Need advice from my pregnant friends...

[lou71]

Hi ladies,

I am pretty down this cycle. Seems I'm not responding at all like last cycle where I had 10 eggs and ended up with 4 really good blasts on day 5. RE brought up an option to cancel and do IUI instead today. We don't know what to do. But DH is leaning towards the IVF since RE said IUI would be 5-10% success rates and IVF significantly higher IF we had two good embies to transfer on day 3. If we do the IUI, we could afford another IVF cycle in a couple of months but there's no guarantee I'll have any better response then.

On the right side I have 4 follies as follows, 16,16,16,12 and on the left I've got two 14 and 11. RE said I will be ready to trigger tomorrow. I've never had a mature egg in a follicle less than 16 mm. We are doing ICSI and have had good fertilization rates with that. Once fertilized, I also have lost very few embryos. 1st IVF, I had 4 fertilize and ended up with 3 embies with no fragmentation. Transferred two and the third one made it to blast and was frozen. My second IVF... the one I got pregnant and m/c at 12 wks I had 7 eggs, 4 mature, and 3 fertilized. I transferred all 3. Two of those had a bit of fragmentation and the third one wasn't so good.

Anyone over 35 years old have success with only 3-4 eggs retrieved?

What would you do in my situation?

[jenice]

LOU- My first IVF cycle I had 15 embryos went to blast and had transferred 2 blasts and BFN. My FET transferred 2 2 day embryos and had a chemical. This last IVF had 7 embryos did a 3 day transfer with 3 embryos and I'm 34 weeks pregnant. IVF is a mystery. I say finish out the IVF cycle. It only takes one. I remember being very upset that I didn't produce like I had with my first fresh cycle having 15 embryos but in the end it didn't help me much anyway cause the cycle failed. I would take the gamble on this cycle, you never know

[gi]

Hey lou,

I agree with jenice you only need one good one though i know how disappointing and scary it is when you dont have many. I dont produce many good eggs, i usually get between 5-10 retrieved but usually only about 5 are mature and 5 is the most i have ever had fertilized, last cycle they retrieved 11 eggs but only 5 were mature, all 5 fertilized 2 transfered on day 3 and 3 frozen this was our best cycle yet. Best of luck hon xxxxx

gi xx

[klinger13]

Hi Lou! I've been following you on the Winter Cycle thread & I'm sorry you're having to make such a tough decision. If you remember from our Fall thread, I only had 5 eggs retrieved, 3 fertilized, transferred all 3 on a 3dt, had 2 sacs but one didn't continue to develop but we've got a singleton that's looking great. We wouldn't have been able to convert to IUI since I don't have tubes left but I'm glad we didn't have the choice because if I went in that direction I could have missed out on the little one that took. Do whatever you feel is right in your gut. And know that we're all pulling for you Lou!!

[lou71]

Thank you Jenice, Gi, and Amanda. I appreciate all of your insight.

Jenice -- How many eggs did you retrieve at ER on your last IVF if you ended up with 7 embryos? If I go forward, I am definitely doing a 3dt as well with as many as I have.

Amanda -- How many of your 5 were mature? Do you remember the sizes at trigger? I guess I need to be realistic that at 38 years old I can't expect to get double digits in eggs at ER when in the past I've gotten 6, 7, and 10 on previous attempts. It just stinks!

Gi -- I would be ecstatic with 5 mature eggs! Especially with 5 fertilizing. Your young eggs were also awesome quality, but still your numbers make me hopeful. Thanks.

[klinger13]

Lou - I had 7 measureable follies on the day of trigger, and while I can't find the little paper I wrote them down on, my smallest was 17x13 and my largest was like 24x20. The rest were scattered in between. So out of those 7 follies, I ended up with 5 mature eggs, and then had 3 fertilize.

On my 3dt, they were graded as follows:
9 cell - 2B
8 cell - 3C this one was graded c since it had 25% fragmentation
6 cell - 2B

[angelaezra]

Hello Lou – I too am sorry that you have such a tough decision to make. But, like the other ladies said, I would complete this cycle too, especially since you will need ICSI. You just never know how these cycles ever end up. I just want you to know how much I am praying for you to get your BFP really soon! If anyone deserves it, it is you!

Angela

[jenice]

LOU - I had actually 8 eggs retrieved. I think the RE thought by US that I had 10. 2 of them were dominant cysts and the other eight were slightly immature eggs.We were supposed to do ICSI due to DH told he has low Morphology. The embryologist told us it was to risky to do ICSI and would risk damaging them. We never did ICSI and 2 of the embryos either didn't fertilize right or basically did even make it to the next day. So, then I was left with 6. We transferred 3 3day embryos. The other 3 they tried to grow to blast and then freeze but none made it I remember being pretty disappointed with my #'s and not being able to do ICSI. In the end it saved us $2,500 and I'm 34 weeks, so you never know. I really thought this cycle almost was a waste especially not doing ICSI. Good luck to you and DH. I think you have a good chance @ this cycle.

[Stephanieford78]

I wish it was as easy as looking at numbers and what worked well for others, but it isn't that simple. I say just go with your gut Lou! You know we all love you and want this for you just as badly as you do. So my advice is, what do you feel is best for you? I am sure you and DH must be leaning towards one or another? Listen to your heart, look for signs that point you in the right direction, whether it be religious or spiritual guidance or just plain old fashioned instinct. That urge we have to either keep going... in one direction or another... or even quit. No matter what the choice, we know inside of us what is meant to be. I know IUI doesn't sound like it will work compared to the percentage that IVF gives you, but what if it works? And if it doesn't, you have the money for a better cycle later. But then, what if you don't want to cancel this cycle and use what you get, even if it's one good one, it could be all you need. However, if it fails, do you have the funds for another cycle? BUT, what if that one or two healthy perfect embies gives you that miracle? In the end, it's all what works best for you. I know, not the perfect.. Here you go! type answer, but it's what makes sense to me. Love you girl! I wish nothing but best wishes and a shit ton of baby dust! <3

[Arabsrcool]

hey lou!

I have been stalking you. My thoughts are go with the IVF. You have been on the extra supplements, so you may have super eggs, even if there is not alot of them. You know with ICSI your eggs with probably fertilize and it does really only take one....you even had blast before, so I say GO FOR IT!!!!!

Got everything crossed for you.....I am cramping up from it!

Ronda

[karenthescorpio]

Lou- I agree with Steph. Listen to your gut. I have to tell you not to fret about ICSI...ICSI does not damage eggs if done by an embryologist who has a good reputation, training and stats. The same goes for PGD. RE's and some people really need to read up on the latest techniques and advances in procedures that use to be quite risky. If one's RE isn't a fan of either of the procedures that I mentioned it is probably b/c they don't have great stats in using them..thus they probably aren't the best place to be doing IVF. My clinic does ICSI in over 80% of IVF cycles...not always just for sperm issues...sometimes to maximize fertilization for cycles that yield a low number of eggs retrieved. Know that I am sending out a prayer for you and DH. Please let us know what you decide. Either way, you get a shot at getting a BFP!!! xo

karen

[katie99]

Lou - As always my dear friend I'm cheering you on, I agree with what everyone else has thought - I say go for what your heart tells you, if it were me I'd go ahead with ivf, it sounds like you will have 4-5 good follies and you know you only need one. True, theres no telling what will happen, but the iui success rates arent great without male factor., so I think ivf w/ icsi gives you a greater chance. Has your RE been trying to sway you one way or the other? I know its cliche, but it is true, quality over quantity, especially for us "older" patients - God how I hate to say that! I want this sooooo bad for you!!! but you already knew that, right? much love and tons of baby dust to you my friend - xoxoxo

[riogirl71]

Lou - I forgot to say I did ICSI on all my cycles and this last one I did ICSI and AH! I would recommend doing both!

[lou71]

Thank you everyone!!!

We are going for the IVF with ICSI and AH. My E2 was 849 today and my follies were 18, 18, 18, 14, 13, 11. I trigger tonight! RE thought maybe the 13 & 14 will be mature but honestly I've never had a mature egg in anything under 16 on trigger day so I'm not optimistic for that. Have any of you?

Keep those fingers crossed and send me some of your baby dust. I sure need it!

[klinger13]

Lou - I can't answer your question, but I'm glad you're going to go forward with the IVF. I've got everything crossed for you and buckets of baby dust are on their way! GOOD LUCK!!