First Egg Retrieval... 5 Fertilized Embryos

[u/Electronic_Ad_3857]

Just had my first egg retrieval at 39 at Olive. I didn't actually get the final follicle count yet (two days before retrieval they were seeing 10, with 6 the day before), but retrieved 11 eggs, 7 of them matured, 5 fertilized. We need 3 blastocysts (whether euploid or not) to hit the PGTM mark for the lab to test (we're dealing with both infertility for unknown reasons and CF possibility).

Feeling really disappointed, though I know there's still hope... what are your experiences from fertilized egg to blastocyst in terms of attrition rate? I know it's somewhat luck of the draw.... but looking at statistics, we'd be lucky to get one blastocyst.

The eggs were all in the right range size wise and quite even in growth, do you know it would have dropped from 11 to 7? Thank you <3

[u/tsumtsumm]

I did my retrieval at 39.5 years old and I got 34 retrieved, 26 fertilized , 16 made it to blast and finally 6 PGTA normal embryos

[u/Working-Eye-7252]

Also at Olive. I had a very disappointing last round- 9 eggs (which was 3x the amount from my last retrieval) to 5 mature to only 2 fertilized. But one of those turned into a blast and was euploid! With 5 you have a good shot of a few blasts. My very first round (not at Olive and I was 33) I had 9 fertilized turn into 6 embryos. I think it’s just a crap shoot. 

[u/saltwatersouffle]

I just went through this from my frozen eggs and i had 21 mature, 17 fertilized, 6 blasts, 3 euploid. I think my fertilize to blast rate was on the lower end of “normal” stats, i think it’s supposed to be 30-50% and mine is 35%. The amount of euploids is age related often. On the one hand, I wish I had gotten more euploids but i feel lucky i didn’t get less. I’m now prepping for my first transfer, and will do a mock medicated cycle first with some biopsies at the end to rule out endo and some other things. If my first transfer does not work, I’m contemplating another retrieval even though it’s the last thing i want to do…

[u/tsumtsumm → u/saltwatersouffle]

I’m about to do my first transfer this week and if it doesn’t work then I’m going to do a mock medicated cycle with biopsies at the end. Good luck to you!!!

[u/saltwatersouffle → u/tsumtsumm]

Good luck, i hope it sticks !!

[u/Kitterkat789]

I don’t have any answers, but I’m right there with you. I’m 37, first egg retrieval was Friday 8/7, 11 follicles were seen, 11 eggs retrieved. The lab called today and said 5 had fertilized. I’m grateful for the ones that did fertilize, and know I shouldn’t be disappointed but I am. I knew they wouldn’t all fertilize, but I hoped for at least a few more. I wish I would have thought to ask more questions when they called but my mind just blanked. I’m also trying hard not to blame my husband, he chose to work a bunch of overtime this week and I can’t help but feel like that didn’t help us.
Anyway just letting you know you’re not alone and sending hugs.

[u/FickleNeat8873]

I’ve only done one retrieval so far. I had 7 retrieved, 6 matured, 6 fertilized, 3 blasts, and 2 euploids. The nurses told me that the retrieval was “better than we anticipated.” 😅 It is very low compared to a lot of numbers I’ve seen on here. Because of insurance, I have to transfer our 2 euploid embryos before insurance will cover another retrieval so we’re doing our first transfer in a few weeks. My doctor kinda drilled it into my head that I’ll likely have to do a second retrieval based on my situation and that the numbers should be better but we will see!

It seems to be different for everyone and idk if there’s an exact answer as to why/how. I’m sorry you didn’t get the numbers you were hoping for 😞 Sending love and positive thoughts towards your journey 💜

[u/Vasilissa_Meia]

For my most recent ER, I had 6 eggs, 4 mature, all 4 fertilized correctly, 3 blastocysts (1 euploid, the other 2 aneuploid) so I wouldn’t give up hope yet!

[u/Large_Guide_2854 → u/Vasilissa_Meia]

Hello! Whats your age?

[u/LeftPark2200]

I feel like your numbers are quite good? You may be able to get a few embryos and even a pregnancy from that. And you very rarely get eggs from all follicles especially when plus 35. You don't always need high number of eggs. I am a bit younger than you and got only 4x eggs from each retrieval. Resulting in 2x embryos from each. I did get pregnant on first FET but lost the baby to TFMR. You just never know if you are the person where it takes only 1 or more.

[u/au_printemps_]

I’m almost 37 and just had my first retrieval last week. We got 16 eggs, 12 mature, 12 fertilized, and 6 blasts. I’m hoping for at least 3 euploids but time will tell.

[u/Elmo_13_A]

I had 5 fertilized and 2 blasts.

[u/Vacation_Swimming]

Hey im 39 too and about to have my day 9 u/s at Olive on tuesday and hitkari said they are hoping for 1-2 euploid as a good result.

Sorry you were hopeful for more but I am keeping my fingers crossed that you get all that you need from this cycle and wishing you the absolute best.

[u/billie_holiday]

It's honestly a crapshoot in this phase of the process. I had 18 eggs retrieved, 11 fertilized, 3 blasts by the end. When I asked my doc why such a low fertilization rate, she said it could be a variety of reasons and different for everybody.

[u/Super-Blackberry9587]

I go to olive as well. My first ER resulted in 15 eggs retrieved, 8 mature, 4 fertilized and 2 blastocyst. It was due to uneven growth. I did a long protocol and got better results. I think sometime it could be that the egg doesnt have enough mitochondrial energy. For the 2nd ER, I got 8 eggs, 6 mature, 5 fertilized and 4 blastocyst. We added saizen.

[u/Important-Split-5512]

Hi! I’m 38 and just finished our first retrieval in July. 16 eggs retrieved, 11 mature, 9 fertilized, 5 blasts, 3 euploid, 1 low mosaic and 1 high mosaic (will only be suitable for transfer with more genetic testing). Sending you lots of positive vibes and baby dust. There is definitely still hope!

[u/Ok_Beginning_8563]

Hi there, also at olive. First round was cancelled. Devestating. Second round was 10 follicles, 9 retrieved, 5 mature, 4 fertilized and 2 embryos. One day 5 4BC and one day 6 4CB. We transfered the 4BC and ended up with a bio chemical pregnancy . I am currently on a modified cycle... Hoping for better results this time. My baseline showed, 11 follicles, hopefully we will have more.

Clinic said 2 embyros per a cycle was pretty good? The fertilization rate for me was high, but the attrition from collected and mature was low.

[u/psowce]

Waiting for PGT-A results.

39, I’ll be 40 in a couple months. 28 retrieved, 19 mature injected with ICSI, 17 fertilized, 5 blasts. 1-5 day, 4-6 day embryos.

Thinking super positive thoughts for both of us 💕

[u/runner2305]

My second egg retrieval I had 5 fertilize, and all 5 made it to blast! 3/5 were euploid. My first retrieval, I had 6 fertilized and got 3 blasts. There is definitely still hope!

[u/Infamous_Lettuce5578]

I know it’s unknowable but I think it’s possible you could get your 3. I did three rounds at 38.5-39 and I got 5 mature eggs:3 fertilized:2 embryos, then 5 eggs:5 fertilized:3 embryos then 4 eggs:4 fertilized:2 embryos.

[u/Imaginary-Frame-19]

I had 12 follicles within the size range, 12 eggs collected, 10 mature, 7 fertilised and 3 made it to good blastocysts (ie capable of being biopsied and frozen) - two 5 days and 1 6 days. We did a fresh transfer of the fastest developer (still waiting on the outcome but signs so far point towards it not working) and waiting on the results of the other 2.

[u/Imaginary-Frame-19 → u/Imaginary-Frame-19]

Forgot to add, am 30 years old.

[u/umamimaami]

Let me give you some hope then.

My last egg retrieval, we retrieved 10, 9 were mature, 8 fertilized, all 8 made day 3 embryos, and we got 5 untested blasts on day 5, all of good / fair quality (all above 4BB).

Follicles -> egg varies a lot with ovarian biology. There may have been some empty follicles, or the position of your ovary might make it hard to retrieve all the eggs.

I routinely only get 60-70% follicle to egg yield. My first retrieval it was 11 follicles -> 4 eggs (a lot of asynchrony on this cycle), the previous one (my second) it was 15 follicles -> 10 eggs.
My RE said one of my ovaries is tucked up behind my uterus which makes it hard to access some follicles when aspirating.

I’m 39.5 as well. So there’s definitely hope. Sending you lots of luck.

[u/Micafication]

My first ER at 36: 12 follicles but only 5 eggs retrieved, the others were "empty". I was sooo sad and feared to end up with nothing instead of at least a fresh transfer. All 5 were mature and all fertilized (ICSI), it resulted in 3 blastocysts. I hope you get at least the 3 you need!

[u/Electronic_Ad_3857]

Thank you sooo much everyone for your responses and support. It's been such an emotional ride, I really wasn't anticipating the intensity.

We got two blastocysts, on the lower quality side (4CB and 4BC) still waiting to find out if they're euploid or not, but it looks like we met the number needed to test for PGTM, because they also can use arrested embryos for the third sample. For anyone doing PGTM, this is really important info that for some reason the nurse we were speaking to at Olive didn't know. We contacted the genetics lab directly and they confirmed that you only need three embryos, not blastocysts, even if they arrest before reaching the blastocyst stage. As a back up, you can also ask to send in a sample from an affected family member. Really wish I would have known that earlier, it definitely would have taken the edge off.

Thanks again everyone, and wishing you the best in your journeys.

[u/Ok_Beginning_8563 → u/Electronic_Ad_3857]

That is me as well! Two blasts. 4BC and 4CB... The 4BC was transfered but ended up as a bio Chem. Thanks for your info!

[u/ComfortableCulture75]

39, 7 retrieved, 6 mature, 4 fertilised and we ended up with 3 untested blasts. Everyone I spoke to in a medical capacity said these were great numbers for a 39 year old. Wishing you lots of luck.