low fertilisation rate

[Milo2011]

Hello all

we just had our donor eggs thawed yesterday and 4 out of six survived the thawing process. I received a call from the clinic this morning that only one fertilised. 🥺 I don’t know what to expect but last time I used my own eggs 3 out of 4 eggs fertilised… I thought donor eggs will give you much higher fertilisation rate but apparently things are not as predictable as we think they are! 😢

[Boo718]

I’m sorry to hear this. Honestly there are no better guarantees with donor eggs and sperm. I’ve been down that path. It really doesn’t matter how old the person is it doesn’t guarantee good or high quality eggs. If you can I would freeze the embryos rather than the eggs if that’s possible to do xxx

[Milo2011 in reply to Boo718]

I’m not sure how that would be possible unless we use fresh donor eggs. I think the thawing weakens the eggs. I had a much higher fertilisation rate using own eggs in my previous cycle and was shocked at the results with donor eggs as I was told younger eggs will have higher fertilisation rate and produce better quality embryos. It’s very dark time for me right now as I see all the doors shut at me! 😔 I was relying on the donor eggs treatment and am massively let down. Even the lab can’t give you an explanation for it and rightly so as when it comes to eggs and sperm it’s not a black and white process.

[Boo718 in reply to Milo2011]

If you can do the fresh eggs. I would as the eggs are not as strong to survive the thaw as embryos are. It’s honestly such a difficult process. We honestly thought moving to donor would be the answer but it still took 4 more transfers and a lot of failed cycles. I really hope your ok xxx

[Lamagarden]

Hello, I’m so sorry to hear about your disappointment, this journey is so hard. Hopefully the one that fertilised is the one. We are at the very start of thinking about donor eggs. We were told that we’d be guaranteed 2 embryos from the batch of eggs we buy and that if we didn’t get two we’d get more eggs, like I say we’re very early days so I don’t know all the details yet. Also our consultant was v positive re chances with DEs. We have also seen a refund package with DE. Don’t give up xx

[Jumpppy in reply to Lamagarden]

Guarantees for donor eggs is VERY common. I might even say if you aren't offered this beware. When we stared down this route ALL Guaranteed basically 90% thaw rate and most Guaranteed a certain #of embryos. The ones that didn't it was because my husband's sperm wasn't good enough.

You should definitely be pushing for or finding places with Guarantees.

BTW there is a lot of debate and research on frozen eggs. None of it is that positive. Frozen DE is kind of an option to reduce costs only - fresh is best.

Same for people who froze their own eggs, it's not unusual for those people to have to use their own fresh eggs as the frozen don't work 😞 (This is why there's so much debate around these egg freezing programs, most women never use the eggs...some who try find the eggs don't work 😢)

GOOD LUCK!

[Milo2011 in reply to Jumpppy]

The thawing wasn’t a problem as 4 out of 6 thawed ok which was within the expected range about 66% it was fertilisation that went wrong … I am going to wait until Wednesday and see what happens then! If there’s no embryos left then I think I’ll ask the clinic to look further into it.

[Jumpppy in reply to Milo2011]

Fertilization can be related to quality of eggs post thaw. 4/6 TBH is low for thaw for DE. It may be within the clinic limits, but it is low - doesn't give you much of a chance with the batch 😞

[Doodlebug23]

I used a donor refund programme. Fresh donor eggs were fertilised, 1 transferred then the rest frozen.

I got 3 embryos from first cycle and 7 from the second. Different donors. Took me transferring all 10 to get my BFP.

[Wuhu85]

I had frozen eggs wir very similar outcome. Maybe the clinic is not very good in the freezing process and the eggs were damaged. I recommend you to use fresh ones.

[Jules0277]

We’ve had a similar experience. First donor round 3 fertilised and 2 made it to blastocyst (of 6). Second round 5 fertilised of 9 and only 1 survived to day 5 blastocyst. Which worked, but sadly we have just miscarried.

[Milo2011 in reply to Jules0277]

I’m so sorry to hear about your loss 🥺

[Kitkat10]

it’s ok, don’t lose hope, I got fewer embryos (2) from my 7 donor eggs than I got from my own (6) eggs, even though my donor is 20 years younger than me. But I only needed one as it became my little girl, so don’t lose hope, look forward and fingers crossed that little egg is the one you need. The quality is likely to be good, you only need one. Good luck xx 🍀🍀 thinking of you, I’ve been where you are but it can work and you will come out the other side xx

[Milo2011 in reply to Kitkat10]

Thank you so much kitkat… going for my progesterone blood test tomorrow and feel numb. Trying to hang in there until Wednesday morning when they’ll tell me if the embryo is viable! Xx