Implantation problems - help anyone??

[fingersxd]

I have been silently reading all your posts from afar - which have been great support. Now I have a question of my own. I am on my second ivf cycle. the first was a 3 day old embryo that on dpo 14 I had an hcg of 80, great bfp, then 4 days later it has dropped to 25, and kept dropping for a week, till I mc. The nurses told me something must not be right with embryo - I was gutted. This time I had a natural cycle, they put back a 5 day old blast, and b/c of easter holiday did bt today dpo13, and I had an hcg of 6 - so the nurse said sorry, something obviously had tried to happen - technically a bfp, but reality is I will get af in the next week??? So I have got my head around doing another cycle, but now I am wondering. why aren't I implantating and holding..does anyone know anything about assisted hatching or implantation problems?

[summerbaby]

Sorry to hear about what you have been going through! There are so many factors as to why the embryos have trouble implanting, or implant and then don't continue to grow. It can be very frustrating. For me, it turned out to be my eggs and I ended up trying DE, which worked on the first try.

I have a question for you, is your RE also testing your progesterone and estrogen levels at the time of the beta test? As levels that are too low could cause you to have problems early on, or levels that are normal could indicate a problem with the egg/embryo.

Best of luck to you on your journey.
xx summer

[josee1973]

hi there, if this could be of help, doctors around the world may give different advice so its hard at times to know whats the best thing to do, my husband and i researched assisted hatching and friends of ours that had 4 IVF's first 3 without assisted hatching and the last one with it and she had a beautiful daughter kayla......we decided to just do it at times the Zona could be to thick to hatch out of, it doesnt hurt to try stats are quite high...hope this could be of help

[to_have_fun08]

fingersxd - Sorry that your cycles were a bust, I know it sucks. Like PP said there could be a lot of issues. It could be E2 and progesterone levels. It could also be chromosomal issues and immunological issues. Most clinics won't check form immunological issues until after 2 failed IVF's. I would follow up with your RE to see if he/she has any answers. If he doesn't I would check around to other clinics and get a second opinion. You can go to haveababy.com. They have a message board where the RE's will reply to your questions. They could possibly give you some advice. They also have fee consultations. So even if you don't want to switch RE's you can have a phone consultation with them to get their ideas. Then maybe you can pass them on to your RE. Just and idea. Good luck.



Chris

[2ndtimer]

I had several unsuccessful cycles until my RE told me I needed to have acupuncture 1 hour before the transfer. It really helped -I felt about 100x more relaxed. With the acupuncture before hand, I had 1 chemical pregnancy then finally SUCCESS!
It's worth a try.
2ndtimer

[Warren Dew]

Assisted hatching can help with implantation, but implantation is not really your problem; the fact that you are getting positive HCG blood tests show that the embryo is implanting, just not staying. Possibly you were just unlucky the first time.

I would note that an HCG of 6 on an early test doesn't rule out a pregnancy. I would go back for the retest next week, and keep taking the progesterone shots in the mean time if you are taking them.

[fingersxd]

I got up this morning and read all your messages and it just felt so good - so many people care!! they actually have only been testing hcg, so when I see my re next week I will ask them if we can maybe check o and p as well. I am only 34 - and have not had fertility issues in past - reason we had to do ivf is my husband had a vascetomy years ago - and the reversal did not work. So they went in and got the sperm from him, when I had my first round we ended up with 6 viable embryos, the first fresh one they put in at 3 days, thats the one I lost. They said my eggs looked good, this one was a 5 day frozen. So I still have 4x 5 day old in the freezer. This time round I also tried acupuncture. I guess you are right they are implanting but not holding, because otherwise I would not get any hcg readings?? so maybe there is something wrong with embryos..who knows. No AF has showed yet, and I am using progestrone pessaries and the nurse said carry on till after my next blood test on tuesday. So fingers crossed and legs in the air till then - I guess you just never know! Will keep you posted on what my RE says.. Thanks so much for making my day..

[fingersxd]

Can they actually tell if the zona of the egg is really think? I checked with my nurse today and she said they use the glue as forse of habit, but she agrees with you - its probably not implantation my problem - its getting them to stay - which may be my hormone levels - or problem embryos. They keep saying though the embryos look fantastic. Maybe next time I should ask for two to be put back in. As a std over here because of my age they only put back one.
Thanks xxx

[Warren Dew]

Different genetic issues manifest at different points in development, so the embryos can look fine at an 8 cell or blastocyst stage and still stall out at some point later. This isn't unusual: studies have indicated that even perfectly healthy women produce embryos 2/3 of which have genetic defects. If this one doesn't work, chances are one of the remaining 4 will.

As I said, though, I wouldn't give up hope on the current one just yet. Sometimes embryos implant a little late, so the first HCG reading is low; at this stage, it's the rate of increase they see at your second test that really matters!

[Ghost]

The nurses told me something must not be right with embryo -

she agrees with you - its probably not implantation my problem - its getting them to stay - which may be my hormone levels - or problem embryos.

No way to know that. Could be bad embryos, or it could be flawed implantation. Sometimes genetically viable embryos result in early pregnancy loss.

Consider your clinic's implantation rates (specifically for frozen blasts in your age group) when deciding if you want to transfer two in the next cycle. Your clinic should have this data. Also consider how you'd feel about twins.

Best of luck to you.

[fingersxd]

I went in today for my second bt - but because its easter will not find out till sunday/monday - so then I will know for sure if hcg is rising or gone.., because my period has not turned up yet so maybe there is still hope! the nurse today said not to get to hopeful as the progestrone pessaries will stop my period..but fingers are still crossed.

Today she mentioned that if I need another cycle to talk to my specialist about the colorado protocol - taking baby asprin - so maybe this well help too..

Thanks for your feedback. Will keep everything crossed and my legs in the air!! abit scared to get too hopeful though..

[fingersxd]

Well - it was confirmed over easter a BFN - and after long conversations with the nurse - they are going to try me on the Colorado protocol - see if that helps - my white blood cell count always seems to be high which might not be helping..