand and dhea. But dhea u r meant to have testosterone and dhea-s bloods first as you may not need it. Yet again i had to find that out with my own digging. X

[Xmishell37 in reply to Estherlovescats]

My friend used DHEA on her first round and was successful with first transfer! I have the book and enjoyed reading it, I started taking Ovum and Ubiquinol months ago so hoping it helps, in my scan I appeared to have about 2/3 follicles at the 17/18 size but lots smaller so am defo expecting some immature eggs, urgh the wait is painful and part of me wishes they'd waited an extra day to allow smaller follicles to catch up but it is what it is, Im tired waiting and Im tired stressing 💔 xx

[Estherlovescats in reply to Xmishell37]

Can totally identity with that wait and it doesnt get any easier in pregnancy let me tell u. Waiting for viability scan 7 weeks. Then 12 week wait on the downs test. I was agoraphobic and wouldn't leave the house for fear of something awful finally getting put thru to perinatal. Its one long hard road! I am 40 tho

[Xmishell37 in reply to Estherlovescats]

Oh jeez I can imagine, it's like actual mental torture!! Hope everything is going well for u 😊 I keep reminding myself 'you never know how strong you are, until being strong is the only choice you have', it's always resonated with me as we always pull through, 7 out of 11 fertilised so Im just hoping most make it to day 5!! Xx

[Estherlovescats in reply to Xmishell37]

Oo thats excellent in ivf i only ever got 3 fertilised. Wishing you all the best. X

[Ttctwogether]

I've recently done egg collection and I got 9 eggs collected. 7 were mature. We had 6 fertilise normally and 5 made it to blasts, with 3 being suitable to use (5AA, 5AB and 3BB) Try and keep the statistics away from your dreams x

[Xmishell37 in reply to Ttctwogether]

Thank you ❤️ I'm thankfully distracted by work today but dreading the call from the embryologist this morning....anxiety is sky high even thinking about it but keep reminding myself I can't change it now 😞 xx

[Hidden]

hey

I wouldn’t worry. When I went for my egg retrieval they only got 5 eggs! I was devastated even though they told me that’s good! I understood later why they thought it was good was because it was 5 healthy eggs from fully grown follicles. 1 didn’t make it but 4 made it to blastocyst! I was overjoyed! Unfortunately then 2 didn’t develop further around day 5 but I was left with 2 VERY healthy little embryos.. first one unfortunately failed after transfer and I’ve got my 2nd frozen transfer in a few weeks! Nerve wracking to say the least I totally know what you mean being the last round of the NHS. This is my last go.

Remember I know it’s very hard, but stress is not gonna help the situation or change anything - my mom told me that and it’s very very true.

how did your first round go? Did you have any luck? Xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks it's helpful to hear others experiences ❤️ my first round I got 20 eggs and only 3 made it to blast (including 1 poor quality) got OHSS so froze all, first transfer ended in MC at 5.5 weeks, second ended in chemical, 3rd didn't implant which I wasn't surprised at given the quality, made improvements to diet and I've had 1 alcoholic drink in 9 months! (Whereas before I didn't cut it out completely 3 months before) So hoping those changes make a big difference to quality, it's been such a long and tiring year! I didn't even know I could affect the quality, genuinely thought it's like the number off eggs Ur both with and that's that, that's why I don't think NHS are very good at giving out info I was clueless in the beginning xx

[Hidden in reply to Xmishell37]

I am so sorry to hear about your miscarriage and then having a chemical pregnancy and then the third one not implanting. I had my first transfer last month and it failed I bled so so much I believe it implanted and then it miscarried if they even call it that because the bleeding wasn’t normal and it was definitely not a period! They are putting higher dose of progesterone. I truly believe my progesterone was low. It showed low in my blood test as well a couple years ago. I know about the NHS to be as supportive and caring my clinic is since I’ve had my failed fresh and real transfer. I don’t feel like I received as much support as I expected. Let us know what happens with your cold today. I really hope you get good news. I know how hard and nerve-racking it is to wait. I was the same way on that day!!! Xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Hidden]

You know your body best, always trust your own instinct ❤️ I'm starting progesterone tomorrow in case of a transfer on Sunday but I've got a feeling they will say I've got OHSS again (felt great when I got home yesterday and only realised later it's cos the pain killer hadn't worn off😅) fingers and toes crossed for your next FET 🤞🏻 will let you know Im expecting the call around lunchtime xx

[Hidden in reply to Xmishell37]

oh hopefully you don’t have an issue with the OHSS! Do they have you on progesterone rectal pills and injections as that’s what they will be having me on this time this is my last transfer so I will make sure I have more than enough progesterone!! Xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Hidden]

Nope they've given me the (very unpleasant) vaginal pessaries 🫤 theyv never mentioned my progesterone levels I dont even know if its something they've looked at! They did mention my hormone level wasn't as elevated as last time so I'm less at risk of OHSS this time 😊 xx

[Xmishell37 in reply to Hidden]

Oh I just got the call and 7 have fertilised normally 🥲 xx

[Hidden in reply to Xmishell37]

That’s amazing news!!!!! X

[Xmishell37 in reply to Hidden]

Yeah the numbers r just crazy...20 eggs last time and 8 fertilised....11 this time and 7 fertilised 🫡 I'm praying for at least 4 decent quality day 5 embryos but think that's pushing my luck 😅 xx

[Hidden in reply to Xmishell37]

It is not pushing your luck at all x I had 5 fertilized and 4 became embryos and all 4 also became blastocysts!!! I couldn’t believe it. 2 didn’t end up developing in day 5 but we still had 2 very healthy ones left! My next transfer will be for a 4BB x

[Ree_Laine]

Hi lovely,

Your story and feelings are exactly like mine . I had my egg collection yesterday (Tuesday) and this is my 2nd round also. I was worried about the egg numbers as sometimes my right ovary isn’t accessible but was this time and in total managed to collect 13 eggs and heard this morning that 5 have fertilised normally. I’m so anxious as I know the % of them reaching day 5 decreases. I’m booked in for a Sunday transfer also, I’m wishing you the best and that you have a successful quality embryo that implants xx I hope and pray our similar story ends with a positive 💕💕💕

[Xmishell37 in reply to Ree_Laine]

Thanks for your reply ❤️ it's nice to have someone on the same path (or in the same carriage on this very scary rollercoaster!), did you have many embryos with your previous round? 💔 It's so hard, I'm 38 and my partner is turning 45 soon, sometimes can't help but think I've missed the boat but I feel more reassured when I hear success stories on here from people 40+ and do think quality over quantity matters, I don't think our eggs or sperm were good quality 1 year ago but at least I know I've did what I can ths time around and I suppose that's a bit more reassuring (but the lack of control over it all still sucks), fingers crossed for good embryos making it to day 5 🤞🏻🤞🏻💖💖 xx

[Ree_Laine in reply to Xmishell37]

I’m turning 38 next month and we’re using donor sperm due to make factor infertility (chemotherapy affected his sperm cells) we managed to get 15 eggs collected last time but only 1 made it to a 5 day blastocyst. We’ve been on a very long journey as I had to have major surgery (removal of an 18cm fibroid) before I could have a FET transfer a year later. Unfortunately this failed so now trying to stay hopeful for this 2nd round. It’s so so hard I feel as though I’ve tried all I can do improve embryo quality- started acupuncture 4 months ago, took Ubiquinol 400mg twice a day, made diet lifestyle changes - at this point I feel it’s out of my hands and can only hope for the best now xx this app has been a real source of encouragement to know I’m not alone and it is reassuring to hear successful stories. Hopefully 1 day I’ll be one of them 💕

[Xmishell37 in reply to Ree_Laine]

Sounds like you've done all you can so fingers crossed 💖 you've deffo been on a tough journey needing surgery 💔 I took Ovum for egg quality and Ubiquinol 400mg per day, I realised too late that I should have taken a higher dose of vitamin E (based on the book it starts with the egg) but trying not to beat myself up over it - there's always something! Started our IVF journey last summer and it's felt like the longest year of my life, I find it hard putting life on hold as time feels more important as u get older! Xx

[Kate-92]

hello, I am 38 & my husband 45. we had 17 eggs collected but a high abnormal fertilisation rate (should have had ICSI as more than 2 sperm got into the egg) and from that 17 we ended up with 2 4AA embryos, one transferred & one frozen - I am currently 29 wks pregnant x it’s quality not quantity & I know that saying of it only takes one is frustrating but it’s so true 🙏🏼🤞🏼everyone’s bodies are different and I genuinely believe you can go overload on lifestyle changes / vitamins & supplements. 7 eggs fertilising normal is a wonderful start… everything crossed for you x

[Xmishell37 in reply to Kate-92]

Thank you and congratulations on Ur pregnancy!! 💓 it's reassuring and I probably did go on overload with supplements etc, because my diet/ lifestyle in round 1 just wasn't up to scratch ...here's hoping it's made a difference 🤞🏻❤️

[Kate-92 in reply to Xmishell37]

Neither was mine, but I did cut out alcohol prior and just took vit d, folic acid in folate form, omega 3 with dha & B6 / B12 x B6 I did a bit of research on so added it in - I am sure you have done what feels right for you, but so easy to compare isnt it x hope your little eggs are continuing to progress 🤞🏼🙏🏼

[Xmishell37 in reply to Kate-92]

Thanks ☺️ my diet was very much high sugar high carb...the exact opposite to the recommended high protein high fibre lol so I did enjoy a big pizza and chocolate after egg retrieval - had a day off and now back focused on good food for uterus lining 😁 Im now currently taking pregnacare for conception, omega 3, coq10 and extra vit D and E 😊🤞🏻 not really sure what DHA is? Does that come from fish oil? 🤔 Xx

[Kate-92 in reply to Xmishell37]

Yes it’s from fish oil, says it’s important for fetal development of the brain especially in 3rd trimester. To be honest it does say that it is recommended from 12th wk if not already taking but I was taking before for myself too. Also helps with risks of pre eclampsia - I take a brand called bare biology x pizza and chocolate are always good ! We’re allowed a treat 🙂 x

[Xmishell37 in reply to Kate-92]

Ok I think my Omega 3 tablet has DHA but I'll check as I've been taking it anyway 😊 I keep saying I'm going to start yoga too as I was doing it last year for a while and felt it helped me...defo starting it again tonight!! Xx