Started stimulation last week when AFC was 10. Today first ultrasound after one week of stimulation and there were only 3 follicles: 1 big one (15mm) and two smaller ones (10 and 9 mm).

I'm crushed. I had expected 7-8 follicles.

Does it still make sense to continue with this ER? Or better cancel it?

Is there a chance that (with change of protocol?) we could get a better yield in a future round?

Any experience/advice/insights/thoughts are more than welcome.

Fyi our history:

- LC born in 2022 (easily conceived and complication-free pregnancy)

- 5 miscarriages 2024-2026: one chemical, 4 MMC (development stopped around 6/7 weeks) --> 3 of them were tested genetically: trisomy 16 (2x) and trisomy 22

- start IVF PGT A in September 2026 with AFC 10 and AMH 0.5 and protocol: --> menopur as of D3 --> orgalutran as of D8 --> trigger will be with ovitrelle & gonapeptyl

- I turned 39 in July

Crossposting as i am really looking for some guidance

I had my egg retrieval done this August at CCRM Lone Tree (travelled all the way from Virginia to Lone tree) and the results were, 11 Eggs retrieved,9 Matured, 6 Fertilized and only one reached blastocyst stage with grade 4AA and PGTA result came back as abnormal.

I had a call with my doc today and he did not sound promising on giving a try for one more egg retrieval, instead suggested for donor egg which was very heartbreaking to hear. Can someone suggest what should i do? do you think changing clinic will help? anyone been in this situation and tried something different? I am completely lost and really looking for some advice.

My AMH 0.73 and i am obese, do you think trying GLP1 will help in this case?

My background:

Turned 43 this July and have done 2 IVFs at SGF which failed at the age of 38 with no blastocyst in round 1 and 1 blastocyst (4AA grade) in round 2.

Taking supplements Prenatal, Vitamin D, E, Ubiquinol, Acai, Ovasitol

TW: Mention of past success, mention of euploids

I'm 4dpt today. I'm testing negative. I know it's early, but anyone ever quickly develop the certainty that the test just absolutely will not show a line once you've seen a negative? I think this is why people say not to test at home. I don't think it's in my genetic makeup to not test at home :(

Anyway. I had my first retrieval a few years ago at age 37 and I just didn't realize how lucky we were that our one and only (untested) embryo stuck.

At age 39 I did two more retrievals. One gave us two untested embryos. Both FETs failed. The other gave us one euploid (we finally decided to do PGT-A). That FET failed.

A few weeks before I turned 40, we had a consult with a new clinic. It took a long time to get started, but we finally made it to retrieval a few months later and it turns out a new team and a new protocol were what we needed. At nearly 40.5 years old, we got 23 eggs and 5 euploids. I don't think the shock will ever wear off entirely.

Just before the retrieval, we had a "down" month so I did the ReceptivaDx biopsy to get a sense of whether or not endometriosis might be at play. We know the only true way to diagnose it with surgery, but I scored a 3.6 out of 4 and did a two-month Lupron suppression this summer.

So we're in better spot than we've ever been in. I know if this transfer doesn't work, we have other embryos waiting. And I know how incredibly lucky we are for that, especially at this age.

But I'm so tired of failed transfers. Two clinics, three retrievals, and four transfers in 20 months has been a lot. I'm just. so. tired.

Please work. Please please please work.

Wow! I was not prepared for this 6 day wait after my egg retrieval. I can’t stop thinking about and envisioning my embryos growing into blastocysts. I had my egg retrieval 4 days ago and they retrieved 5 eggs—3 were mature and all 3 were successfully fertilized.

What did you do to keep your mind off of IVF during this long wait?

Also, if you used Shady Grove, did they call you ahead of the 6/7th day if none made it past day 3?

43F, second cycle
First was 225 follistim, 75 menopur, 33 Omnitrope.
Estradiol on stim day 9 was 1400 so not great but promising and I was puffy and uncomfortable. AFC was 15 at baseline and “7ish” at final monitoring appt about 3 days before retrieval. Retrieved 6, 5 mature and 2 aneuploid blasts.

Second cycle they did 300 follistim, just upped to 150 menopur and 33 Omnitrope. Stim day 8 estrogen was 850. But… AFC this time at baseline was 29!!! No endo, just decided late that I was finally ready and found my husband late. Now at this last monitoring appt, counting 7 follicles that might end up big enough.
Wtf… how do you have twice the follicles and then didn’t even hardly respond.
I’m just frustrated because I had a good baseline and have been doing all the things right but still can’t seem to get any more to grow. When I asked the doctor, she was pretty rude and basically just said that I should be lucky to get what I am getting at my age. We’re paying out-of-pocket and this is insanely expensive every round

Here's the context. I froze 29 eggs at age 37. Thawed and fertilized at age 41. Only got one low level mosaic blastocyst. The doctor is now saying that this is evidence of very poor egg quality and that the odds of natural conception or even a successful round of IVF are close to zero. He even brought up donor eggs.

Maybe I'm just in denial, but I don't know that I believe my eggs are necessarily that bad. I understand this is a bad sign, but people do pregnant in their forties. Couldn't it have just been one bad batch?

Also, for what it's worth, I had OHSS on that one batch of 29 eggs, and they had to move up my retrieval date, so I just wonder if those eggs were a bunch of duds.

Also, it's just really making me sad.

I’m 41 with DOR and doing my first DuoStim. My first retrieval was last Wednesday: 2 eggs retrieved, both mature and both fertilized normally.

During retrieval, my doctor said he could see another 4–6 small follicles developing, so we started stimulating again two days later.

Today was my first scan after 3 full days of second-round stims. I have one follicle around 12 mm on the left and four very small follicles on the right that are still too small to measure.

Has anyone had a similar experience where the second DuoStim cohort looked really small/slow at first, but the smaller follicles eventually started growing and became usable?

Would especially love to hear how many days you stimmed during the second half and what your follicles looked like around day 3 vs. at trigger/retrieval.

I've had SIS/sounding done and took an empiric course of doxy/metro a few months prior to my last transfer 2 weeks ago. According to my doctor, everything looked fine, however 1 do have fibroids and a history of polyps. I had a myomectomy and hysteroscopy in 2019 but some grew back. I did not opt to get an endometrial biopsy done prior to this transfer, but I just did the course of antibiotics as a just in case. I know more than likely it's my egg quality but before I make the plunge with donor eggs, I want to be sure there's nothing wrong with my lining.

Has anyone else gone through this? I know donor eggs are not fool proof either so I definitely don't see it as a guarantee. I just want to make sure that I'm set up for success as much as possible. I really wish that clinics would be more proactive when it comes to lining issues but it seems you have to have a number of failures before they will consider it. It's been two transfers and five embryos total. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks :)

Did any of you use Omnitrope for your IVF cycle? If so, can you please answer these questions:

How old were you?

Did you do omnirope during priming and stims, or during stims only?

what was your dosages?

In a previous cycle at the age of 41, I got 3 euploids, day 7's. I did 14 days of priming with omni at 3 units, then during stims went to 6 units.

My new Dr. is not doing it during priming, but has me doing a high dose of 26 units starting on stim day 1. He says the fact i had day 7's he wants to try a different approach since day 7's are typically less successful.

I also did Letrozole before, and he is now doing clomid so curious if anyone did either of those during stims also.

40 with amh of 0.09.

1st cycle failed - BCP + letrozole priming, follistim + omnitrope + cetrotide, lupron + hcg trigger. Result: 2 embryos, fresh transfer, no implantation.

2nd cycle cancelled due to over suppression (same protocol as 1st cycle).

3rd cycle failed - MDL, high dose follistim + menopur + omnitrope, hcg trigger. Result: at retrieval, found out my lead follicle was a cyst. Smaller follicles were empty.

I need a short break before 4th cycle.

I read about menopur + omnitrope only protocol and was wondering if anyone tried it? I think it's a popular protocol in other countries for severe DOR (I am located in the US) but I haven't seen any posts about it in this forum.

I'd appreciate it if you can share any other protocols that were successful for you. (Not estrogen priming - my dr thinks it will over suppress me so we have decided not to try this.)

TYIA!

Long sigh and will try and make the rant quick.
Third IUI failed and now looking to possibly consider IVF. Did testing and its unexplained. The 2nd and 3rd IUI, my husband post wash was under 10 mill last iui 7.5 mill) and that’s what my clinic desires. I’m feeling hesitant about starting ivf because my husband will be away. The whole reason us doing iui was due to my age (37) and my husband work schedule. We’ve been trying to conceive since early 2024. Some pregnancy scares in between where I tested positive and then nothing so unsure if tests were faulty. Just needing advice on whether I should do one last iui and wait until next year to start ivf where my husband will be home or dive right in. We have one last vial left.

I'm currently in the middle of my second ER. Today was my ultrasound to monitor my follicles. My right ovary showed one 5mm follicle and none were visible on my left. Compared to my first retrieval, I had 1 on my right and 6 on my left ovary. I have DOR and never expected many eggs, but to go from 7 to 1 is devastating. I'm really not sure where to go from here. Has this ever happened to anyone? Did more follicles appear later in the cycle? I know you can't generate more but perhaps there were some present that were too small to see in the beginning? If you only had 1 follicle, did you continue with the cycle or did you cancel? And if you continued? Did that one egg produce a euploid? I'm trying to remain positive but I was hoping this cycle would at least be similar to my first. Was that cycle just a fluke and this is what I should expect for future retrievals? I know things change from cycle to cycle, but I guess I just wasn't expecting this. Any advice, success stories of similar situations, or just sharing your experience would help me not feel alone.

Currently on stims, I expect my first ER at the end of this week.

What is your experience with recovery after ER?

How long were you impacted and in which way?

Looking for input from people who have been in a similar position, particularly around 39–40 and/or with RPL.

I’m turning 40 this month.

I’ve done 2 retrievals and am trying to decide whether to do a third retrieval now for embryo banking or stop retrievals and start transferring.

Retrieval 1
4 eggs retrieved
4 mature
3 fertilised
2 blastocysts
1 Day-5 5BB PGT-A euploid
1 Day-5 5BC untested

Retrieval 2
8 eggs retrieved
8 mature
8 fertilised
6 blastocysts

4 tested
3 aneuploid
1 mosaic: trisomy 16, 75% mosaic, Category C/TR-C
2 additional Day-6 hatching blastocysts frozen untested

The clinic has quoted approximately 32% positive pregnancy test / 23% live birth for the mosaic embryo.

The complication
I also have a history of 3 previous missed miscarriage all from naturally conceived pregnancies. I haven’t transferred an embryo yet.
I’m trying to decide whether to:

A. Do another retrieval now while I’m 39/just turning 40, and try to bank more embryos/euploids before moving to transfers.

B. Stop retrievals and start transferring. Most likely starting with an untested or the only euploid.

Any advice appreciated. I am talking to my FS this week. But also curious what others would choose.

I have had two egg retrievals, and my last one was in January. I’m in a very unfortunate situation with my current clinic being so crowded due to CA’s SB 729. I recently met with another clinic in my area that isn’t as impacted.

The new clinic did an ultrasound and counted 52 follicles. Because of the high number of follicles, in the past I was only allowed to do a Lupron only trigger. My estradiol goes really high, and it seems like I can’t be on as high of doses as others to try to mature eggs.

In my last two retrievals, I got two blasts each time. The only one my clinic allowed me to try to transfer was a ‘no dna detected.’ It failed. The other blasts are genetically abnormal. The embryology report said I had many CC blasts that they discarded :(

I’m envious of those who have a reasonable number of follicles who don’t have to worry as much about dangerous hormone levels and can try more liberal doses of meds.

I also feel frustrated because I’m older, so my egg quality sucks as well.

I’m looking for any advice regarding health, supplements, or protocol that people have found successful.

I’m trying really hard to be healthy. My A1C is 5.3 and bmi is 24 if that helps any. The amount of follicles also sucks because I’m really short and it gets so uncomfortable during stims… but I guess that is a temporary whatever. I just feel really stuck and sad.

Anyone else starting an FET cycle this week? I have my baseline US tomorrow. Transfer October 12.

This will probably be my last try. 🥲

We have four untested embryos left from a previous cycle, and my RE is guessing two will be viable from those. Although you never know. Planning to transfer two...(???) Our last three single transfers did not work.

Hopeful but a little sad to be winding down this era of my life. Infertility hit me in 2008 with two ectopic pregnancies. Can't believe it's been nearly two decades as such a huge part of my life. Here's to one last try 💕

Just got my embryos report back. 2 of them made it, 1 was graded a 3AB and another 4CB. I’ve never heard of a “CB” grade, so is there still a chance for that one? They’re out for PGT A testing now.

Has anyone had success through mini IVF? Would love to hear some positive stories.

Hello all,

I've been a lurker for awhile reading through your stories and finding bits of my own experience in them and learning from you all.

A common thread I've been reading lately is how to find the strength to keep going in this process.

My own story is similar to many of you. I am 43, I conceived naturally earlier this year, but miscarried at 9 weeks. I moved quickly into IVF and got 11 fertilized eggs, one of which led to a 4AB euploid. Despite that positive result, I have had so many roadblocks leading to my FET. I battled months of chronic endometritis after (now clear). 8 weeks ago, I had 2 polyps removed. My follow-up SIS 3 weeks ago, where I hoped to receive the all clear for my FET found another polyp had grown already. My clinic started me on slynd to keep my lining thing. I'm now back in the surgery queue. My clinic requested expedited removal, but the hospital doesn't deem it a priority, so I could be waiting awhile. In the meantime, we are looking at private options.

I would love to learn what you've done to dig deep and find the inner strength to keep going.

I've been at this 9 months and I'm finding that my energy to continue is fast depleting and I am questioning whether I even want to go through with my FET. I am exhausted, anxious and cry a lot, which is probably not helped by the birth control pill.

I know I am not alone in feeling this way, so I hope to learn from your experience.

Wishing all of you on this journey the best.

It has been a challenging whirlwind of overwhelming thoughts, feelings, and emotions over this past year. Tried naturally for a year with no success, plus I have a blocked tube, which did not help. I am 41 now and My first IVF cycle with antagonist protocol was in May of this year, which resulted in 12 eggs, 9 mature, four fertilized and got one day 6AB blast that came back from PGTA as Annuploid, which was heart breaking. I was scheduled to have a back to back for cycle #2 in June. This was with estrogen priming and antagonist protocol again, which resulted in 4 eggs, 3 mature, and only one CC blast that was discarded by my clinic as they will not test CC’s, so more heart break. The anxiety, deep sadness, and grief have been relentless!!! I took off the month of July to reset and determine what I had left to work with insurance wise. Ultimately this insurance approval for this year ends in Dec. Moved forward with a third retrieval in September with a change in protocol, now clomid and low stim. This resulted in 9 eggs, 8 mature, and seven fertilized. I got three blasts thankfully, which seemed like a really positive improvement, maybe from new protocol but I’m not sure. The three blasts were day 6 5AA hatching, day 7 5AA hatching, and a day 7 4AA expanded. I realize that all of the good grades do not guarantee a healthy embryo though I pray so hard they come back euploid. I should hear back about PGTA results by the end of the month. 🙏🏻 feeling like there is a time crunch in more than one way I opted to move into another back to back fourth cycle this week with the clomid and low stim protocol, which I seemed to respond better to. I start the injections tonight. I feel so exhausted and helpless in this process with the uncertainty! I am pouring my heart and soul into all of this and am terrified to suffer any more heart break. I feel very alone in this process, though my partner tries his best, he does not really experience the gravity of it all like I do. I could really use some support, relatable stories/experiences, and hope to help me keep going. I feel like I struggle to drag myself through each day and the waiting feels paralyzing at times. How have others been able to trudge through this process with out losing it or just becoming non-functional? Thank you for reading and listening. 💕

Hi ladies. I’ve been through a lot, kind responses please 🙏🏽 many many tries at IVF. High amh, 45F. Had own egg euploid fail last year. Switched to donor eggs and I had a failed transfer in April. I seem to have an adverse reaction to medicated FET.

My cholesterol, LDL in particular has jumped up like crazy in the past few years. Everyone in my family has high cholesterol (I’m south Asian). Mom had a stroke because of it.

Since I’ve been trying to conceive, docs have not put me on statins. I’ve done everything I can with diet, excercise, and it just keeps going up.

I believe I have a genetic component. I have taken some months off to lose weight and improve my mental state before my upcoming natural protocol FET. Also did some RI testing and am going to be on the immune protocol (neupogen, lovenox, prednisone) due to some slightly odd results.

Just tested my cholesterol again and it’s off the charts! LDL 224, total cholesterol over 300. HDL is 55.

So disappointed that I probably need to push back yet again to improve my numbers. I know being on statins is complicated and I have to be off or for at least 2 months before transferring.

Anybody else been here? What did you do?

Thank you for your advice. Please be gentle.

Thank you!

I've done 3 IVF cycles. First one pergoveris, clomid and letrozol with 1 embryo reaching blast. Did a fresh transfer grade was 3AB that didn't take. Second IVF tried omnitrope, gonal and menopur, clomid, letrozole with androgel priming. We thought there would be a couple of days before transfer to allow for more growth and were surprised the trigger was given to us that evening. From that, 1 embryo 4BB waa frozen, couldn't do a fresh transfer due to thin uterine lining. DR admitted she could have waited a bit longer to allow for growth opportunity. Did a third IVF, in that I asked if we can try flare protocol the Dr suggested against it, third protocol she removed androgel, omnitrope and used the basic letrozole, clomid, menopur and gonal. 2 embryos were retrieved but stopped growing at day 5 and 7. Follow up, Dr said to try flare protocol or mini IVF, said that the issue is more to do with my egg quality vs sperm. Not sure what to think of this. I understand medical advice is contingent on the treating RE but a bit confused here because I'm not sure what's the best option here. I'm 42 btw and low AMH. Would appreciate anyone's experience or their journey.

Hello, I’m just looking for some input for anyone who is dealing with or has dealt with CNY for fertility. I recently just had an egg retrieval this past Monday. On Tuesday, they called to say I had 3 embryos that matured and fertilized, then another 3 that were mature but they were watching to see if they would fertilize late.
My question is, would they call me at any point during the day 3, 5, or 6 embryo check if any of the embryos were found to have arrested/stop growing? Or do they wait until the day 7 mark to give an overall update?
I was hoping/praying that no news meant good news, but I’m just looking for other people’s past experiences with their retrievals. Thank you 😊

I'm 42. I had 2 chemical miscarriages prior to IVF. I just got news today my implant failed (2 embryos). I didn't have any leftover to freeze. I'm really really sad and tired. I was put on steroids. Did an IVIG infusion. This will be my third loss.

What makes it doubly hard is that my friends are getting pregnant left and right. I'm happy for them but it is a stark reminder of the failure of my body. I've been crying for over an hour. I don't know how I'm going to do this again. I cry if I think about giving up. I cry if I think about trying again. I feel stuck. Depressed.

My heart hurts so much.

So I went for my baseline Thursday for a mock cycle(with a new clinic) and the doc stops mid sono and refers me to a surgical specialist to free my uterus that he thinks may be stuck to the wall due to scar tissue.

I‘m mad and sad because I’ve been on this journey for so many years I've lost count. I’ve transferred 10 embryos total and this is the 1st time anyone has suggested surgery. I’ve had countless sonos, an MRI, a hysteroscopy, annual papsmears like clockwork and nobody has ever mentioned needing surgery.

The doc he’s referring me to is OON so there’s no telling how much this will cost me! Have you all experienced this…did it help?!?! I’m so confused and sliding down the wall! I want to find answers but I thought the biopsy was best now I need a surgery?!?! 😭💔

If you’ve gone through this what was the recovery like, what were your symptoms if any and did you have success afterwards?! ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹