Message for Ghost (or anyone, really...)

[Corinna]

Hi Ghost (or anyone else that is clever and knows about the following..)

Long time, no hassle!

Just wanted to ask your advice on something that is bothering me.

I'm 2 days into my 2ww (going nuts already..). I had 9 mature eggs collected and 6 fertilised (we're using donor sperm this time. DH has azoospermia and high FSH so low chance of a BFP with his sperm apparently.. )

We were planning to take our embies to blast, but on day 3, there were 2 clear leaders so we decided to go with the 3 day tranfser. By day 3, we had 2 grade 1's (7 cells each) a grade 3 (4 cell) & 3 grade 3's (6 cells each). Grade 1 is the best by the way and 4 is the worst so it made sense to transfer the 2 grade 1's (7 cells) rather than risk taking them to blast.

The embryologist was very happy with the 2 7 cells that were transfered. Apparently, there was very little fragmentation (none at all on one of them) and they were developing at just the right speed and rate for day 3. (I am a bit concenred that they were 7 cells and not 8 cells on day 3, but I worry about everything - do you think this makes a diffence to successful outcomes?)

Anyway, we decided to culture the remaining 3 grade 3's (6 cells) to blast as they weren't good enough to freeze on day 3 due to their fragmentation (grade 3 means quite bad fragmentation, although not hideously severe). Spoke to the embryologist this morning and 2 stopped dividing at the 10 cell stage and 1 is apparently "trying its hardest" to become a blast although its got quite bad fragmentation and probably isn't going to be good enough to freeze.

I'm now worried that these 2 inside me never stood chance to make blast either. If the other 4 didn't, why should these be any different? The embryologist said that the 2 put back were considerable better quality than the others so she would hope that they are thriving. The fact that a grade 3 was "nearly" at blast (albiet poor quality) should be encouragment that a grade 1 from the same batch should be "dividing &
conquering" no problem.

Sorry for the ridiculously long post. Can you give me your opinion on this?

Thanks Ghost.

Love, Corinna xx

[Welshgirl38]

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[PebblesUK]

Hi Corinna

I'm no where near as clever as Ghost but I can tell you what I understood from our treatment.

We got 8 eggs, 5 fertilised. We had a 3 day transfer, a grade 1 and a grade 2, one 7 cell and one 6 cell. The rest we were going to freeze if they made it to blast. Unfortunately none of the others made it to blast so we had nothing to freeze. One of my embryos took as she's asleep in the front room! Unfortunately they don't tippex the end of them so we can tell which one took!

From what I understand is that blast is usually considered best as the embryos have overcome some major hundles just in these extra couple of days. BUT, some embryos do better snuggled up inside than they do outside.

I'm sure if Ghost is lurking he will be quite happy to post all the figures and sats etc and correct me where I'm wrong!

What I'm trying to say is, our embryos didn't survive on the outside but one did on the inside. The best thing you can do now is relax (easier said than done), stress isn't good for your little embryos.

Best of luck to you and remember, every symptom you get in the dreaded two week wait is from your progestone!! lol

Take care

Jo
xxx

[Ghost]

Hi Corinna.

I have not looked at this board in awhile, but I pop in and there's this message with my name on it!

The news is all good. Your rapidly developing grade 1s are more likely to make it to blastocyst and beyond than those heavily fragmented siblings. Not only because of their better grades, but perhaps also because they are in a natural environment, which many argue/claim is better than culture media.

Best of luck to you, Corinna.

[Corinna]

Woo hoo! Thanks Ghost. Just what I needed to hear!

Thanks also Jo & Becky.

I'll let you know how I get on on my OTD (19th Sept-although theres NO WAY I'm waiting that long to test.)

Love to all you crazy kids!
Corinna xxx

[Welshgirl38]

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