Is it greedy to be just a little it disappointed that only 12 eggs have fertilised?
Despite the addition of steroids (for egg quality I was told when I questionned the prescription), and the half-normal-IVF / half-ICSI approach we are pretty much on a par with previous attempts:
Despite the husband's sperm passing its tests ICSI certainly produced better results - seven out of the nine they tried this way fertilised compared with 5 fertilising out of the 14 they tried with normal IVF. No, I'm not quite sure how a nine/ fourteen split works out as half and half either, as for the remaining 6 four were immature and two seem to have got lost somewhere along the way.
However, I have to remind myself that many women would give their left ovary for 12 embryos and I know of many others who have had a successful pregnancy with significantly less. It just isn't as spectacular as I had allowed myself to dream.
To date, despite the relatively high rate of fertilisation I have only ever ended up with two transferable embryos. Now I am aiming for at least two to freeze, which feels even more precarious. They are aiming to take what ever I have to blastocyst, day five, so I shall await my daily updates from the embryologist with ever increasing trepidation.
I really, really don't want to go through this again. Wish me luck!
Despite the addition of steroids (for egg quality I was told when I questionned the prescription), and the half-normal-IVF / half-ICSI approach we are pretty much on a par with previous attempts:
- IVF one 21 retrieved 12 fertilised
- IVF two 18 retrieved 14 fertilised
- IVF three 18 retrieved 8 fertilised
- IVF Four (this one) 29 retrieved 12 fertilised
Despite the husband's sperm passing its tests ICSI certainly produced better results - seven out of the nine they tried this way fertilised compared with 5 fertilising out of the 14 they tried with normal IVF. No, I'm not quite sure how a nine/ fourteen split works out as half and half either, as for the remaining 6 four were immature and two seem to have got lost somewhere along the way.
However, I have to remind myself that many women would give their left ovary for 12 embryos and I know of many others who have had a successful pregnancy with significantly less. It just isn't as spectacular as I had allowed myself to dream.
To date, despite the relatively high rate of fertilisation I have only ever ended up with two transferable embryos. Now I am aiming for at least two to freeze, which feels even more precarious. They are aiming to take what ever I have to blastocyst, day five, so I shall await my daily updates from the embryologist with ever increasing trepidation.
I really, really don't want to go through this again. Wish me luck!
Wishing you luck and crossing things on your behalf xxx
ReplyDeleteLots of luck coming your way!
ReplyDeleteSome fertility specialists think that in any given month a woman is only able to produce a certain number of normal eggs, that no matter how much you stimulate and how many eggs you retrieve, it all comes back to that number. I don't know. I do know that seven out of nine is a very good number on the ICSI front. And an extra five is not too shabby (though, yes, I do realize that with a larger haul a higher number of embryos looked likely and was what you were hoping for).
ReplyDeleteBut to quote the oft-repeated mantra: it really is quality vs. quantity. And it may very well be that the steroids will make the different as regards the former.
The waiting is terrible. And I'm wishing you much forbearance for getting through it.
It's not in the least bit greedy.... fingers crossed that most of the 12 embryos end up as blasts.
ReplyDeleteKnotting myself into pretzels hoping the quality-over-quantity thing is totally what happened here, and you get a splendid set of freezables.
ReplyDeleteAll the best to you on this!
ReplyDelete12 embryos is a terrific number, and you have every reason to feel good about your chances with that as a starting point. It's so awful having to wait for these results, and I wish you the strength to get through it. Fingers crossed and keep up posted!
ReplyDeleteI really hope you have more than 2 to freeze. Keeping you in my thoughts and prayers...So hoping for good news!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat just means the 12 that did fertilize are good ones. Praying for some high quality ones on day 5!!!
ReplyDeleteBlimey! I havent checked in for a while and find that you're at the business end of the 4th cycle!how fast has this all happened?! I would give both ovaries for 12 embryos, its a great result (although I can defo understand the expectation after 29 eggs was for a few more). Fingers crossed that your daily updates are all positive and that you have enough for some frozen assets as well as a good looking blast (or two) to transfer. x
ReplyDelete12 embies is good. I hope you have good ones to transfer. Fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteIt's great news that you've got 12 to work with! Just wondering...here in Canada at the clinic we use, we've always done a day three transfer with our embryos. Have they talked about that option for you or does your clinic always wait until blast stage? Out of 8 embryos we've transfered over the last 6 years we've got one 20 month old little girl.
ReplyDeleteStick with it! It just takes some of us longer than others!
12 is a great number, but I understand your "greediness"! I wanted every single egg to become a perfect little embryo. It does look like you have great fertilization with ICSI, though. Hoping for two fabulous blasts to transfer and a few great ones to freeze!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete=)
Hoping your disappointment ends here, and it's all sunshine and roses from now on!
ReplyDeleteWishing you lots of luck with the 12 embryos. It really is a lot (we only had 6), but I know it's all about the quality and I can understand you worry about how many will make it considering your previous attempts. Just wondering if they have ever tried taking them only to the 3rd day? It seems so many clinics are now wanting to take the embryos to blastocyst. But as far as I have been reading it does also imply risks that a lot more will not make it. I wonder how much it actually improves changes in the end of the day?
ReplyDeleteIt's not greedy -- any drop off always brings with it a disappointment in expectations.
ReplyDeleteThose 12 are awesome, though. And, I hope SO much that your future babies are in there.
Fingers crossed and thumbs pressed, good good luck!!!
ReplyDeleteWishing you LOADS AND LOADS of luck. Seriously, tons of the stuff, like shiploads. Those big ships, with the containers, and some jumbo jets. Let's see, yes. A couple of donkey loads and some earth-movers too, all nice and brimming.
ReplyDeleteGOOD luck.
Perhaps it's because I've been watching Amazing Race a lot recently, but I have a mental image of two lost eggs wandering around with a map, confused, and saying "I'm sure it was this way." and "No, clearly it's this way." "No, you're wrong!" etc...
ReplyDeleteCome on 12... you can do it!
Good luck! Hoping and praying all 12 keep growing into perfect little embies!
ReplyDelete