3 failed iVFs

[karystos]

Here's my brief history below. Anyone have any success that I can cling to for some hope. I'm ready to change clinics. I'm so desperate to have a baby.
me-just turned 38 no medical issues
dh- just turned 47 low motility/count taking fertility vitamins
ivf #1 failed 2 morulas transferred day 4 BFN moderate OHSS
fet #1 failed 2 blasts grade B & C BFN beta #1 - 13 beta #2- 3
ivf #2 failed 3 transferred day 3 transfer 7cell grade b, 6 cell grade a , 5 cell grade A mild OHSS

HELP!

[kellym]

karystos,

I can relate to how you are feeling. Let me give you a brief (or not so brief) history of my situation...
I am 35, my DH is 62. We were originally diagnsed with male factor because my DH had a less than successful vasectomy reversal. There wasn't alot there but enough to do ICSI.
1st IVF - 2 transferred, chemical pregnancy
2nd IVF - 1 tranferred, bfn
3rd IVF - 3 transferred, bfn
4th IVF - 4 transferred, chemical pregnancy
5th IVF - 3 blasts transferred, chemical pregnancy
6th IVF/FET - 3 blasts transferred - awaiting results.

We switched clinics after the 3rd IVF.

Over the source of the cycles, I have been tested for blood clotting disorders, thyroid testing, had an HSG (to look at uterus and tubes), a endometrial biopsy, and then the usual stuff.

After our 5th IVF my DH and I did some online research and found a paper which discussed sperm dna fragmentation. When we had our review appointment we discussed it with the doctor and she ordered the test. On the day of our FET transfer we got the results which told us that my DH's sperm is 50% fragmented which is defined as poor fertility potential. One of the factors for this is age - fragmentation increases when males get into their 40s.

I have no idea why this is something that was never raised with us but we are glad that we found it.

I now have very little confidence that this FET is going to work but at least I know that the next round we'll do things differently.

I wanted to pass along our experience because I noticed your DH's age was 47 - maybe it is a test that you could request? At least it would give you some sense of what is going on.

I was ready to get donor eggs before learning of this test and now it looks like that wouldn't have solved our problem.

I wish you all the best! Sorry this message is so long!
Kelly

[Neeve]

Hi Karystos,

I know how hard this is I am in the same situation. I had three IVF in 2005 all ended up negative. Male factor also all the doctors said that this will work but it did not. I took a break from IVF in 2006 and this year I have had one cancelled cycle due to natural ovulation and then I had a treatment that was all wrong for me it rendered me infertile. I went crazy at my doctor because my dossier was not studied enough and the treatment was not adapted for me at all. I have got my blood results back and everything is fine so I am going to start again in October but this time I am having a short protocol only 10 days so I am hoping that this one will happen for me. I also changed clinics after 3rd failed IVF. All I can say is not to give up hope this is taking more time for us than others but we cant give up hope. Take good care of yourself and remember you are not alone.

Kindest regards,

Neeve

[Mandy J]

My husband had vasectomy reversal, which was unsuccesul, so we had PESA tgo extract sperm.

Just completed our 5th cycle

1st IVF Apr 06 - x2 3day embyos - FAILED
1st FET June 06 - x2 3day embryos - FAILED
2nd FET Aug 06 - x2 3day embryos -FAILED
2nd IVF Nov 06 - x2 4day embryos - Chemical Pregnancy
3rd IVF Aug 07 - x2 3day embryos - Positive result awaiting u/s

This latest treatment has been totally different, although all the meds have been the same, this time I have the addition of Aspirin, but also have learned from MY past mistakes. Drinking at least 3 litres of water each day, lost 3 stone, stopped smoking, took 3 weeks off work, relaxed more, had alkaline diet, acupuncture and meditation and most importantly felt more positive about the whole procedure this time. I am sure the positive thoughts had a huge amount to do with it, as on previous attempts I was never really convinced it was going to, but after the chemical pregnancy I knew at least it COULD work and would at some point for us. I am still feeling positive and will not allow any negative thoughts into my mind....perhaps this is a tad naive....but its certainly helping and working for me.

[tricias2007]

Mandy - I just had a 2nd IVF = bfn. We are looking into doing a third. the first time we only had 1 embryo 6 cell. The second time we had 1 8 cell and 1 4 cell.

I just read that you drank lots of water. Is that supposed to help? I have not heard that. But I am definitley going to drink lots of water next time. Also, what are you supposed to eat for an Alkaline diet? Thanks for any advise.

[Mandy J]

The way I understand an alkaline diet is that my eating foods such as lemon in hot water (citric acid) makes the body produce more alkaline to digest the acid content. An alkaline environment is meant to be friendlier for embryos to develop in....... Examples of rich alkaline producing foods are melon, pineapple, lemon. Things to avoid are redmeats which are acid producing, but if you have red meat etc - try to follow with something like a slice of melon to counteract it. If you want a full list of alkaline foods, please pm me and I will email you a list.

Lots of water is meant to keep the uterus hydrated, so avoiding caffeine and drinking lots of water during the 2 week wait again helps a healthy blood and oxygen supply to the area. I am continuing this even though I have past the 2 week wait, because my skin is so much improved and is good for me anyway.....apparantly the majority of us don't consume enough water anyway.

[Cocoa]

I am so glad I was on the eating diet I was on before I went through this ivf. I really believe it helped... I ate only fruit, and a lot of it, for breakfast but I did not mix the types of fruit I ate. If I had freah pineapple for breakfast I only had pineapple. I ate strawberries some days, grapes some days, mango some days, papaya some days (you get the idea). Then for lunch I would do veggies - all the colors of the rainbow - raw, cooked, pureed etc. with other carbs like salads, pasta, potatoes, corn on the cob, rice - natural carbs. the for dinner I might do carbs again OR protein and only protein (because once you eat protein the digestive enzymes cannot properly process carbs so it sits in your gut and goes to your hips). I lost the extra weight, had more energy and I got a BFP!!! After my ET I read on here that many believe pineapple helps with implantation. Well, I'm a believer...

Stay healthy and many many sticky vibes coming your way!!!

Love to you,

Cocoa