7th FET from donor eggs failed- anyone have success after multiple failures?

[Meliana]

I just had my seventh transfer from donor eggs fail and I don't know if it's realistic at this point to continue with IVF. I met my husband later in life and had our little boy - who I'm so grateful for- when I was almost 40 years old. Since then I've had two more natural pregnancies end in early miscarriage presumably due to chromosomal abnormalities.

We have been trying with IVF to have another baby for the past three years- the first round of IVF with my own eggs resulted in zero blastocysts. Then we tried frozen donor eggs and out of a lot of 7 eggs we got 3 good quality euploid embryos. The first transfer was a chemical pregnancy which my doctor said was just "bad luck." Then the next two transfers were negative. I tried both medicated and modified natural with HCG trigger.

Per the advice of my doctor we moved onto a fresh egg donor which she said would give me more embryos so "more chances." We also did a biopsy for endometritis (which was negative) and an ERA which stated that I needed 155 hours of progesterone. The fresh egg donor was proven with a child of her own. It was shocking to go from 27 mature eggs retrieved and fertilized to only 2 blastocysts at the end- a 5 day 3AA and a 6 day 3BA. These were not PGT tested and transferred separately with a fully medicated autoimmune protocol, and with applied results of ERA , but both were negative. Initially my doctor blamed my husband's sperm quality, but when I asked her to review what happened she apologized and said that the donor had poor egg quality because all the eggs were arresting before day 3.

I decided to try IVF with two different frozen egg donors one more time, and I went to a different clinic and doctor who did a Receptiva DX test that showed elevated markers for suspected silent endometriosis. This was treated with 3 months of Lupron depot and Letrozole. In addition, she found that me and my husband had a partial DQ alpha match which meant that one of every two embryos created would be rejected by my body for being too close of a genetic match much like a cancerous growth would be rejected. She recommended IVIG which I couldn't afford or intralipids which I couldn't do either because of a soy allergy. So I focused on following her recommendation that I do an anti inflammatory gluten and dairy free diet. Transfer #6 was a day 5 4BB embryo that thawed to a poor quality 4CB embryo so that one failed. This last transfer #7 was another day 5 4BB embryo that stayed the same grade when it thawed. I was so hopeful that this time it would work, but yesterday I was told that my beta was again zero and it was negative.

I now have 5 poor quality untested embryos from donor eggs remaining- two day 5 4CB embryos , a day 6 4BC embryo, and two day 6 3CC embryos remaining. I have very little hope that at this point IVF will work for me after seven better quality embryos have failed to implant. The embryos remain frozen and at some point I'll have to transfer them but I can't bear the thought of more failures. If anyone has any stories of success after multiple failures I would love to hear about them and what you think made the difference. Thanks so much if you took the time to read my long post.

[irishlass2023]

Have a look at inflammation markers and immune system issues... I've been in similar boah to u.

Reproflow/Chicago bloods would identify issues

[Meliana in reply to irishlass2023]

Yes thank you - I have done bloodwork for inflammation and immune issues with my doctor and she thinks I need IVIG to treat it but it's so expensive and can be risky too.

[Doodlebug23]

I had 9 embryos transferred with no success (1 chemical) and embryo 10 is now my 4 month old.

[Meliana in reply to Doodlebug23]

Thanks so much for taking the time to read and reply to my long post. I can't believe you had the strength to go through 10 transfers! I'm so glad that you finally got your baby at the end. After so many medicated failed transfers, I'm going to see if my doctor will let me do a modified natural transfer next.

[Doodlebug23 in reply to Meliana]

I had 7 transfers - 3 were doubles. The one that worked for me was modified natural, so I do advocate for that.

[purplerain157]

yes, 2 rounds with my own eggs and 5 with DE. Biopsy in Nov to find why RIF so now know immune issues and am on steroids and extra progesterone. Currently in tww with 4BA. It is a tough ol’ journey and I empathise with your situation. If you want to chat send me a dm.

[Meliana in reply to purplerain157]

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my long post. Your IVF journey clearly has not been easy. Sending positive thoughts your way! I hope your little embryo stays with you and that this is the transfer that works for you.

[purplerain157 in reply to Meliana]

Thank you!

[Vassi]

Hi, you're story is very similar to mine. Had my son just after I turned 40 and since have had 12 embryo transfers with a miscarriage, chemicals or bfns wirh oe. I changed clinics three times, one of which tested for dq alpha gene and it was a partial match. I had a treatment called lit, it wasn't cheap but you only need to do it 6 monthly after the initial treatment. My new clinic thinks its bogus though so its hard knowing what to do.

Perhaps you need some more investigations before any further transfers, have you checked for immune panel and nk cells? Why didn't they do the Ema and Alice? I had a biopsy for endometritis which was positive and haven't been able to successfully treat it yet. They want to do the Ema & Alice to identify which bacteria is causing it.

I know how hard it is to keep going, just want to wish you strength and lots of luck for the next one x

[Meliana]

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Before I read your post I was feeling like i must be one of the few people doing IVF that have been so unlucky to have 7 transfers fail. Our stories are definitely similar. It's hard to comprehend how after having one child it can be so difficult just to have one more baby. I know the research is conflicting on DQ alpha match being a factor in recurrent implantation failure but obviously something is wrong. I would consider doing LIT but it's not done in the U.S. I have read that the research does state it helps tremendously so I hope this treatment works for you! My doctor recommended IVIG after I pgt test my remaining poor quality embryos. I'm just worried about losing them with thawing and testing them as they are already a poor grade. I'm considering just doing a double embryo transfer next. Do you have a transfer date? Hoping the next FET works for both of us!

[Boo718]

I would honestly pgt test them. We went down the double donor route and tested them all. It saved the heartache of testing ones that were t going to make it. I hope your doing alright xxx