failed fertilisation

[seejae]

Hi all – what a great support group!

Hey, I just did my first IVF cycle – or rather, failed to complete my first IVF cycle actually. There is where I was hoping someone might be able to shed some light. We had positive outcomes all the way to fertilisation… and then had complete, unanticipated failure. Everything got the tick off to start, but the next morning the eggs and sperm had completely failed to ‘bind’ (so the sperm didn’t even make it to penetrating the egg). Plus, the sperm weren’t looking good at all by that stage.

Has anyone else had this experience? I was told there could be numerous reasons – they can’t tell me the exact cause. And searches on the internet only bring up scientific journal articles. Next time they’re going to perform ICSI, but in addition to the usual anxieties to manage, I now have an added unknown to deal with!

If anyone’s had the same outcome, or has some helpful information I’d really appreciate it

Thanks - Catherine

[k]

Hi Catherine

We had half IVF and half ICSI (12 eggs) and none of the IVF fertilized. They also couldnt explain why. Luckily 4 of the ICSI embryos fertilized and we now have our little girl. Im sorry you've had to go through this, I was really upset when it happened to us, but at least we had the ICSI embryos.

The ICSI procedure is used a lot nowadays and has a good fertilization rate. The only difference is that a single sperm is injected into the egg, so it doesnt change your treatment as such, you would still have the same procedure as IVF leading up to fertilization.

HTH

Kim

[kbat]

I've had 5 ivf treatments. The first 3 were pretty much just IVF. #4 & 5 were done w/ ICSI (#5 was ICSI w/ assisted hatching). My 3rd cycle I had no fertilization as well. They couldn't tell why there was no fertilization. #1 and #2 I had feritilaztion, but both times I had a day 2 transfer so don't know if the embroyos were developing they way the should or not. I switched clinics after #3. With ICSI, I got fertilization both times; however, both times it didn't work out for me. On #5, I did not have egg transfer. Although I had fertilization, they didn't divide properly for day 3 transfer (this clinic doesn't do day 2 transfer--they prefer to wait the extra day to see how the eggs are progressing to try to give the patient a more realistic view of whether you will get pregnant or not). they seem to think that's why it didn't work the first 2 times I had egg transfer. #5--I finally did get "pregnant" but it was etopic. I had ICSI w/ assisted hatching. I only had 2 embroyos, but I was told that they were of pretty good quality. I did do a little bit of a different regiment (no lupron, but instead took clomid w/ gonal-f and ganarelix). The biggest thing I decided to do differently was to do acupuncture. I think it did help. Although it didn't end the way I hoped it would at least I got good quality eggs and one of them sort of took--just didn't stay in uterus. I wish I had done it earlier.

Good luck to you!

Kara