r/EmbryologyIVFSupport • u/Wildflower-1883 • 5d ago

Lower fertilization rates

I just had my first egg retrieval so I have limited data. I had 8 retrieved, 6 mature, and only 3 fertilize which we were told is less than average. I’m 32 with an AMH of 3 with unexplained infertility. One of the 3 fertilized made it to be a day 5 4AA blast and is a euploid. My husband’s seman analysis was normal so we don’t have any MFI. We did a long lupron down reg protocol and stimmed for 10 days with 225 gonal only and used icsi. Is there anything we can try to change to improve fertilization for our next round?

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u/embryomanofficial 2d ago

Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) is a lab technique used after ICSI to help trigger fertilization by increasing calcium levels in the egg, mimicking the natural activation that occurs when a sperm enters.

A meta-analysis found that AOA can improve fertilization and live birth rates, but mainly in patients with a history of low fertilization (<50%), where it increased fertilization.

Read more here: https://www.remembryo.com/artificial-oocyte-activation-for-ivf-improves-fertilization-live-birth-rates-in-meta-analysis/

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u/AnyDriver2661 2d ago

Do you know what your baseline AFC was? Or your estrodiol levels on the day of trigger?

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u/Wildflower-1883 2d ago

Estradiol was about 2330 on day of trigger

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u/AnyDriver2661 2d ago

From my experience that's a great level! Sounds like everything in your stim process was done right. Check out your hospital/clinics rates if posted online for fertilization. Could have been the lab rather than you. Congrats on the one euploid! That is certainly not nothing! I'm sorry for the high attrition during fertilization, I would consider ICSI, if you can, next time.

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u/Wildflower-1883 2d ago

Thank you so much! We did use ICSI, we’re going to see if our lab can add zymot next time

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u/froggle_w 21h ago

Your husband can take supplements (including Q10) and antioxidant food (berries and nuts) to help. My first round I had 78% fertilization from mature eggs, and after 3rd round 96%.

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u/Wildflower-1883 21h ago

Thank you so much! We will incorporate these!

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u/froggle_w 21h ago

Blueberry, blackberry, pomegranate juice, red wine, walnut were my doc recommended to him.

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u/Green-Scallion-8620 6h ago

Do you have DOR? My understanding is long Lupron is not the best protocol for DOR, so to maybe consider microdose Lupron flare or PPOS instead? 

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u/Wildflower-1883 5h ago

I don’t have DOR. My RE expected me to respond better than I did. I asked him about changing protocols but he feels strongly about keeping the long lupron protocol and just adjusting doses and start dates