"Empty" follicles after egg retrieval

TheLabyrinth · January 2016

We had our egg retrieval yesterday and are pretty crushed. Apparently even though the U/S showed 6 16mm or above follicles, plus a few more smaller ones, after my egg retrieval they said we only had 3 eggs of which 2 were mature. I should be hearing today if either of them successfully fertilized, but our nurse was not optimistic and started talking about doing another round of IVF as I was still coming out of anesthesia. Needless to say, we are crushed. Has anyone had this happen? Is there even a way to fix this?

What's killing us is that we're both young (just turned 30) and healthy, and our families have no histories of issues. Every time we've seen a doctor about having a baby, they are all quick to say, "this will be the thing that works." I honestly thought if we could suck it up and do IVF, we'd get pregnant. I never even expected that this was a possible outcome. I figured worst case scenario would be that the embryo wouldn't take during the first transfer and maybe we'd have to do another.

We've grown so skeptical of the whole thing, that I don't think either of us can stomach doing another round of IVF and have any confidence that the time and money will actually get us a baby. At this rate, I think we're both going to need therapy...

twomommiestobe · January 2016

I am sorry. I don't want to give you false hope, but do wait and see if one or both fertilize. It only takes one!

AandDM2014 · January 2016

When I was doing my retrieval cycle I had about 75 follicles that grew, so many that my ovaries were touching! They ended up getting 14 mature eggs. Is this your first round of IVF? If so, I'm thinking they didn't stim you enough and you needed a higher dosage of meds to begin with. 6 doesn't seem like very many. I could get three on 150mg of Clomid for an IUI cycle. You should be well over 6 for a properly medicated IVF cycle.

Piperella · January 2016

The number of follicles does not equal the number of eggs retrieved.. and even then, there is a lower number of eggs that are mature when a retrieval is performed. What can help with the numbers is by having bloodwork to monitor your levels, which are typically more aligned with potential eggs being developed in the follicles. Do you have low AMH? I know that while you are only 30, it can happen at any age, although the rate goes up with age. I do hope that your two are able to be fertilized. Are they doing ICSI to make sure sperm reaches the eggs? Fx for you and I hope you hear something positive about your retrieval soon.

TheLabyrinth · January 2016

My doc monitored my bloodwork and never suggested that it would be less than 50% retrieval rate. From what I researched online, this is atypical and considered its own disorder. I do have a lower AMH level for my age (1.58), but they had given me growth hormone to help combat this issue. They also did ICSI, and I just got a call saying that our two both got fertilized, so that's good news! Fingers crossed that they continue to look good over the next 5 days and this won't be a total loss.

@AandDM2014: my clinic doesn't want their patients to have that many follicles. They shoot for 8-12 as they have found that a larger quantity can lead to poorer quality eggs.

Piperella · January 2016

I'm so glad to hear your two both were fertilized! Fx for the next few days! Grow little ones, grow!

oxinfree · January 2016

Awesome news that both fertilized @TheLabyrinth. I definitely also had some empty on my fresh cycle, and a few also that weren't mature. We only had 4, even though we showed as having 9 follicles. So I think its common. Good sign that they both fertilized though and like @twomommiestobe said, it only takes 1!!! It's normal to feel frustrated and hopeless. We all go through bouts of those emotions. We all think the next thing we do will be the thing that works. It's bargaining (a stage of grief in a way)... if I do a.b.c I'll get pregnant.. oh that didn't work, well if I do xyz I'll be pregnant. It goes on and on. I'm sorry you're feeling crushed. Find comfort in each other, and certainly therapy is a valid option. I don't think it hurts to talk to a professional who has counselled others in similar experiences. Best of luck that these eggies do their job for you! xx

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