IVF#1 at 40, 29 eggs fertilized! Any insight or similar experiences?

[Anonymous]

Totally agree about the PGD. I am 40, had 50 eggs retrieved last time around. We have genetic issues to consider and after 20-something 5 day embryos went out for testing, we ended up with 2 blasts to freeze. We had some that were not of good quality and the expected 'affected' embryos with the genetic issue. So it's great to have a lot, but you may end up with one shot at a baby after a highly responsive cycle.

[Anonymous]

OP at 40 yo with those results, do genetic testing.

[Anonymous]

Wow, it's crazy to me how many PPs are intent on bringing down the OP. Save your stories of miscarraige and how IVF didn't work for you. She wasn't asking for that. Really, you can't be happy for the woman who, by any standard for any age, had a tremendous retrieval and fertilization rate?!! It's sad how unsupportive some of you are.

To the OP, best wishes! I had fewer eggs retreived at 40 and only one made it to day 5 but I had a beautiful baby boy in November (at 41). Best wishes to you. You only need one good one, but chances are you'll have many good ones.

[Anonymous]

We did IVF due to male factor. I was younger than you - 33. We had 21 fertilized eggs initially. These proceeded to become 9 excellent blasts. We transferred 2 but unfortunately that cycle failed. We then transferred two immediately after as part of a FET and we went on to have twins. We now have 5 frozen blasts.

Good Luck OP!

[Anonymous]

What is PGD?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you really bragging on an IF forum? ugh.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi,

I've been reading this forum for a year, but this is my first post. I had 31 eggs retrieved yesterday, but didn't know until today how many of those were mature. Apparently, 26 were mature when removed, but 3 immature ones caught up in the afternoon, making 29 mature, and all 29 fertilized! I am stunned and over the moon.

Context: we have male factor (low motility and count) and it was recommended that we go straight to IVF with ICSI. This was my first infertility treatment. (I did do 2 unmonitored Clomid cycles with my OBGYN, but that was before my husband's SA where he had ZERO motility. Luckily a few months later his motility improved enough to make ICSI possible.) I am 40 years old and all of my tests have been high average or quite good for my age. That being said, I have never in my life been pregnant, so I consider myself unproven territory.

My RE expected me to stim for 12 days but I responded faster/better to the meds than expected, so I triggered on day 9. They also switched me from a HCG trigger to a Lupron trigger, as I was already overstimulated. (E2 was 5,500 on trigger/day 9; not sure what it is now.) I was very uncomfortable for the 2 days before egg retrieval, and the day of was pretty rough, but I am feeling much better now, except for some serious bloating.

When I heard 31 eggs were retrieved, I was praying that close to 20 would be mature. I never dreamed that 29 would be mature, and that we'd get a 100% fertilization rate. I'm still in (happy) shock. I realize that many of these embryos won't survive, especially because of my age, but it's hard to imagine that we won't have at least a handful of good ones at transfer. (I hope!) Still, I am worried that quality may have been sacrificed for quantity, but my nurse didn't seem too concerned. She seemed to think that we'd probably do a 5 day transfer.

Can anyone with a similar experience tell me how many of your embryos made it to transfer/freeze? I'm especially interested in hearing from those of AMA. Thanks!

I got measly 1, 2 and 5 fertilized eggs. I also got 2 girls. HA!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, it's crazy to me how many PPs are intent on bringing down the OP. Save your stories of miscarraige and how IVF didn't work for you. She wasn't asking for that. Really, you can't be happy for the woman who, by any standard for any age, had a tremendous retrieval and fertilization rate?!! It's sad how unsupportive some of you are.

To the OP, best wishes! I had fewer eggs retreived at 40 and only one made it to day 5 but I had a beautiful baby boy in November (at 41). Best wishes to you. You only need one good one, but chances are you'll have many good ones.

NP. OP asked for comments. She didn't ask only for positive stories and comments. Sometimes the negative comments can help set expectations.

Fwiw, OP, I agree with the prior responses who said to do CGH/genetic testing. With that many eggs, and presumably a good number of embryos, you could end up doing repeated FETs if you aren't putting back genetically normal embryos. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, it's crazy to me how many PPs are intent on bringing down the OP. Save your stories of miscarraige and how IVF didn't work for you. She wasn't asking for that. Really, you can't be happy for the woman who, by any standard for any age, had a tremendous retrieval and fertilization rate?!! It's sad how unsupportive some of you are.

To the OP, best wishes! I had fewer eggs retreived at 40 and only one made it to day 5 but I had a beautiful baby boy in November (at 41). Best wishes to you. You only need one good one, but chances are you'll have many good ones.

NP. OP asked for comments. She didn't ask only for positive stories and comments. Sometimes the negative comments can help set expectations.

Fwiw, OP, I agree with the prior responses who said to do CGH/genetic testing. With that many eggs, and presumably a good number of embryos, you could end up doing repeated FETs if you aren't putting back genetically normal embryos. Good luck.

PP again. I wonder if they'd let you do a fresh transfer of 3-5 blasts and then test the rest? When I was 41 (with 16 eggs retrieved, which surprised me), I transferred 3 5-day blasts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi,

I've been reading this forum for a year, but this is my first post. I had 31 eggs retrieved yesterday, but didn't know until today how many of those were mature. Apparently, 26 were mature when removed, but 3 immature ones caught up in the afternoon, making 29 mature, and all 29 fertilized! I am stunned and over the moon.

Context: we have male factor (low motility and count) and it was recommended that we go straight to IVF with ICSI. This was my first infertility treatment. (I did do 2 unmonitored Clomid cycles with my OBGYN, but that was before my husband's SA where he had ZERO motility. Luckily a few months later his motility improved enough to make ICSI possible.) I am 40 years old and all of my tests have been high average or quite good for my age. That being said, I have never in my life been pregnant, so I consider myself unproven territory.

My RE expected me to stim for 12 days but I responded faster/better to the meds than expected, so I triggered on day 9. They also switched me from a HCG trigger to a Lupron trigger, as I was already overstimulated. (E2 was 5,500 on trigger/day 9; not sure what it is now.) I was very uncomfortable for the 2 days before egg retrieval, and the day of was pretty rough, but I am feeling much better now, except for some serious bloating.

When I heard 31 eggs were retrieved, I was praying that close to 20 would be mature. I never dreamed that 29 would be mature, and that we'd get a 100% fertilization rate. I'm still in (happy) shock. I realize that many of these embryos won't survive, especially because of my age, but it's hard to imagine that we won't have at least a handful of good ones at transfer. (I hope!) Still, I am worried that quality may have been sacrificed for quantity, but my nurse didn't seem too concerned. She seemed to think that we'd probably do a 5 day transfer.

Can anyone with a similar experience tell me how many of your embryos made it to transfer/freeze? I'm especially interested in hearing from those of AMA. Thanks!

I got measly 1, 2 and 5 fertilized eggs. I also got 2 girls. HA!

OP - good luck to you! Sounds like a great start!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, it's crazy to me how many PPs are intent on bringing down the OP. Save your stories of miscarraige and how IVF didn't work for you. She wasn't asking for that. Really, you can't be happy for the woman who, by any standard for any age, had a tremendous retrieval and fertilization rate?!! It's sad how unsupportive some of you are.

To the OP, best wishes! I had fewer eggs retreived at 40 and only one made it to day 5 but I had a beautiful baby boy in November (at 41). Best wishes to you. You only need one good one, but chances are you'll have many good ones.

NP. OP asked for comments. She didn't ask only for positive stories and comments. Sometimes the negative comments can help set expectations.

Fwiw, OP, I agree with the prior responses who said to do CGH/genetic testing. With that many eggs, and presumably a good number of embryos, you could end up doing repeated FETs if you aren't putting back genetically normal embryos. Good luck.

You honestly believe that anyone who has been through the hell of infertility needs to keep their positive thoughts in check? The OP asked for comments, not for people to burst her bubble or tell her how they miscarried at 11 weeks or tell her that her eggs might be shitty quality and she's not all that and should stop bragging.

As a woman who went through the misery of infertility for five years and finally got pregnant and finally had a child, I needed all the support I could get. I did NOT need people to tell me what could go wrong. I already knew what could go wrong. I get that infertility can make you bitter and sad, but would just hope that some PPs could try to keep that in check. Really, one day it will be your turn and you will want and need people - even anonymous strangers on a forum like this - to keep their resentment in check.

[Anonymous]

OP again. I just want to thank everyone for their replies and kind wishes. I can't help wanting to hear hopeful, encouraging stories, but I also appreciate the cautionary advice and more sobering anecdotes. Obviously I have no idea what will happen, but it helps to hear the range of experiences other women have had.

I did not anticipate this situation, nor did I really understand what it could mean until it happened. We hadn't planned on genetic testing for our first round, and I didn't realize how useful testing would be with a pool like this. If we end up doing another fresh cycle I will definitely talk to my RE about CGH and PGD. I suspect that we may learn the hard way that we should have done the testing this time, but we're just going to roll the dice and see what happens. We're doing a 5-day transfer on Saturday. I suspect that we will have more luck with FETs than the fresh transfer, but that is just a gut feeling...

Thanks again for all of the advice!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, it's crazy to me how many PPs are intent on bringing down the OP. Save your stories of miscarraige and how IVF didn't work for you. She wasn't asking for that. Really, you can't be happy for the woman who, by any standard for any age, had a tremendous retrieval and fertilization rate?!! It's sad how unsupportive some of you are.

To the OP, best wishes! I had fewer eggs retreived at 40 and only one made it to day 5 but I had a beautiful baby boy in November (at 41). Best wishes to you. You only need one good one, but chances are you'll have many good ones.

NP. OP asked for comments. She didn't ask only for positive stories and comments. Sometimes the negative comments can help set expectations.

Fwiw, OP, I agree with the prior responses who said to do CGH/genetic testing. With that many eggs, and presumably a good number of embryos, you could end up doing repeated FETs if you aren't putting back genetically normal embryos. Good luck.

You honestly believe that anyone who has been through the hell of infertility needs to keep their positive thoughts in check? The OP asked for comments, not for people to burst her bubble or tell her how they miscarried at 11 weeks or tell her that her eggs might be shitty quality and she's not all that and should stop bragging.

As a woman who went through the misery of infertility for five years and finally got pregnant and finally had a child, I needed all the support I could get. I did NOT need people to tell me what could go wrong. I already knew what could go wrong. I get that infertility can make you bitter and sad, but would just hope that some PPs could try to keep that in check. Really, one day it will be your turn and you will want and need people - even anonymous strangers on a forum like this - to keep their resentment in check.

You're projecting. It was her first (and last?) IVF. Read her gracious response. Again, good luck, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, it's crazy to me how many PPs are intent on bringing down the OP. Save your stories of miscarraige and how IVF didn't work for you. She wasn't asking for that. Really, you can't be happy for the woman who, by any standard for any age, had a tremendous retrieval and fertilization rate?!! It's sad how unsupportive some of you are.

To the OP, best wishes! I had fewer eggs retreived at 40 and only one made it to day 5 but I had a beautiful baby boy in November (at 41). Best wishes to you. You only need one good one, but chances are you'll have many good ones.

NP. OP asked for comments. She didn't ask only for positive stories and comments. Sometimes the negative comments can help set expectations.

Fwiw, OP, I agree with the prior responses who said to do CGH/genetic testing. With that many eggs, and presumably a good number of embryos, you could end up doing repeated FETs if you aren't putting back genetically normal embryos. Good luck.

You honestly believe that anyone who has been through the hell of infertility needs to keep their positive thoughts in check? The OP asked for comments, not for people to burst her bubble or tell her how they miscarried at 11 weeks or tell her that her eggs might be shitty quality and she's not all that and should stop bragging.

As a woman who went through the misery of infertility for five years and finally got pregnant and finally had a child, I needed all the support I could get. I did NOT need people to tell me what could go wrong. I already knew what could go wrong. I get that infertility can make you bitter and sad, but would just hope that some PPs could try to keep that in check. Really, one day it will be your turn and you will want and need people - even anonymous strangers on a forum like this - to keep their resentment in check.

You're projecting. It was her first (and last?) IVF. Read her gracious response. Again, good luck, OP.

Not projecting. You're deflecting. I guess it's important to you to defend bitter responses.

And to the OP, you sound almost apologetic in your latest response. Don't let these bit*ches bring you down. Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP again. I just want to thank everyone for their replies and kind wishes. I can't help wanting to hear hopeful, encouraging stories, but I also appreciate the cautionary advice and more sobering anecdotes. Obviously I have no idea what will happen, but it helps to hear the range of experiences other women have had.

I did not anticipate this situation, nor did I really understand what it could mean until it happened. We hadn't planned on genetic testing for our first round, and I didn't realize how useful testing would be with a pool like this. If we end up doing another fresh cycle I will definitely talk to my RE about CGH and PGD. I suspect that we may learn the hard way that we should have done the testing this time, but we're just going to roll the dice and see what happens. We're doing a 5-day transfer on Saturday. I suspect that we will have more luck with FETs than the fresh transfer, but that is just a gut feeling...

Thanks again for all of the advice!

Wishing you the best, OP. Ignore the haters. Feel good and take the next few steps one at a time - the transfer, the beta, etc. sending positive thoughts your way!