My first unsuccessful IVF :(

[aussiejo]

Hi All

i just need to tell some one what has been happening with me. In june last year after 2 years of TTC for the first time, my local doctor sent me to a fertility specialist. In September i started my first month blood tests with the results that my hormones are all over the place and drugs would fix this problem. I aslo was told that i was not immune to rubella. I had my rubella injection and had to wait another month before i could start the hormones in my next cycle. So i started this cycle and my doctor wanted me to get a HSG scan just in case. I went for the HSG and 2 days later got the phone call from the doctor to stop my hormones as my HSG results came back with both my tubes blocked and destroyed and they need to be removed. (At least this now explained the unexplainable discharge i had ever day for the past 10 years) I was devastated. I was booked in for the lap suregery in Feb this year. (I dont get the discharge anymore my tubes were blocked with puss) I was told that now IVF was my only option. My partner and i started our first round of IVF this month. The doctor told me that the rubella injection didnt work again and so when i was pregnant i need to be careful and keep away from sick people I took the nasal spray morning and night, injected my hormones each morning, went for bloods and scans and yesterday went in to hospital for the egg retreival operation. My partner gave his sample. The doctor told me they retrieved 5 and they would ring me tomorrow. This morning at 8am the lab people rang with the devastating news that out of the 4 good eggs none had been fertalised. Apparently my partners sperm (he had been told by the doctor he had super sperm) had not survived and did not make its way to the egg. Im so down in the dumps. What happens now? Has this happened to you? Please share with me. The doctor is now suggesting ICSI. Please tell me what this is all about, Thanks

[Dutchie80]

Hi aussiejo,
hun, it's bitterly disappointing when your eggs don't fertilise and you don't make it to transfer. This is exactly what happened to me in my last cycle and it was cancelled and I was devastated. Your first IVF cycle is, unfortunately, trial and error as they assess what is and isn't for you and adjust things accordingly in your next cycle/s.
ICSI ( Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is where a single sperm is selected and is injected directly into one of your eggs. It is used where there is severe male factor infertility (low sperm count and/or poor quality sperm) and is often suggested where there is a poor fertilization rate in an IVF cycle as ICSI improves fertilisation rates.
I know how hard it is right now and I hope you're feeling better very soon and your BFP is just around the corner.

[Miss.B]

Hi aussiejo,

I'm so sorry for all the disappointments in your journey TTC. It is not easy by any means. When I found out I had to do IVF, I was short of devastated. I always imagined falling pg naturally. My DF had a vesectomy 10 years ago (while he was married to his ex) and then when he met me almost 5 years ago, and found out I wanted children), he had it reversed but sadly it was unsuccessful. We were recommended IVF with ICSI as his sperm count is almost zero. We did one stimulated cycle in May 2008 and out of 12 eggs two made it to 5 day old embies. Without ICSI we wouldn't have had the 2 blasties.

Good luck hun, and please don't be too disappointed. I believe ICSI is the way to go for you, and the success rates are very good. Perhaps in your next cycle they will increase your dosage of the drugs and you will be able to produce more eggs. Remember, it's usually quality over quantity anyway, and it only takes one!!

All the best hun, wishing you much luck in your next round.

Beata x

[Hollybolly]

Hi Aussiejo,

Firstly I just want to give you some of these - I know the place you're in right now, and its horrible

Like Dutchie said, unfortunately your first cycle is such an experiment - they have no idea how the drugs will respond in your body so its all just a game of trial & error unfortunately...

My TTC story is massive so I'll try & simplify it for the purpose of this post but we have had numerous disappointments along the way as well.

Our first cycle was similar to yours - small dosage of FSH drugs (1. because it was the first cycle & 2. because I have had a child previously) - we got 8 eggs, half fertilised but none made it by the time of transfer.

Our second cycle was very similar, but we had a very slow embryo transferred, nothing.

They changed protocol for our 3rd & 4th cycles - got better results, but still no pregnancy.

After doing lots of research into doctors etc, I found a specialist that did a lot of testing & found similar issues to yours in regards to my tubes... they were leaking toxic fluid into my uterus that was causing the embryos to expel.

I had the surgery for my tubes done in December, and we are almost through our 5th cycle - first one since finding out about the problems with my tubes & our first one using ICSI as well.

We got much better quality embryos this time round - are due for transfer tomorrow & waiting at the moment to see how my 5 embies are doing this morning....

I just wanted to give you a little of my history so you could see that things can improve - I know how you're feeling & I feel for you sweetheart - but I promise there are many different protocols/tests/specialists that can happen for you to get better results... don't give up hope

My advice for you would to start with some acupuncture straight away on a regular basis - find a practitioner that specialises in fertility/IVF issues.
The acupuncture is excellent to improve egg quality, sperm, the lining of your uterus & implantation of the embryo.

There are extra tests you can have done for your husband with the sperm... not all specialists will do them as they're not the normal ones they can do... and they cost but you will get solid results.

Please remember there is so much they can change - and different cycles as far as the IVF goes, so take faith in all of the different options.

They will more than likely increase your FSH dose this time round, and ICSI will definately help with the fertilisation.

Ask as many questions as you need to - and this site is an amazing source for info.... with some pretty fantastic & inspiring women who have been to hell & back a few times over in reach of their dream

Theres not many left now, but I would check out the TTC journal section, & also read through the blogs from some of the lovely ladies in regards to their experiences with IVF... you'll find that you're not alone (and your situation is very common)... that will put you at ease straight away & thats the first step to carry on

My very very best wishes for your journey - please feel free to ask away if you have any more questions, there are so many of us here that can help & support you.

Lots of hugs,
Holly
xxxxx

[Bridget]

Hi Aussie Jo

I just wanted to support what the other girls said. This ivf business is full of unexpected twists and turns, many of them disappointing but hopefully with a big reward at the end. My partner and I were "unexplained" at first. Told to go away and keep trying. Then (after some different sperm tests), they told us DH's sperm wouldn't fertilise eggs and that we would need ICSI. I was devastated about needing IVF. However, just as we started, I found out I was pregnant, naturally. Then it turned out to be ectopic - so unfair and meant I had to wait 4 months before trying again. They also decided it couldnt be a problem with his sperm (because I had been pregnant) but maybe it was my tubes (hence the ectopic). Again, ivf was the answer. So we tried and after 4 unsuccessful IVF attempts, I had a laparoscopy. Turns out my tubes are fine but I have endometriosis and submucosal fibroids. So they said that was probably the answer and if we treated it, it would all be ok. another operation and 2 more months of not trying. Then, after another 4 cycles I'm still not pregnant so it looks like that was wrong as well. What I've learned is that the finishing line often moves.

But on the bright side, each stim cycle is different. I had one cycle where out of 14 eggs, only one made it to day 2. No reason for this, just a bad cycle. The next month I had 14 eggs, 10 fertilised, 7 were fantastic (grade 1 or 2). I did exactly the same protocol as the bad cycle. Didn't change a thing. One bad cycle doesnt mean they will all be bad, hopefully you will be luckier next time.