Need encouragement re # of eggs retrieved

madelyn07 · January 2011

Hey ladies. I had my ER today for my first IVF cycle. We were very surprised and disappointed to hear that they only got 4 eggs. At my last u/s on Wednesday they said they were confident we would get 10-12. Apparently I have another issue that we didn't know about...lots of my follies appear to be mature but they end up not being mature. My RE told my husband that there were 10-12 follies with eggs but only the 4 they took were mature enough to retrieve. She told him that they all looked good but couldn't comment on their "official" state or maturity.

Does anyone have any success stories to share with me? Low # of eggs retrieved but all still ended well? I just feel like the chances of the 4 being mature, fertilizing and dividing properly is incredibly slim.

TIA.

ALY1981 · January 2011

Hey H--

I don't have any advice but I wanted say that I'm sorry you didn't get the results you were hoping for. (((HUGS))) Wanted to wish you luck and let you know that I'm always rooting for you.

kimarino13 · January 2011

High levels of immature eggs is very common with PCOS. I am surprised they didn't tell you this. Based on your E2 results, the number of mature eggs retrieved is right on target.

All 4 looking good is a great sign. Hang in there!

Jackie2200 · January 2011

I went into ER with 5 follicles total. All 5 fertilized (with ICSI), divided and grew to blasts. I now have 2 on the way and 3 frosties. For me, it was quality over quantity all the way. I hope for you too! 4 is alot more than some girls get so count your 4 blessings.

Hang in there. It only takes one. Good luck!!

gymnst1013 · January 2011

My IVF was similar. We had 6 mature but only 3 fertilized. We transferred 2 and the 3rd didn't make it to freeze. But one of those 2 was a little fighter and stuck in there. It can definitely happen!!! Good luck hon

Yellow_Daisy · January 2011

My RE retrieved 9 eggs even though they knew that some of the ones they were taking were not mature. Ultimately we had 5 mature, 4 fertilized normally, all 4 made it to day 5, 2 were transferred and 2 didn't meet the freezing guidelines. You can definitely have success with 4 eggs. I hope that all 4 are mature!

SunMoon&Stars · January 2011

I'm no expert on the causal relationship, but here are my stats:

IVF #1 - 14 eggs retrieved, 9 fertilized, 2 transferred, no frosties....BFN

IVF #2 - 6 retrieved, 6 fertilized, 2 transferred, no frosties.....BFP!

So there you have it..... I think it's too soon to give up hope {{{{{hugs}}}}

njohnson1972 · January 2011

Madelyn - I posted on IF about DrVWife - only had 3 eggs retrieved, only 1 left to transfer on day 3 and she is pregnant.

I only had 4-6 eggs each time and made it to transfer each time with 2-3 to transfer. And I have old, crappy eggs.

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you!!

sail123 · January 2011

I had 6 mature eggs and ended up with four high quality embryos (two frosties and two that are my babies). The other two were fine (i.e they made it to day 5) but my clinic had really high standards for freezing.

tammylj · January 2011

I only had 4 mature eggs retrieved as well. All 4 fertilized with ICSI. On the 2nd day, they told me that one had arrested and appeared to have stopped dividing, but when I went in on day 3 for my transfer, that little guy caught up. So they transferred 3, and the 4th actually made it to blast and was frozen. None of them were great quality. The 3 transferred were Fair and more than 10% fragmented and the 4th that was frozen started as Fair with more than 50% fragmentation. You just really never know how it's going to turn out, so hang in there. One thing I learned from my IVF cycle is that it really doesn't matter how it goes.... we can have our expectations, but it rarely goes the way we want. But that doesn't really matter. What matters is the outcome... hopefully with that BFP!

lisaiesha · January 2011

My SIL had 2 mature eggs, both fertilized, both transfered, both implanted. Unfortunately, one of the twins did not make it, but she started the entire process with only 2 eggs, and my very cute neice is now 3 years old. It can happen.

madelyn07 · January 2011

Thanks for the stories, ladies. I'm feeling a little bit better now...

Saratogabride08 · January 2011

5 eggs were retrieved from our ED- we really expected more too based on follies...but we stayed optimistic for our fab 5. 4 of them fertilized, and all 4 had 6-8 cells on day 3

2 beauties were transfered and we have 2 frosties! Good Luck! Quality over quantity- it only takes 1!!

etoyama · January 2011

Big (((HUGS))), I know it's cliched but it truly is quality over quantity. I'm sending you big positive vibes, sweetie! Hang in there!

DrVWife · January 2011

njohnson1972:
Madelyn - I posted on IF about DrVWife - only had 3 eggs retrieved, only 1 left to transfer on day 3 and she is pregnant.
I only had 4-6 eggs each time and made it to transfer each time with 2-3 to transfer. And I have old, crappy eggs.
I am keeping my fingers crossed for you!!

Yep njohnson is correct! With IVF #3, they retrieved 5 and only 3 of those were mature. We ICSI'd those 3 and all fert'd normal but 1 stopped growing immediately. The other 2 made it overnight but by the next morning only 1 was still growing. We transferred that embryo on day 3 and it worked! I am 18 weeks along today.

It is easier said than done but don't lose hope! Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

jenbabe · January 2011

I'm not exactly a success story but we did limited fertilization on purpose with our IVF cycle. We had 6 eggs, 4 were mature and had ICSI. One didn't fertilize properly, and the other three still looked good at our 3 day transfer, although one was not top quality. We did get pregnant but lost it early on. They think it stopped developing because of our crappy sperm. I follow your blog and I'm still feeling positive for you, it can totally work and I think your chances are still good with 4.

JillAly · January 2011

Add me to the list- the most eggs I EVER made was 7. Both my pregnancies were with low numbers

1st- 4 mature eggs, 3 fertilized - one stuck- my son

2nd- 7 mature eggs, 4 fertilized - one stuck- my daughter

The 1st time I cried and cried. I heard the doctor talking about a woman who had 21 eggs right before me and there I was with my 4 little measly eggs. She felt bad I overhead her and said "it only takes one and it's the quality not the quantity". I smiled and left- still crying. I tried to tell myself quality over quantity but I really didn't believe it. Now I do...times 2! I hope you have the same outcome!

Ali212 · January 2011

I liked Sun, Moon & Stars approach about her experience b/c mine was somewhat similar....I got more eggs at retrieval but never had many embryos for transfer. My last IVF (#4) was my worst and I literally had one embryo at transfer. I was crying on the table afterwards b/c felt like it was over. That was my only BFP; I had previous cycles with more eggs retrieved (11-12) and 2-3 embryos to transfer by Day 5 but they were all BFN. So, it truly does only take one. GL!

LCB34 · January 2011

I texted you my story this morning. But, here are my stats:

IVF #1 - 4 eggs retrieved, all mature, all fertilized, all strong on day 5. 2 transferred, 1 frozen. I was pregnant for 6 weeks.

IVF #2 - 6 eggs retrieved, 5 mature and fertilized, 2 made it to day 5 and I got pregnant with 3 babies.

Low egg numbers does not mean failure. SO many women get pregnant with a low number of eggs and embryos.

You know I'm pulling for you and waiting for that awesome text you will send me tomorrow morning with your fert report.

Hartmaj · January 2011

5 retrieved, 5 mature, 2 fertilized, 2 transferred, 1 implanted. I also had 2 failed IVFs with 10 and 12 retrieved. So, it's definitely quality not quantity. Good Luck!

Itmamma · January 2011

YES!!! ME too! I had only 4 retrieved, only 3 fertilized but one stopped the first day and I was left with 2 fair quality embryos on day 3. WE transferred 2 and both took. It can work!! take it day by day, stay calm (easier said then done I know) and take very good care of yourself.

everything crossed for you!!! Good luck

Temp616379875002458 · January 2011

Hang in there! There were a few ladies last summer with 3-4 eggs who had success. I had a ton retrieved but then not much at the end. I frequently hear of women with pretty few retrieved but all grow/develop and they have higher percentages of success. I will be thinking of you. ((hugs))

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