3 eggs at epu but none fertilised.

[RACEY]

I have just done my first IVF cycle and at EPU they got 3 eggs which they said were mature eggs. I rang today and they said that 2 didn't fertilise and 1 fertilised with 2 sperm. I was to upset to ask any questions and am now only starting to think why did this happen? and what can I do to prevent it?

I have to ring the clinic back tomorrow and was wondering with all the knowledge that you girls ( and guys) have what questions should I ask?

Also do I get a refund for the money seeing as though we didn't get to egg transfer?

Hope you can shed some light

[Loula]

sending you big hugs hun - sorry i don't have any answers for you but hope you can get some soon

[Megan]

Hi Racey,
I am so sorry you have experienced this. I have been in the same situation a few months back so know how you must be feeling....3 eggs collected and none of them fertilised. I was absolutely devasted.
I don't know which clinic you are with, but I didn't get any money back. Because it was still basically a full cycle (drugs, blood tests, embryologists are involved etc,) All it meant is that I didn't have to pay the $200 hospital fee to go to transfer because I didn't have one.

[Lissie]

Oh Racey,

So sorry sweetie - unfortunately these are the risks with IVF sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't - there are no guarantees which is a bummer. I don't think you will get any refunds cause you still went thru to epu. You must be feeling really bummed to say the least - my heart sank when i read your post cause i know you would be devasted - there is so much anticipation and expectations that go with IVF and then a bad result. Just keep in mind that every cycle is different and next time will be better i'm sure - just hold onto that. Thinking of you.

[Acacia]

Racey,

I'm really sorry to hear your news, and how that must be affecting you :hugs:

Please try not to blame yourself. Because something has happened that is out of your control, you are thinking "What can I/the clinic do, What did I/the clinic do wrong? How do I/the clinic fix it?" because inside you want to be back in control of the situation so it doesn't affect you like it is. There was nothing you did or didn't do wrong or that you could have done better, or could have done more. This applies to the clinic too. People (humans) are very ineffectual at procreating at the best of time (from a scientific, medical point of view), let alone when fertility becomes an issue. And there are so many things that can happen that doctors simply don't have an explanation for - it's just nature. It doesn't give answer, so it isn't comforting in the slightest, which is horrible, but it is nature.

Write a list of questions to ask your clinic before you call them, so you feel prepared mentally to find out everything you need to know. And be assured that they will tell you everything they know, everything that may have affected this cycle, but that they may not have an answer. But they will certainly give you advice about the next step.

I would think about asking them whether ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) might be an option (I'm assuming you didn't do ICSI this time) and whether they saw any abnormalities on the day with your eggs or your sperm, aside from seeing that your eggs were mature.

It's stupidly hard, I can imagine when the cycle goes pear-shaped, hun. You need to find things that will comfort you. For me, that has been receiving as much information as I could from my FS, and asking lots of questions - anything that popped into my head I wrote down before I saw her after my BFN. And after that, it was the thought of moving forward and finding some hope for the next step.

I will be thinking of you lots, and sending you hugs,

Miss C

[KateY01]

Hi Racey
I agree with Miss C and definitely make a list of questions to ask your FS next time. Particularly about the chance of ICSI working for you guys next cycle.
I did 2 IVF cycles last year - the first one I had 5 beautiful, mature eggs but none fertilised. I was in shock and of course, devestated. When we tried again, we made sure they did ICSI which worked perfectly - again, 5 eggs but ALL fertilised. Still no BFP unfortunately but at least we now have 4 eggs in the freezer.
Definitely check with your FS and see what can be done to improve the situation next cycle - there's always something they can do.
Good luck - I don't envy you at all at the moment cause I remember how I was feeling.

[Hollybolly]

Hi Racey,

So sorry to hear your news

Just wanted to second what everyone has written here about not letting it effect you to want to do another cycle... EVERY cycle is completely different, and your next cycle may produce totally different results.

I know its not what you want to hear right now, as I know you must be devastated, but they call the first cycle in many instances a 'test run' for your FS and others to figure out how your body, eggs & DH's sperm will work with each other.
I don't mean to sound insensitive ... But from experience I know that it takes them time to get it right for you.... Next time will be much better xxx

Big hugs to you and sending you much love & happiness to take the hurt away... and sending you the strength that you need right now to get through it - And to want to go through it again xxx

Much Love xxx

[RACEY]

Thank you so much for your support everyone. I have needed some time away to process all of this I did expect low egg count but I did not expect none of them to fertilise especially when the scientist said that the eggs were mature and that DH's sample was good.

I did spend some time talking to them at the clinic and they also said what all you guys have said that sometimes it is just a trial run. They have also told me what they would change for next cycle as well.

DH and I have decided to have a month off and let my body recover and then have another go at IVF even though the other day I was never doing this again. Since then we have spent some quality time together to decide that we will have another go.

Thanks again for all your support and wisdom. I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel where as the other day the tunnel was completely blocked.