Needing alot of tests after 1st icsi cycle

[Babyluck95]

Hi ladies, I would just like to get some advice as usual please, me and my partner have just been for our first consultation after our first unsuccessful cycle, we got 2 good quality embryos and the first frozen transfer worked we got pregnant, but then unfortunately had a missed miscarriage at 7 weeks 3 days, our second transfer ended in a bfn! We now have to go private which is fine but she's been talking about alot of tests we can get done, like pgt testing, extra sperm related tests because my partner has low sperm count and motility, and blood clotting tests which she quoted will be 600 pounds if we can't get it from my gp! I'm just wondering if it's actually wise to get these test done on this next cycle because we got pregnant the first time round, would we just be wasting our money ? Wouldn't it be better to see about these tests on our last 3rd cycle, would just like to know everyone's opinions on this, thank you so much in advance 😊

[Positivechangeplease]

So sorry for your loss ❤️

Onto my responses. hmm what would be the point in extra sperm tests if you’re using icsi? Are you rhesus negative? This might be a factor and is worth exploring but no need to do this privately as I’m sure the nhs would support you if rhesus -

But usually that factor comes a bit later. I don’t think there’d be any other reason your blood clots differently.

PGT testing is something that happens in the USA and isn’t 100% not to mention can come with risks to the embryo but it maybe one worth trying. I’ve heard of a lot of people with NK cells which you haven’t mentioned which can very much limit your ability to have a baby successfully.

IMO it does sound like the consultant is throwing everything at it (whether necessary or not)

With my wise view I’m not sure your circumstances aren’t just down to bad luck. Most miscarriages happen in first pregnancies - why I don’t really know but perhaps our bodies aren’t ready or used to it.

There only a 30% chance of each embryo sticking and that’s a numbers game.

however I was desperate on my second go and I was willing to do whatever. I had acupuncture (proven to work in some ways for the body so why not) and took pure methyl folate as that can also be a factor believe it or not.

Cut out caffeine as well as alcohol because actually my belief is that caffeine is the biggest fertility suppressor.

In the end, I don’t know but think if you spend the money on the round that’s money better spent.

[Babyluck95 in reply to Positivechangeplease]

Hi positivechangeplease, she said the reason was doing more sperm tests was because our fertilisation rate was quite low considering we're youngish as I'm only 28 and he is 31 so she said he could go for something called zymot which specially looks at best sperm to pick within the treatment, and she also said he could go for a sperm oxidative stress test to see whether there are extra things going on with his sperm, yes I have heard of acupuncture and it really does work for some people so maybe that's also one to look at and tbh I have half a cup of coffee a day, don't smoke and only drink every few months so we're all good there, she also said she will put the 2 failed embryos down to chromosomal issues but she's suggesting these tests because both embryos were good quality so we shall see, really thank you for you reply xx

[Positivechangeplease in reply to Babyluck95]

could be worth doing but I still honestly think it’s a numbers game. My partner was 29 when we did the ivf and we did it after waiting. Whilst waiting I had all the tests and nothing seemingly wrong, he had borderline sperm. Upped running to 3 x a week and increased his sperm count. But then sent something else down. If you can afford it I’d say do the tests (and yes I wasnt the only one I’d heard acupuncture works. I couldn’t say it did but it was something I changed up so worth trying). But I wouldn’t do the tests at the expense of a round. 2 embryos is not bad. Some people even young only get one. I would suggest switching to decaf. There’s a large amount of caffeine in just one cup and I think it’s a major fertility offender. Good luck and all best wishes with whatever you try xx

[Darkcbolocate]

hi, I’m sorry for your loss and that your having to go through this process.

I’m also going through IVF and what I have learnt is that the most common cause of miscarriage is chromosome abnormalities which lead to losses in the first trimester. PGT- A testing can check for this so we opted to do it this time around. We haven’t done it before and have not been successful in our transfers so far, so hope it will make a difference.

[Babyluck95 in reply to Darkcbolocate]

Darkcbolocate yeah she has put both embryos down to abnormalities, I really wish you get your dream on the next cycle, its such a dark expensive worrying time and none of us should have to go through this if our bloody bodies did things how it should, you'll have to keep me posted on how it's going, fingers crossed for baby dust ❣️

[Jmfl]

Hi,

We were recommended to have a sperm dna fragmentation test after two failed embryo transfers. For context, we did a natural FET cycle and our embryos were from ICSI. I’m 34 and my partner is 35, our infertility is male factor. I had 8 mature eggs, 4 fertilized and only 2 made it to day 5. Both blastocysts were 4BB and my lining was good. Doctor suspects high sperm dna fragmentation and suggested a test. How I did the math was total costs for test vs. total cost of FET. Each FET transfer costs us 1800 pounds. For our next cycle we’ve decided if we’re lucky enough to have more than 4 blastocyst we will have the PGT testing because it’ll costs less than 4 separate FETs and save us from a bit of heartache. We will do the sperm fragmentation regardless (might need PICSI or Zymot or calcium ionophore depending on results) Hope this helps xx

[Babyluck95 in reply to Jmfl]

Hi, jmfl yeah she did mention if we get a lot of embryos it would be good to get pgt testing, the only thing I'm worried about is if there all abnormal does that mean that cycle is done as I don't wanna waste a cycle if there could even be a small probability that the embryo could stick instead of just throwing them away, we only have enough money to do a multicycle package round and are counting on these last 2 cycles as they will be our last, and yeah we are also adding zymot as we have male and female problems, thank you for your reply and i hope it all works out for us both! X

[RedFox23]

Hi baby luck we’re in a similar position we had 3 embryos which resulted in BFN, Miscarriage and another BFN. We’re already on steroids and Intralipids, plus blood thinners.

I asked the consultant if there was anything we needed to do before round 2. He said that he wasn’t concerned, it seemed like bad luck and there wasn’t a ‘must do’ test.

He did suggest that we could do a uterine biopsy to make sure there wasn’t an infection but I think that it’s quite costly. We’re going to restart our supplements and seek a second opinion before we go again x

[Babyluck95 in reply to RedFox23]

Redfox, hi yes they have suggested I do the thrombopilia test just to checked, but it's so annoying as I rang my gp that said they can do it for me but they would need a ice form to get the specific blood tests sent over by an authorised doctor but when I called my clinic they said they don't have that system so we now have to pay 600 for the test privately it's insanely expensive but we are working all the overtime possible to get that money together so we can check to see whether I have it, and she said if I do she will add blood thinners to my treatment so we will wait and see, and yes I think we might do as well, if you go to another clinic how do you go about sending over all your existing treatment in the past? Thanks you for the reply x