Low fertilisation with ICSI

[Lou32]

Hi everyone. I've not been on here for a while as we had to put our IVF on hold all year due to illness (it's been a complete nightmare of a year).
Anyway, to cut a long story short, we finally got going and got 14 eggs at EC yesterday, which I thought was OK. I got a call earlier to say 9 were mature, but only 4 fertilised - and that was using ICSI.
We have male factor, but because of motility - we weren't aware of any other problems with the quality of the sperm or the quality of my eggs. I'm 32 and, as far as we know, nothing wrong.
I spoke to my clinic and they said it could be sperm or egg quality problems.
I've been told they hope ET to be on day 3, but I'm terrified now as we've only been left with 4. What if they don't make it? It's been hard to stay positive, but I honestly thought we'd end up with more than 4 being fertilised, especially as we were using ICSI, and we did the short protocol which the clinic said usually meant better quality eggs (SP was my choice due to stress of previous illness and I'd thought it would make the whole thing less stressful. They said success rates were the same).
Does anyone know why the fertilisation could be so bad and if this can be improved if we have to go through it all again (God help us!)
I thought maybe someone else had experienced something similar...
Thanks.

 

[MrsJA]

Hi Lou,

I had 10 eggs collected and only 4 fertilised normally in my ICSI cycle. We then had 3 that made it on to either transfer or freeze.

First transfer didn't work out but we got pregnant on the second round using FET.

Don't be discouraged by your results. I know people say this all the time, but you really only do need 1 good embryo to make your baby! I'm sure out of your 4, you will have at least one that will make it for you.

Good luck honey x

 

[tickledpink]

Easier said than done but try not to worry. They collected 12 eggs from me but only 6 were viable. Out of those 6 they fertilised three. Like they say, it only takes one Chin up!

 

[Lou32]

Thank you. I just can't stop crying - pathetic I know. Your stories hv given me some hope though. It's gonna be a long night waiting 2 find out how my 4 have done. I'm not v religious,but I've never prayed so much in my life!

 

[JaniceT]

Hi Lou, occasionally I still drop by here to see how everyone is going.

Please stay positive. I had more than 20 eggs collected. Almost all were matured and fertilised except 1 egg. By the 3rd day, we only had 4 embryos available for implantation. All 4 were of average or low quality. Doctor gave us 10% chance of success per embryo.

Keep positive because good things can happen. It happened for us *hugs*

 

[hayley1982]

On all three cycles weve only had 2 to transfer.4is good in my book lovey.it only takes one.hows things going?you had et yet?

 

[jojo55]

Thinking of you Lou, hope et goes well today xx

 

[Lou32]

Well all 4 were doing well (2x 6 cell and 2x 8 cell) and we were told one 8 cell was perfect quality and they would only let us put that back in. I was disappointed to say the least as I thought with so few to gamble with they'd say 2.She wouldn't budge though as she said because of my age I had a good prognosis and the risk of twins was too high.Gutted! We could have frozen the others but she thought it would be best to try get them to blast and freeze.She said if they didn't make it it's unlikely they'd survive the freezing process anyway.Was a tough call but we thought she knew best.So there you go, now I'm worried just one embie won't be enough. I really siouldn't Google because it feels like hardly anyone has 1 embie,even thought the SET policy is now in place. Honestly, if I didn't have anything to worry about I'd be worried! Thanks for your kind wishes x

 

[Mamamirfy]

Hi there....you have one perfect one so that's great It will work out. I'm 31...we only had 7 eggs, 6 were mature, 5 fertilized, one stopped growing at day 2 and another at day 4....we put back two (I begged) and one made it to freeze. I'm pregnant now In Canada it's illegal to put back more than two in my age group but in the end it's up to us. They also told us we had a very high chance of twins because they were good quality. We'll find out in a couple weeks. Be happy!! You have a one perfect babe in there...my clinic also only freezes what's left on day 6.

 

[jojo55]

Thats fab news hun. Sounds like you have a great chance with a perfect embie!!! Feet up and let oh do all the chores for a while xx

 

[Lou32]

Thanks mamamirfy. No amount of begging would have changed her mind - she was not budging,even when I kept pushing. In the uk they brought in Single Embryo Transfer but it feels like I'm the only one who's had to stick to that! Sorry,listen to me moaning again. I suppose it feels like my chances are less but apparently it's not necessarily the case. So everyone's told me. Or are they all sick of me moaning? I'm sick of me moaning come to think of it!

 

[Lou32]

Thanks jojo. Have a happy and stress free 2ww x

 

[MrsJA]

Hi Jo,

We have SET in Australia too, and I really think it's the way to go. When you transfer two instead of one, you only increase your chance of getting pregnant by 5% but you increase your chance of twins by 50%.

I know a lot of us LTTC'ers want twins anyway, and that's kind of another story but medically speaking, multiple pregnancies are much riskier than singletons.

I hope your little singleton is busy burrowing in there and making a nice home

 

[angiemon]

Hi lou,

just Reading your comments and we have also had one embie transferred last Wednesday. We thought we would have two and on transfer day we had 5 good quality blastos to choose but the embrologist recommended set as risk of twins was so high and we trusted their advice! I suppose we just have to trust the experts. They would have put 2 back if we wanted but hopefully we will be able to use fet in the future for a little brother or sister for the little one growing now. Fingers cxed. When did you have your et?

 

[angiemon]

Sorry lou just seen that your et was today. It's nerve racking isn't it but also so exciting!!

 

[JaniceT]

Congratulations on healthy embies! Your nurse is correct. If they don't make it to blast, they won't survive the freezing and thawing. Also, if you had put all 4 back in, chances are still only the most healthy with stick, which is the 8 cell.

I had more than 1 transferred and low chance of succes but I suspect it was our 8-cell that made it while the lower count cells didn't. Strong little one

All the best to you and do keep us updated!

 

[Lou32]

Yes,it's a v nervy time. I would have probably been more confident if we had 1 blast put back in but they'd not even reached that stage. I don't know why they were so strict with us, especially with a 3dt and only 4 embies. It feels a bit like they are using it as a trial run. Just hope they're all strong 'uns. Embryologist said just because two had 6 cells didn't mean they wouldn't make it to blast.She said they often did. Hope she's right as it might take the pressure off a bit.

Found out today our three spare embryos didn't make it to blast stage (and so couldn't be frozen), so we have everything riding on the one they put in on Saturday. Is definitely NOT the position I expected us to be in, considering we supposedly had a "good prognosis". I never expected this part of the IVF to be so hard - I though it would be all the meds which would be the tough part, but they were a breeze compared to this. Just goes to show that even if they say you're one of those likely to succeed, it doesn't always go to plan.

 

[beauty]

Hi Lou

I did eggshare so managed 17 eggs all together 9 eggs for me and 8 for the other lady i was donating too, out of my 9 eggs 8 were mature and 4 of them fertizlised.

The lady at care clinic said they look for around 50 to 60% fertizlising. We have sperm issues on everything count, movement, morph, mobility and on the day DP had to do YEP 3 samples as the first 2 were real poor. This prob on the day affected the results however we had two great embroys replaced and none good enough to freeze and now as you can see 1 little fighter on board..

We had 4 all growing at different stages but 2 were the stronger of the group these were the ones i had replaced at day 3, we were trying to go to blast but the clinic rang and advised that the two stronger embroys were looking good but the other 2 werent and advised to transfer so we did. As the clinic sometimes say, embroys are sometimes best to be replaced where they belong which is in your womb area, the longer you leave these to grow sometimes they make it and sometimes they dont, and if you only have a few embroys riding on making it I think its best to stick to a 3 day transfer. I think most clinics like to see 4 embroys growing at the same rate to grow onto blasts, as there is a chance only 1 or 2 may make the next few days.

Just wanted to wish you all the look in the world and please do not think that having a 3 day transfer is any less chance than a blast transfer as more than not most of the ladies i have chatted too all have had 3 day transfer and had success xx

 

[JaniceT]

I fully agree with 'beauty' regarding 3-day transfers. My fertility specialist looks at the quality of embryos and recommends which is best. For me, he recommended a 3-day instead of blast. If I had waited till blast, my 4 embies probably wouldn't have survived until transfer.

 

[lynseyology]

Hiya, just wanted to tell you our story. We had IVF last year. The first attempt didn't work as I didn't respond to the drug but on the second attempt I had 5 eggs, three fertilised, one didn't make it past 4 cell stage the other two did. Finally we had two, one was top quality but the other wasn't good enough to freeze. We were given such a good prognosis We really didn't expect to be in the position where we only had one to count on.

I wanted to say that although it sounds like a cliche it really only does take one, I am now 37 weeks pregnant, patiently waiting for our little girl. Never give up x