Because, after ICSI of 15 mature eggs (one extra caught up yesterday), we only have 5 normally fertilized embryos.
The embryologist said "that's a bit less of a fertilization rate than we'd like to see."
You and me both!
Basically, 1 embryo didn't fertilize at all and 9 others fertilized abnormally -- containing far too much genetic information with multiple copies of genes. She said it can happen when the egg aborts development or when multiple sperm fertilize one egg. With ICSI, we know that multiple sperm isn't the problem.
She hasn't gotten confirmation from Dr. Smiles, yet, about whether this is something that is likely to happen with my eggs all the time or if it is an artifact of this particular stim cycle (he's in surgery this morning). So, I'll definitely ask her tomorrow what she found out from him.
But, if it turns out that this is something that my eggs are doing all the time, this looks like an explanation, doesn't it? If only 1/3 of my eggs have a chance of developing genetically normal embryos then that could say why I wouldn't be getting pregnant on my own. Or even with IUIs.
And, probably why I lost the one pregnancy I have been able to achieve.
But we have those 5 embryos. Five is a lot. I'm just crossing everything I've got that they start dividing normally and we have something to transfer.
Growth report tomorrow morning...
I'm so sorry that only five fertilized, but five is a good number. I'm saying lots of prayers that they all keep growing! I'm curious to see what your doctor says.
ReplyDeleteI know how it feels to go from such a high number to a much smaller one...but once the shock settled, I was able to put all my hope and love into the remaining ones. Five is excellent. Will they continue updating you on the status? Are you set for a day 5?
ReplyDeleteIt seems like a pretty likely explanation to me...definitely worth discussing with your doctor. I'm so curious to hear what he thinks...
Oh dear. It does sound like you could learn something about your diagnosis through this. Remember though, there can also be lab errors.
ReplyDeleteFive is a good number!
Good luck, fingers crossed for you.
5 is a lot! It's the most I ever had & it was my magic # when I conceived Ariana! All it takes is 1!!! I'm keeping everything crossed that 5 is your lucky number too :) It does sound like an explanation of sorts. Praying for continued healthy embryos!
ReplyDeleteThis is a tough part of the process. You worked so hard for every one of those eggs and it's hard to see the attrition. But keep your eyes on the prize, they're doing all this outside of you so that the very best of the best can be selected to go back inside you =) Five is still a lot and I'm sending them all the divide vibes I can muster!
ReplyDeleteFive is still a great number! I'm interested to hear what the doctor says about this possibly being an explanation to your unexplained IF.
ReplyDeleteSending you lots of "grow, embies, grow" vibes!!
This is very similar to what happened to us. 13 were retrieved, 8 mature and ICSI'd. After ICSI we only had 4 viable and growing embryos. Although happy we had four, I was terrified. After talking with our embryologist, who has been doing this for twenty years, I felt MUCH better. She said often when you see such a large drop off, the remaining embryos that are growing strong are just that, STRONG. It ended up being true for us. All of our embryos that were growing at day one were still growing strong at day five and the two we didn't transfer made it to freeze on day six! I'm glad you get another report tomorrow, our clinic only reports on Day one and five- a little nerve wracking :)
ReplyDeleteWishing you all the best!
ReplyDeleteCheering for the 5 little Embabies! grow, little ones, grow strong!!!:)
ReplyDeleteI understand the disappointment! Hopefully you can learn more about your struggles/issues through this. It's not much we can do but wait.. grow embies grow =)
ReplyDelete5 is still pretty good, but yes, Rebecca, I am very familiar with this scenario. Your odds break down similarly to mine. But my doc told me over and over (and I have observed this of others too) that it just takes one good one. It's always nice to have ones to freeze or nice to have multiple opportunities, but you have 5 shots of finding "the one." IVF does provide a lot of answers, but after one cycle, I am not sure you can say it's your eggs yet.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and your embies. Grow embies grow!
That is super interesting. Not something you WANT to have an issue with, but certainly would make it nice to have an explanation for all of this. 5 is a GREAT number and you never know, all 5 could be just perfect. They are already fighters in my book!
ReplyDeleteBest of luck! Let us know what you hear from the doc!!
I am crossing my fingers too. I really, really hope those embies kick ass and grow!
ReplyDeletexoxo
Good luck Rebecca! We are all hoping for the best for you and your embies!
ReplyDeleteI'm sending those five beautiful embies all sorts of healthy grow vibes!! Glad the retrieval went so well but I'm sorry to hear about the fert rate though. Still hoping with everything that one (or two?) of those five are your keepers! Sending you so much love!!
ReplyDeleteSending your little embies lots of growing vibes :)) That's exactly what happened to me on our first ICSI cycle... lots of eggs then a low fertilisation rate. I was told it probably came down to my "egg quality" {which was a little difficult to hear} but provided an explanation as to why we weren't able to conceive naturally... although I was later told that they can change the stimulation protocol to improve the quality - and that's what happened this past stim cycle - so I felt a little better :) 5 is well about the average and it only takes one or two super ones to do the job.... thinking of you and your little ones :)) xoxo
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I hate that it comes to IVF fert reports to tell the quality of eggs. But it does have a potential explanation as to the "why" of all of it.
ReplyDeleteI'll keep stalking, and sending PT's to those 5 eggies. 5 is still a lot. Just keep repeating that.
Geezawhiz, what a roller coaster, huh? To go from such a big number to a much smaller one. And yet, while cliché, it's true: it only takes one. Don't know if you read The Two Week Wait (the2weekwait.blogspot.com), but on her last cycle, she got 10 mature eggs and exactly one fertilized (the second time this happened to her). And she's now 20 weeks pregnant. So it happens! But the up-and-down of the whole thing is staggering. Hang in there, my sweet. Glad you might have some answers and hoping that one of these five is yours. Take care of yourself.
ReplyDeletethat's great news!!! that you have five and a small glimmer of understanding into your infertility. good luck!
ReplyDeleteI have been told by 2 RE's that for those under 30 (maybe 32) typically have 1 in 3 eggs being normal, so even if they fertilize they won't make it. sooooooooo to me that means they just let you know early and those 5 babes sitting there growing, are perfect and will keep fighting for you!
ReplyDeletefive is a good number! it's better than one, two, three or four, and it certainly beats none at all. and think, of these five, they're all normal and ready to make a baby for you, i just know it. xox
ReplyDeleteAs "waiting and wishing" said above, it's the stronger ones that fertilize and grow, which are the ones you want, so don't fret about the number, you never know :) As they always say quality not quantity. Sending you lots of positive thoughts and praying that one of them or more ends up being your little bundle of joy!
ReplyDelete5 is plenty. Its alot to work with. Good luck for upcoming results.
ReplyDeleteIt only takes one! We had only 7 out of 20 embies make it to blast. One didn't take. Of the 5 frosties, only 3 are chromosomally normal. I know the feeling. But it only takes one!!!
ReplyDeleteOh the ups and downs! 5 seems like a good number to work with. Now grow 5 embies!
ReplyDelete'm just catching up on my blogs in one fell swoop here after internet outage at my house. Yeah, 5 of `15 is definitely lower than one would hope! But I think you're right - this does definitely suggest that egg quality is the reason for the IF and miscarriage. But reading your most recent post, I think it's fantastic news that 4 of the 5 are still growing.
ReplyDelete