Ivf/Icsi cycle number 3

Hi to all! This is my first post and I am hoping to get some feedback from those ladies who have had similar experience with failed ivf/icsi cycles.
My story thus far is as follows:
Our first ivf cycle (short agonist) we had 9 eggs retrieved and one fertilised using icsi-it made it to morula stage but did not advance to blastocyst-my dr only transfers day 5 blasts. Therefore no eggs to transfer!! :redface:
Conclusion was that I had produced poor quality eggs and my dr put me on metformin for polycystic ovaries-I don't have the syndrome just characteristics. I also started a low gi diet and although I have always exercised regularly-I increased that too!
Our 2nd cycle-(antagonist) I had 16 eggs retrieved and my hubby's sperm sample was adequate so after a discussion with our dr and the scientist we opted to do half icsi/half ivf.. Of the 8 eggs that were in the ivf group-none fertilised!!! From the icsi group 6 out of 8 fertilised. 2 made it to blastocyst and I had a fresh transfer which resulted in a BFN. After i recoverred from the disappointment, I focused on my 2nd frozen embryo-later to discover that it would not survive the thaw!! :wall:
So now here we are back to square one and waiting to start cycle no. 3...this time I have switched clinics/dr's and am looking forward to a fresh set of eyes. The new clinic apparently freezes and transfers embryos at all different stages and they have also insisted genetic testing for us.
If there is anyone out there who has had a similar journey with poor fertilisation rates and has then gone on to achieve success-I would love to hear from you or any advise anyone has to offer..cheers :p

Hi Kristabella8!

I have not done ICSI so I can't share any stories there - but you might be interested in joining the LTTTC and AC thread where the girls are lovely, and it has been the best thing I have done!
A number of girls have had BFP's in there (me too... but I am still waiting to see if it's going to stick as I have been told it's 80% chance it wont... :( still keeping my chin up though, at the moment!) I do hope you get your BFP soon! It's a long and difficult journey and I wish you (all of us!) didn't have to go through this crappy journey!

Check out this link anyway!
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...25#post3185625

good luck! I am sure you will get lots of support in here! :hug:

Hi Kristabella,

Welcome to BB.

I have only done IVF and we are blessed to be pg on our second cycle.

First cycle (Nov 2011) I had 12 eggs but when I went back for follow-up ultrasound and blood test my eggs didn't increase, I just got more eggs and my hormone levels were dropping instead of increasing. Clinic cancelled the cycle. My clinic does not do back to back cycles on cancelled cycles, then there was Xmas in there so we couldn't start until Jan/Feb 2012.

Second cycle commenced late Jan 2012 and we got 8 good sized eggs collected with 7 fertilised. Only two made it with one implanted day 5 (currently pg) and one frozen.

It really can be hit & miss with cycles until they work out how you respond to the meds etc... We were very lucky to fall pg on our second cycle. A new clinic sounds like a good idea with the additional testing and different day t'fers.

I have PCO but not the syndrome (not insulin resistant). I went on a Low GI & Low calorie diet with two personal training sessions per week and one yoga session per week prior to and during my IVF cycles. I did lose 15 kgs prior to starting IVF which I beleived helped.

Hi Kristabella

Sorry that you are having to go down this road for your bubba, hoping that this will be your cycle.

Here is our story. We tried unsuccessfully for 5 years before we looked into AC and discovered that DH has 96% abnormal morphology and we went straight to ICSI. First cycle, 13 eggs and only 4 fertilised. Second cycle, we found that my body is very unpredictable as to how I respond to meds and the exact same protocol gave four eggs, only one fertilised. Before the third cycle, we did way more testing and found DH had 44% DNA fragmentation (have ypu had this done? I think over 25% is not a good prognosis for ivf success) but we ploughed on ahead with a microflare protocol due to my rubbish response previous cycle. Well, body went mad and E2 had skyrocketed after just 5 days of Puregon. We went ahead with EPU, more cos I think our FS wanted to see how developed eggs were that early on and offered us a free cycle. One egg of eight fertilised and was of such poor quality, we opted not to transfer. Our fourth cycle was another long down reg. I think we got seven eggs from that one, only two fertilised. Our FS agreed to transfer both and her, myself and DH agreed that what we were doing was futile and there was no point carrying on after that cycle.

Well, those two embryos transferred are now beautiful little girls. One is snuggled up to my boob and the other is fast asleep in her swing at my feet. Despite everything being against us, we succeeded so even if you feel the odds are stacked against you, please don't lose heart. Even if it looks pretty grim, it CAN happen and my girls are testament to that.

Good luck to you and I hope your dream comes true xxx

Welcome to BB Kristabella!

DH and I have had 3 attempts at IVF all using ICSI (He has a blockage and has no sperm released in his semen). They had to operate on him to retrieve the sperm. Our first cycle I had 11 eggs collected and only 2 fertilised, one was put back and ended as a chemical pregnancy and the other is still frozen (although we have been told it is not good quality). Our second stim cycle I had 9 eggs retrieved and 3 fertilised. One was put back and two were frozen, unfortunately the fresh embryo they put back didnt turn into a pregnancy. We went back April/ May this year and did a frozen transfer with one of the embryo's from the second cycle and i'm now nearly 24 weeks pregnant.

I know it's hard to stay positive when you fertilisation rates aren't great. I bawled my eyes out both times when they told me that we only had a few fertilise. I was 21 when we did our first cycle and 23 when we did our second and I thought we would have much better fertilisation rates.

Best of luck xxx