Slow developing embryos

[needamiracale]

My husband and I are both 28 and just had our first IVF cycle. Our doctor says we are about 90% male factor and 10% female factor infertility.  At egg retrieval we had 10 eggs and 5 fertilized. The clinic scheduled us for a day 5 transfer and we were really excited. The doctor called us the day before transfer and said the embryos were not looking good- all were developing slow. We did transfer the two best the next day (day 5). Our two best were a morula and an 8 cell. The doctor did not seem optimistic and she said the embryologist said our eggs looked good but sperm morphology was really poor. Because of my husband's bad semen analysis we paid a fortune for genetic testing last year and everything was fine. I am really confused now. Has this happened to anyone else....slow developing embryos. What was the outcome?

[needamiracale]

We did have IVF with ICSI and 5 of 10 fertilized. The day we got fertilization results the doctor scheduled us for a day 5 transfer. If this cycle does not work I will definately have DH go back to urologist before we try anything else. Moorebaby- I am so sorry you went through all of that with doner embryos. I hope your egg retrieval goes well today- I will shoot up a prayer. Happynifer- congratulations! Was this your first IVF with ICSI? If you don't mind me asking how old are you?

[happynifer]

we had to do ICSI for poor sperm quality. 8 eggs, only 3 fertlized, transfered 2 on day 3 and am 34 weeks pregnant with one baby.
it only takes one to stick...

[Kricket212]

I am sorry to hear you are going thru this.  It is a difficult time. Since you said you had the semen analysis done, did the recommend ICSI?  That is when they inject the sperm right into the egg.  Maybe that would help???
ANother option would be to go send DH to urologist & see what they recommnd?

Hang in there.  There are options out there but I would def start by sending DH to specialist.  Best Wishes!!!

[mhv]

I think there are so many determining factors for embryos. My long story is,  I had 19 donor embryos and they were frozen on day 2.  I got preggers from my first transfer but m/c'd.  we had 16 left frozen... after a loonngggg story and 2 more transfers we interviewed a new RE... he looked over the embryos that had already been thawed and he said that only 2 of them were "viable and healthy".  He didn't know which cycle that I had gotten pregnant on, but pointed out those embryos.  He said he wouldn't use our remaining embryos because "he would just be taking our money"... we went to a 3rd RE... he ironically said the same thing... but did agree to thaw them and transfer "what he could".  We had 7 left and didn't want to destroy them or keep them frozen.. so we went for it.  We did a 5 day transfer, but only 1 made it to day 5, but it wasn't blast (so slow growing, like yours) and it wasn't in the best shape.  So, I think it can be factors of the couple or unfortunately factors of the clinic.  

Having said that, I have seen MANY MANY MANY ladies on here get pregnant with  "less then stellar" eggs... so, Hang in there!  You have a chance of this working!!!!!!!  

M

[needamiracale]

Thank you so much for responding. I feel so alone in this situation- I don't even know a single person who has done IVF. I don't know if my husband has had sperm dna fragmentation test. He is taking vitamins- Proxeed (recommended by urologist). Are you considering a sperm doner? I am wondering if this is what our doctor will recommend if this cycle is not successful. Does your doctor suggest you keep trying? Good, good luck with this cycle. How many eggs did they retrieve?

[moorebaby]

we have kind of a similar issue. we are in the middle of our 4th cycle...er is scheduled for saturday. each time we have a good amount of eggs (no egg quality issue), but only 2 fertlize, enough for an et. we have severe male factor issue. we had 4 fertilize the 1st cycle, & we put 2 back (the other 2 didn't make it to freezing). we got a bfp, but it was a chemical pregnancy. the other 2 cycles, we onlyhad 2 fertilize & both were bfn's. we've always done a 3dt. sometimes it's better for the embryos to be in a natural environment.

for genetic testing, did you do the sperm dna fragmentation test?

also, do you have your dh on any vitamins?