3 embryos didn’t survive thaw

[Stoodinbath]

Hello, we had an FET this week and 3/4 embryos didn’t survive the thaw. One embryo thawed ok and was transferred. The three embryos came from two different IVF cycles, and were from three different batches/days. All were good grades. Does anyone have any thoughts on what may have happened?! Thaw rates are 95-97% success so it seems incredibly bad luck that we had so many that didn’t survive. We’re at a loss as to what happened. Our clinic are great and went through what happened but there are no real answers.

[BlueEyedTabby]

Hi there, I'm so sorry to hear this. It's such awful news to be told they've not survived the thaw. Especially after being told the success rate is so high. Similar thing happened to us. Two of our blastocysts didn't survive, the third did but was unsuccessful. We have one frozen one left, with a transfer scheduled next week and I can't even imagine how I'll feel if they tell me it didn't thaw. I wanted to message so you know you're not the only one this has happened to. Unfortunately my clinic had no answers either, just bad luck and that some don't like being frozen 🙃 Very unhelpful. Are you in your TWW now after your transfer? Wishing you all the best!! Xxx

[Stoodinbath in reply to BlueEyedTabby]

I’m so sorry it happened to you too. Although it’s helpful to hear as I’d never come across it before, I was aware one might not survive and that’d be really bad luck given the success rates, but 3 feels so hard to understand. In the 2ww and got to hope this one is it- but feels hard when the transfer day felt such a disaster (god those telephone calls every half hour were brutal)

[BlueEyedTabby in reply to Stoodinbath]

Sending you lots of good vibes for your TWW! 💗 Thank you for your original post because seeing everyone's replies has made me feel a bit better too xx

[Sweethear]

so so sorry this happened. It happened to me 3 of my embryos did not survive and that was all I had and my clinic did not give me any explanation to what happened after waiting and taking medication to be told that the embryos did not survived was hell and it happened to me twice. Good luck with your embryo that you are currently carrying I hope it works and you get pregnant wishing you all the best

[Stoodinbath in reply to Sweethear]

Thank you, gosh, it seems this is not a one off. How horrid. I really am struggling to understand what happened and ‘bad luck’ seems so unlikely. Ergh! The best of luck with your journey, where are you now?

[Sweethear in reply to Stoodinbath]

I personally think it has to do with the technique they used in freezing them or thawing them that causes it but we will never no. I have ended my journey of IVF as am 45year old now I am trying to enjoy life with my family of 3 but it still hurts sometimes that I was not able to give my daughter a sibling . My daughter was my 6th embryo transfer and 4th egg collection am very happy to have her

[Sunshine809]

I'm so sorry to hear that. It happened to us with one of ours and I felt so downhearted. To lose 3 must be gutting, I'm sorry 😔

Not sure if this is the case for you but our consultant is pretty straight-talking and basically said it was usually due to a mistake made by the person who froze them in the first place (the embryologist?). She was a bit like, 'Hey, it happens sometimes, it's a risk of the process. It doesn't happen often but you were unlucky.' I felt annoyed it was likely due to human error because it's easier to think that the embryo just wasn't viable, but I wanted to mention it as a possibility since you lost so many in one go.

Wishing you loads of luck for the one you've had transferred. It's clearly a fighter, and it only takes one! 🍀 xx

[Londonlady2024 in reply to Sunshine809]

Interesting that your consultant made that point about the mistake made by the person who froze it. In my case, I was not allowed a fresh transfer due to ohss risk hence they said freeze-all after egg collection. My embryos were frozen and thawed by two different senior embryologists.

My NHS clinic's policy was if 3 or less after fertilisation then they freeze immediately at pro-nuclei stage (day 1). I had only 3 fertilitised. A year later we used our embryos. All 3 survived the thaw and only 2 embryos survived day 3 so we went ahead with a day 3 double frozen transfer as initially planned as I knew I would not get embryos survive by day 5.

[Stoodinbath in reply to Sunshine809]

Thanks, it seems unlikely an error in the freezing for us as the embryos were from three different batches and from two different IVF cycles at different clinics (so all frozen on different days/times/places). So hard to know what’s going on! Maybe an error in defrosting them but two embryologists were doing it (on the head embryologist) and they did defrost one that survived so it’s all so inconsistent.

[Sunshine809 in reply to Stoodinbath]

Yes, probably not then! Very odd and disappointing for you 😥 I find IVF such a frustrating process because there just aren't any answers a lot of the time, and I'm a person who likes facts and explanations and answers. So often we just get told 'you were unlucky', which makes me feel so helpless.

[Stoodinbath in reply to Sunshine809]

Oh yes- I’m definitely a facts and answers person. It’s all so frustrating that there is never an answer!

[PinkCat22]

I’m so sorry to hear this - that is just heartbreaking for you. I hope - as others have said - that the embryo that did make it is a total fighter! I had my FET yesterday, so I’m sending solidarity, love and the hugest hug xxxx

[Stoodinbath in reply to PinkCat22]

Thank you for such a kind message, that is appreciated. I wish you the very best with your journey too ❤️

[Londonlady2024]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. For all 3 to not survive the thaw with good graded embryos then I would agree with the poster above. Her consultant said it's the person freezing it (mistake). Mine were frozen and thawed by two senior different embryologists.

[Stoodinbath in reply to Londonlady2024]

Yeah, it’s confusing. Mine were frozen at different IVF clinics (they came from two different IVF cycles and were all frozen on different days) so it’s hard to know what’s going on, seems unlikely something happened with the freezing, but maybe the defrosting. Sigh. I worry the embryos somehow are not good, but that also makes not much sense as apparently they’re good grades

[MariaHdz]

Well, for me I had 11 embryos, but they were 3 day embryos. My old clinic froze them in the 3rd day, for no reason. I changed clinics and transferred my embryos to the new clinic (as the old clinic did some other stuff wrong), they were surprised and were unfreezing in batches of 3 the 3 day embryos (so they would unfreeze 3, grow them to day 5, and transferred the surving ones). They unfroze 9 in total, and only 3 survived. They told me thay usually they have a 40% chance of surviving in those conditions (good 3 day embryos, unfrozen to grow to day 5). Maybe it was of bad luck.

[Stoodinbath in reply to MariaHdz]

I’m sorry you had such trouble too, how sad for you. It’s horrible news to hear when you think you have those embryos as chances. Ours were all frozen day 5/6.

[MariaHdz in reply to Stoodinbath]

Then you are right, normally they have high chances of surviving. Maybe it could be good to ask for an appointment to discuss the reasons

[LoriJo]

I’m sorry to hear about your experience. I’m sending you all my positive thoughts for a successful outcome with your single transfer! Based on my experience, mistakes in labs can and do happen. I had two egg collections, both at the age of 45, and now I am also in the TWW for three 5-day embryos. My blood test is tomorrow (though my hopes are low due to my age..)

In my first egg collection, I experienced something unbelievable. I managed to collect 30 eggs, all of which matured – an incredible result, especially given my age. However, the next morning, the lab called to say that only a few had fertilized because they “didn’t have enough sperm” and admitted that the rest were destroyed since had been left out for too long!! When I investigated further (I also like facts) I discovered they had seven vials of sperm but had only opened one!!. The lab staff admitted it was a mistake and gave excuses about not having permission to use more (from the lad head!)

In the days that followed, the lab director tried to cover it up, even suggesting that using more sperm would have yielded the same result (I doubt!) They also dismissed my concerns, saying, “You don’t have good eggs, you are 45! You shouldn’t have high hopes!” From that batch of 30 eggs, I ended up with four viable 5-day embryos. I transferred them all at once (another mistake) while I was in a very poor emotional state, and unfortunately, I didn’t get pregnant.

After that, I changed clinics. A few months later (it took me long to recover and to regain trust in anyone..) at 45 and a half, I did another egg collection, resulting in eight 5-day embryos that were frozen. I transferred three of them ten days ago and am currently waiting for tomorrow’s results. Trying to stay positive but really hard here..

Please don’t lose hope, but do investigate further. Losing three out of four embryos does seem like more than just bad luck!!

[Stoodinbath in reply to LoriJo]

Gosh wishing you all the luck for your transfer. I’m sorry to hear of such a horrid mistake and the way they dealt with it- that’s not ok. These chances are precious and we need trust in those helping us.

[Stoodinbath]

Update, as no one likes an unfinished story- BFN here. It wasn’t he lucky one.

[fidgetmcgee in reply to Stoodinbath]

Oh I’m so sorry. Hope you’re looking after yourself well, it’s so hard