which infertility facility has better lab?

[Anonymous]

I am 41yo and have been with SGF for my two IVF. Last September I had 7 eggs retrieved and 5 matured. Only 3 of them were fertilized. One survived to the final stage but didn’t pass the PGT-A.

Then I took a break. I started taking acupuncture treatment, DHEA, CoQ10, everything I can find on Theralogix to increase the quality of my eggs. Although my doctor doesn’t believe in any of them and told me to get a back-to-back ivf cycles.

I just had my second egg retrieval this Monday and was told that still only 7 eggs were retrieved and 5 mature. But this time only 2 were fertilized. I’m still waiting for the number of embryos can be sent for PGT-A.

I’m curious if the low fertilization rate is purely due to my age and if it can be improved by changing to a different facility.

I’m thinking about switching to another facility. Any recommendations? Especially for women age over 40.

Really appreciated.

[Anonymous]

Every time I ask any question to my doctor. The only answer is due to my age. I fully understand age is a key factor. But I’d like to get some help to get a better result instead of a standardized protocol.

[Anonymous]

The conventional wisdom is that CCRM has the best lab in the area, though they grow everything to blast which may or may not work for you. Did you do ICSI or regular IVF?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The conventional wisdom is that CCRM has the best lab in the area, though they grow everything to blast which may or may not work for you. Did you do ICSI or regular IVF?

ICSI. I was only given ICSI option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The conventional wisdom is that CCRM has the best lab in the area, though they grow everything to blast which may or may not work for you. Did you do ICSI or regular IVF?

And may I know why growing to blast may not work for me? I was told by SGF that they are growing the embryos to blast as well.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I would say it is because of your age. My doctor says that it becomes riskier after 40. Good luck, I hope it goes well, and you're able to find another clinic.

[Anonymous]

CCRM CO had the best lab. We don’t know if CCRM NoVa will be able to replicate those results yet. SGF is generally considered to have the best lab in the area. Looking at SART data for donor eggs is the best way to judge, short of asking clinics about lab specific stats.

[Anonymous]

OP, my situation sounds exactly like yours, although I was at Columbia Fertility. I even retrieved the same number of eggs, although more of mine made it to blast after incorporating CoQ10. I hear mixed things about DHEA and its impact on eggs, although I used it for a while. Anyway, I was told the same things at ages 40, 41, 43 and 44. I'm now looking at donor eggs as I was never able to get pregnant.

You could try to change clinics as they might use different protocols and that might work for you. But, I feel like fertility is also somewhat a roll of the dice so it may or may not work, but maybe they'll see something that wasn't detected before? Based on what I've read and my interactions with the clinics, (note: I have only ever been treated at CFA, so my interactions with the other clinics were brief second opinion or intro consultations) I would try CCRM or Dominion.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CCRM CO had the best lab. We don’t know if CCRM NoVa will be able to replicate those results yet. SGF is generally considered to have the best lab in the area. Looking at SART data for donor eggs is the best way to judge, short of asking clinics about lab specific stats.

+1. The embryologist at CCRM Lone Tree (this is the main office) is amazing. None of the local clinics compare to the big name clinics out of state - CCRM Lone Tree, Cornell, etc. At your age and with your history, I would start looking out of state.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CCRM CO had the best lab. We don’t know if CCRM NoVa will be able to replicate those results yet. SGF is generally considered to have the best lab in the area. Looking at SART data for donor eggs is the best way to judge, short of asking clinics about lab specific stats.

Thank you very much! I will check it out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, my situation sounds exactly like yours, although I was at Columbia Fertility. I even retrieved the same number of eggs, although more of mine made it to blast after incorporating CoQ10. I hear mixed things about DHEA and its impact on eggs, although I used it for a while. Anyway, I was told the same things at ages 40, 41, 43 and 44. I'm now looking at donor eggs as I was never able to get pregnant.

You could try to change clinics as they might use different protocols and that might work for you. But, I feel like fertility is also somewhat a roll of the dice so it may or may not work, but maybe they'll see something that wasn't detected before? Based on what I've read and my interactions with the clinics, (note: I have only ever been treated at CFA, so my interactions with the other clinics were brief second opinion or intro consultations) I would try CCRM or Dominion.

Big hugs! I am in D3 and hopelessly waiting for my D5 call from SGF. It is weird. My AMH level is 2.3 in January, which is not considered as DOR per our consultation with Dr Payson in CCRM. I was expecting more eggs retrieved this time as my dosages were high, starting with 300 Follistim, 150 Menopur; then jump to 450 Follistim, 225 Menopur. But the results are the same. Very upset..and trying to figure out what I can improve next time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CCRM CO had the best lab. We don’t know if CCRM NoVa will be able to replicate those results yet. SGF is generally considered to have the best lab in the area. Looking at SART data for donor eggs is the best way to judge, short of asking clinics about lab specific stats.

+1. The embryologist at CCRM Lone Tree (this is the main office) is amazing. None of the local clinics compare to the big name clinics out of state - CCRM Lone Tree, Cornell, etc. At your age and with your history, I would start looking out of state.

I was considering in-state facility at the beginning given the convenience. Now I am thinking about pursuing countrywide help.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:CCRM CO had the best lab. We don’t know if CCRM NoVa will be able to replicate those results yet. SGF is generally considered to have the best lab in the area. Looking at SART data for donor eggs is the best way to judge, short of asking clinics about lab specific stats.

CCRM NoVA sends their embryos to CO for testing, I believe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CCRM CO had the best lab. We don’t know if CCRM NoVa will be able to replicate those results yet. SGF is generally considered to have the best lab in the area. Looking at SART data for donor eggs is the best way to judge, short of asking clinics about lab specific stats.

CCRM NoVA sends their embryos to CO for testing, I believe.

Yes, the biopsies are sent there for testing. But generally the skill of the embryologists in Lone Tree and the lab conditions are given credit for the better results from CCRM, not the testing process (although they claim that is better too).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:CCRM CO had the best lab. We don’t know if CCRM NoVa will be able to replicate those results yet. SGF is generally considered to have the best lab in the area. Looking at SART data for donor eggs is the best way to judge, short of asking clinics about lab specific stats.

CCRM NoVA sends their embryos to CO for testing, I believe.

Yes, the biopsies are sent there for testing. But generally the skill of the embryologists in Lone Tree and the lab conditions are given credit for the better results from CCRM, not the testing process (although they claim that is better too).

Are you referring to the embryo —> blastocyst rate? If so, what is it at CCRM CO? I got 50% at Nova, not sure if that’s good or bad. Waiting for PGT results