I just completed my 3rd and possibly my last IVF treatment. I am extremely disappointed that the eggs did not even fertilized. I went through taking the meds, the retreivel and not to even get the chance to have it work is disappointed. I know the eggs were mutured and the dr and the lab can't really explain why the eggs didn't fertilize. Has anyone else have this happen? The meds I got this time were different than the first times, which makes me wonder if the meds and anything to do w/ the quality of eggs.
It's very discouraging. I've been w/ this same doctor since the beginning of my treatments. The labs are different as she went from a private one to a hospital. I had heard she was really good at this, which is why I have stayed w/ her, but she doesn't really have a great bedside manner and doesn't really explain things well. And since she's been at the hospital clinic, I definately feel like I get a little bit of the run around. I've been given contradictory information (like one day a nurse called me up and said not to start birth control for the next cycle. The same day a different nurse called me up to say to start it.) I am considering switching doctors and labs.
Sorry to rambel on, but I was definately thrown a curve ball and was wondering if anyone else has had these issues.
eggs didn't fertilize
Hi, kbat
The same thing happened to me, but they performed rescue ICSI on my eggs. I had 24 eggs at ER, and after zero fertilization they did ICSI on 17 of them, and 9 fertilized, transferred 2 on day 3. It was a BFN for me, and we will do ICSI right away next time.
The reason for no fertilization is not definite, but husband did have poor sperm morphology (sperm shape) on his previous sperm analysis, although not the one right before IVF. the embryologist also mentioned that my eggs had a somewhat harder shell on them, but my doctor did not think that was the issue.
Since this is your 3rd cycle, what were the details on your past cycle? Probelms?
The same thing happened to me, but they performed rescue ICSI on my eggs. I had 24 eggs at ER, and after zero fertilization they did ICSI on 17 of them, and 9 fertilized, transferred 2 on day 3. It was a BFN for me, and we will do ICSI right away next time.
The reason for no fertilization is not definite, but husband did have poor sperm morphology (sperm shape) on his previous sperm analysis, although not the one right before IVF. the embryologist also mentioned that my eggs had a somewhat harder shell on them, but my doctor did not think that was the issue.
Since this is your 3rd cycle, what were the details on your past cycle? Probelms?
thanks for the response
hi faina205--
I am a 40 year old woman. During my first IVF--when I was "only" 39--when going into all my appointments it showed 4 foll. but they got 3 eggs all of which fertilized. Then the 2 time, my treatment was changed and things got more stimulated, but still only 3 eggs, again all of which fertilized again. Neither cycle "took" after they were implanted. This time they switched up the meds to hopefully get more eggs. Even w/ the different meds. I got about the same amount of stimulation as the 2nd time--but still only 3 eggs. I honestly didn't think that the eggs not fertilizing were going to be an issue since it wasn't the 1st 2 times. The doctor did call me early yesterday to say they didn't fertilized but that the lab would "keep an eye" on them over night. I pretty much had given up hope at that point. But I did get another call from the lab this morning saying that nothing happened and they don't know why. The issue isn't my husband. He's had about 3 different sperm analysis and each time we were told that he was not the reason for me not getting pregnant. I been told in the past that I ovulate fine. I actually got pregnant once about 3 years ago before starting all of these different procedures (ending in a miscarriage) so I know it can be done. My left tube was blocked which they removed due to endometroisis.
But both the doctor and the embryologist both said it's something that can't be explained. (No one even tried to give possible scenarios.)
But I am definately going to seek another opinion to see if there are other reasons why this doesn't seem to be working.
I am a 40 year old woman. During my first IVF--when I was "only" 39--when going into all my appointments it showed 4 foll. but they got 3 eggs all of which fertilized. Then the 2 time, my treatment was changed and things got more stimulated, but still only 3 eggs, again all of which fertilized again. Neither cycle "took" after they were implanted. This time they switched up the meds to hopefully get more eggs. Even w/ the different meds. I got about the same amount of stimulation as the 2nd time--but still only 3 eggs. I honestly didn't think that the eggs not fertilizing were going to be an issue since it wasn't the 1st 2 times. The doctor did call me early yesterday to say they didn't fertilized but that the lab would "keep an eye" on them over night. I pretty much had given up hope at that point. But I did get another call from the lab this morning saying that nothing happened and they don't know why. The issue isn't my husband. He's had about 3 different sperm analysis and each time we were told that he was not the reason for me not getting pregnant. I been told in the past that I ovulate fine. I actually got pregnant once about 3 years ago before starting all of these different procedures (ending in a miscarriage) so I know it can be done. My left tube was blocked which they removed due to endometroisis.
But both the doctor and the embryologist both said it's something that can't be explained. (No one even tried to give possible scenarios.)
But I am definately going to seek another opinion to see if there are other reasons why this doesn't seem to be working.
HI K, I'm sorry about your bfn 
I just got my official bfn last week from my first IVF, and I don't know that we can afford to do it again....
I didn't have very good fertilization results either. I had 9 egg, 4 done with natural IVF and 5 done with ICSI. None of the natrual ones fertilized, and only 3 of the ICSI did. I was devastated. I couldn't comprehend WHY my eggs didn't fertilize better. I have had no indication that I had an egg problem. I'm 27, no pcos, no endo, low FSH... With my follow up visit with my Dr. this week, he mention poor egg quality, but I just can't believe that!!! I think it was a drug problem too. I think something in the drug protocol either made the eggs develop quickly or too slowly - and somehow affected the overall quality and contributed to the hard shell on my eggs... I actually responded better in previous IUI cycles. My E2 during my IVF cycle stayed fairly low - so that just makes me think that I didn't have the right "mix" of drugs. My dr wants to do IVF again with me but with a different drug protocol, unfortunatly I don't have insurance and it isn't an easy decision to spend the $$ without a guarantee that it will work.
Regarding your Doctor and bedside manner... I also can relate. I like my doctor, but I wouldn't mind a second opinion. I know it's easy for some people to say "yeah, go find a new doctor", but I don't have anyone else coverd on my insurance that is within 50 miles, my current doc is doing a good job I believe, the office is convenient... so I know the feeling to want to change but not really being able to. Best of luck...
I just got my official bfn last week from my first IVF, and I don't know that we can afford to do it again.... I didn't have very good fertilization results either. I had 9 egg, 4 done with natural IVF and 5 done with ICSI. None of the natrual ones fertilized, and only 3 of the ICSI did. I was devastated. I couldn't comprehend WHY my eggs didn't fertilize better. I have had no indication that I had an egg problem. I'm 27, no pcos, no endo, low FSH... With my follow up visit with my Dr. this week, he mention poor egg quality, but I just can't believe that!!! I think it was a drug problem too. I think something in the drug protocol either made the eggs develop quickly or too slowly - and somehow affected the overall quality and contributed to the hard shell on my eggs... I actually responded better in previous IUI cycles. My E2 during my IVF cycle stayed fairly low - so that just makes me think that I didn't have the right "mix" of drugs. My dr wants to do IVF again with me but with a different drug protocol, unfortunatly I don't have insurance and it isn't an easy decision to spend the $$ without a guarantee that it will work.
Regarding your Doctor and bedside manner... I also can relate. I like my doctor, but I wouldn't mind a second opinion. I know it's easy for some people to say "yeah, go find a new doctor", but I don't have anyone else coverd on my insurance that is within 50 miles, my current doc is doing a good job I believe, the office is convenient... so I know the feeling to want to change but not really being able to. Best of luck...
Hey kategj,
I know what you mean w/ the $$ and insurance. I live in a state (RI), where the insurance is mandated to pay 80% of the cost. I had done some IUI--w/ the same doctor, different clinic-- and it only cost me about $20 per try--up to 3 tries. But w/ the IVF treatments it would have cost me at least $1600 if not more. My husband insurance has change. We still live work, etc in RI, but the insurance is out of Mass. The insurance does pretty much cover 100% of the infertility cost. If I go in for just a regular appointment it is a 15 co-pay, but the actual IVF procedures and whatever is related to it (ultrasounds bloodwork) etc. is covered at 100% (I have to pay for the drugs.) This is the main reason we think we may keep trying. If I had to even pay the 20% of the cost, I probably wouldn't keep trying.
I am thinking of gettting another opinion just mainly because of the bedside manner and some "mixups" (supposedly not having my paperwork even though they had it, etc.) because after going on the internet, I've read that people get various"tests" done and find out something that helps them along. From what I read also, the Dr. should be looking at the previous plan to see why it didn't work and try to adjust stuff to see if the next time will be better. It's just so fustrating. I've read somewhere that maybe acupunture and/or yoga can help. But to be truthful, I don't think there's any sciectific proof that it helps. I've researched some clinics in the next state over and some of them even provide these services. The clinic I will go to next, which is where I was before my doc. now left there, is in RI, but I'll have to travel up to Lexingtion, MA (about 1 hour away) for the actual procedure. They do put you up in a hotel the the night before. I guess it's not only the doctor, but the lab and it's success. I guess it can't hurt.
The hardest part is that sometimes I guess they really can't explain why something didn't work.
I know what you mean w/ the $$ and insurance. I live in a state (RI), where the insurance is mandated to pay 80% of the cost. I had done some IUI--w/ the same doctor, different clinic-- and it only cost me about $20 per try--up to 3 tries. But w/ the IVF treatments it would have cost me at least $1600 if not more. My husband insurance has change. We still live work, etc in RI, but the insurance is out of Mass. The insurance does pretty much cover 100% of the infertility cost. If I go in for just a regular appointment it is a 15 co-pay, but the actual IVF procedures and whatever is related to it (ultrasounds bloodwork) etc. is covered at 100% (I have to pay for the drugs.) This is the main reason we think we may keep trying. If I had to even pay the 20% of the cost, I probably wouldn't keep trying.
I am thinking of gettting another opinion just mainly because of the bedside manner and some "mixups" (supposedly not having my paperwork even though they had it, etc.) because after going on the internet, I've read that people get various"tests" done and find out something that helps them along. From what I read also, the Dr. should be looking at the previous plan to see why it didn't work and try to adjust stuff to see if the next time will be better. It's just so fustrating. I've read somewhere that maybe acupunture and/or yoga can help. But to be truthful, I don't think there's any sciectific proof that it helps. I've researched some clinics in the next state over and some of them even provide these services. The clinic I will go to next, which is where I was before my doc. now left there, is in RI, but I'll have to travel up to Lexingtion, MA (about 1 hour away) for the actual procedure. They do put you up in a hotel the the night before. I guess it's not only the doctor, but the lab and it's success. I guess it can't hurt.
The hardest part is that sometimes I guess they really can't explain why something didn't work.
Hi Kbat,
I'm sorry to say, I don't have any answers for you, but I can relate. I just got a BFN for my 1st IVF cycle on wednesday. It was such a disappointment. But it really shouldn't have been. We had NO fertilization at day 1 as well. It was a complete shock to my RE and for us. Neither my husband nor I have been diagnosed with any specific problems and we are 34 and 33 yrs old. My RE thought this would be an easy ride for us. Instead he was calling us early on day 1 to let us know he wanted to try rescue ICSI. We had 17 eggs to start and were able to ICSI 10 of them. We ended up with 6 embyros and implanted the 3 best (at 7, 6, and 5 cells). He warned us that rescue ICSI doesn't yield great results but it's hard to not get your hopes up. So i was pretty devastated when I got the BFN call. We will try again as soon as we can and plan to do ICSI right off the bat. My RE wasn't able to give us a real answer as to what happened, but he said many of my eggs we not mature. He thought that was why the rescue ICSI actually fertilized them at day 1, because they had had a chance to mature a little overnight. But he said it could just as well be a sperm-antibody thing or a male factor issue. They just don't know. and it's not something anyone will spend a lot of time researching and such, because the only solution to try is ICSI. Unless it's an egg issue, I think ICSI would hopefully get around the cause. Did you have ICSI with any of your tries?
As for switching, I have definately thought of that as well. But I think my doctor is good and he definately has gained a lot of information as to how I respond and progress etc. So I think i've decided to let him build on that experience and hope for the best. But it is tough, b/c it is a university hospital practice. and talk about run-around! But I also happen to work there and can't beat the convenience. But you have to do what will make you feel the most comfortable through the experience. At the least, you should definately talk to your RE about how her game plan will be changed up and what she wants to do differently. Best of luck to you.
Bebe
I'm sorry to say, I don't have any answers for you, but I can relate. I just got a BFN for my 1st IVF cycle on wednesday. It was such a disappointment. But it really shouldn't have been. We had NO fertilization at day 1 as well. It was a complete shock to my RE and for us. Neither my husband nor I have been diagnosed with any specific problems and we are 34 and 33 yrs old. My RE thought this would be an easy ride for us. Instead he was calling us early on day 1 to let us know he wanted to try rescue ICSI. We had 17 eggs to start and were able to ICSI 10 of them. We ended up with 6 embyros and implanted the 3 best (at 7, 6, and 5 cells). He warned us that rescue ICSI doesn't yield great results but it's hard to not get your hopes up. So i was pretty devastated when I got the BFN call. We will try again as soon as we can and plan to do ICSI right off the bat. My RE wasn't able to give us a real answer as to what happened, but he said many of my eggs we not mature. He thought that was why the rescue ICSI actually fertilized them at day 1, because they had had a chance to mature a little overnight. But he said it could just as well be a sperm-antibody thing or a male factor issue. They just don't know. and it's not something anyone will spend a lot of time researching and such, because the only solution to try is ICSI. Unless it's an egg issue, I think ICSI would hopefully get around the cause. Did you have ICSI with any of your tries?
As for switching, I have definately thought of that as well. But I think my doctor is good and he definately has gained a lot of information as to how I respond and progress etc. So I think i've decided to let him build on that experience and hope for the best. But it is tough, b/c it is a university hospital practice. and talk about run-around! But I also happen to work there and can't beat the convenience. But you have to do what will make you feel the most comfortable through the experience. At the least, you should definately talk to your RE about how her game plan will be changed up and what she wants to do differently. Best of luck to you.
Bebe
bebe--
I am so sorry that it didn't work out for you as well. I know how it is to get that call early on day 1. It's just not something that you really expect. I guess it's just "not meant to be." My dr. said, "it is what it is." Intellectually I guess you can understand it and that it's never a guarantee, but emotionally it is extremely tough. I guess like you said, it's not something that they will really figure out.... It was hard because the first two times, we had all the eggs fertilized.
I think right now, we are just going to get another opinion. I am not totally sure if we'll continue, but sometimes it's nice to hear someone else's opinion to either confirm what the first doctor said or to shed some light on things. I guess when you deal w/ a hospital, it's a bigger place and more things going on, so there's probably a tendency to have more going on...
I wish you well in your endevour. Know that you are not alone.
I am so sorry that it didn't work out for you as well. I know how it is to get that call early on day 1. It's just not something that you really expect. I guess it's just "not meant to be." My dr. said, "it is what it is." Intellectually I guess you can understand it and that it's never a guarantee, but emotionally it is extremely tough. I guess like you said, it's not something that they will really figure out.... It was hard because the first two times, we had all the eggs fertilized.
I think right now, we are just going to get another opinion. I am not totally sure if we'll continue, but sometimes it's nice to hear someone else's opinion to either confirm what the first doctor said or to shed some light on things. I guess when you deal w/ a hospital, it's a bigger place and more things going on, so there's probably a tendency to have more going on...
I wish you well in your endevour. Know that you are not alone.