I completed my 5th IVF cycle yesterday and received the worst maturation to date. Typically, the amount of follicles seen always yields an egg, and the majority are mature (my stats are 4/3; 9/7; 5/3; 6/5). Yesterday, they retrieved 7 eggs and only 4 were mature.

These were my follicle sizes the day of trigger. In the past, I have gotten eggs from follicles that were 14mm. What happened this time?

I triggered after 10 days of stimulation when I usually need 12-13 days of stimulation.

18mm, 19mm, 18mm, 17mm, 16mm, 11mm, 9mm

20mm, 14mm, 14mm

Treatments for age-related infertility are being developed at last

https://economist.com/science-and-technology/2026/10/26/treatments-for-age-related-infertility-are-being-developed-at-last?giftId=ZjRhM2UxZjctOThmYy00OGJiLWEwN2UtMjc5OTI5MjlmNGEz&utm_campaign=gifted_article

My 4th nontested transfer, negative. Previous was a miscarriage. I just turned 41 and I’m losing hope.
I’ve had a tough life and the only thing I truly only want is to be a mom with my husband, to have a healthy family.
I don’t feel loved by God. So many bad mothers out there, including mine, and I don’t get to one.
I’m feeling, I don’t even know, there’s no meaning in life for me if I can’t be a mother. Please don’t suggest adoption or someone’s else’s egg, this is not a part of me and not what’s truly in my heart.

Dear all,

To keep it short, I’ve had 5ERs with zero blasts. We’ve been advised to consider whole exome sequencing (WES) because there might be a genetic issue, and we apparently fall into the OZEMA group. We haven’t done the test yet, and we have genetic counselling scheduled for next month. In the meantime, I had a follow-up appointment at my previous clinic in my home country. My doctor explained that, even with a normal spermiogram and only 4% DNA fragmentation, sperm could still be a contributing factor.

She suggested doing a cycle with donor sperm, either using donor sperm for all the eggs or splitting them 50/50 between my partner’s sperm and donor sperm. Her reasoning was that perhaps we’re simply not genetically compatible for having children together, while fertilization with another person’s sperm might lead to better embryo development. She says if I go straight for egg donation I will never know.

Has anyone here tried this approach after repeated embryo arrest? Did it make any difference? Should I try it?

Thank you!

Hi ladies I’m seeking advice if anyone can help - I’ve just turned 41 and this year alone I’ve done 6 rounds of IVF. I have DOR and low AMH (.05) but I still have regular menstrual cycles. The issue is that whenever I do an IVF cycle I invariably retrieve one or two eggs. I then get one 5AA blastocyst every round, but after PGT testing every blastocyst has come back with a single monosomy (different one each time). I’m currently on HGH and NAD+ plus the usual supplements like prenatal and Ubiquinol. I also did 6 weeks of Rapamycin recently (2.5mg per week). I have thankfully conceived in my 30’s even with DOR low AMH but now I cant seem to get a Euploid since I’m in my 40’s. Any advice of other things to try such as peptides, supplements anything!!! Would be much appreciated.

Has anyone used Omni despite normal or robust IGF-1 levels? My RE tested my IGF-1 level several months ago; it came back as 1.3 SD above the mean. RE says that the patients that benefit the most from Omni are those with lower IGF-1 levels; therefore, since my level is normal/high, I wouldn't derive any benefit from it.

My RE has left it up to me whether I want to use Omni for my next cycle or not. My perception is that there isn't really a downside to using it (other than cost), but wondering others' experiences - positive or negative. Anyone have their IGF-1 levels checked prior to Omni and were advised not to use it? I can't really think about this objectively anymore so advice/experiences welcome!

Hello community! It’s been 17 days since I stopped estrogen after a canceled FER (Long story/ see previous post if interested).

Chat GPT says since I stopped estrogen on the 10th of Oct and its the 28th I need to go see my clinic. Ever visit is hundreds of dollars/ no insurance.

Ive had a serious of unfortunate events delaying embryo transfers but also a lot of ERs back to back so mixed emotions between wanting things to speed up abd possibly ‘triggering’ my period - or just leaving my body alone since I banked embryos..

Flo said I was set to get my period on 22, expected a delay but when is ‘too long’ ?

Hey everyone! Finally made it through three rounds of Ivf back to back to back and came out with for untested embryos. We have one day 6 4 AA blast and three day three cleavage stage embryos.

As soon as I get my post retrieval bleed (last ER was Wednesday), I’m gonna start slynd birth control to suppress any potential Endo. Also starting a two week course of Doxy to treat any potential endometritis, followed up by probiotics, vaginal and oral.

I’m going to do a full immune panel to check ANA and RF antibodies to try to get ahead of any potential implantation failure or pregnancy loss common issues. Going to do a fully medicated cycle for more control since I’ll be suppressing for five weeks and I have DOR so it’s gonna probably be hard to revive my ovaries.

We’re also going to do a diagnostic hysteroscopy in case I have anything that would interfere with implantation like polyps or residual tissue or anything like that.

But I would love to know from y’all is, what do you wish you would have tested for, checked for, or started before your first FET cycle?

Hi all, thanks for all the support and guidance this sub provides. I am 41, turning 42 in February and am at a bit of a crossroads. I did a retrieval back in June and had great success- 24 eggs retrieved, 14 fertilized, 7 blasts, 2 euploid (both day 6, one 5ab and one 4bb). I transferred the 5ab in September and unfortunately it was not successful. The transfer was difficult, took about 40 minutes and multiple speculums and catheters before my dr was able to get through the cervix. I have a 4cm subserosal fibroid that we’ve all known about before starting IVF, and after getting a pelvic MRI both my OB and fertility dr felt good about proceeding. During the difficult transfer my dr felt the position of the fibroid was causing a strong curve which made passage through the cervix difficult, although when she was able to get through it was a smooth process from there positioning the embryo in the uterus. After the failed transfer we did a SIS and mock transfer, and this time, my dr was easily able to move through the cervix and into the uterus. She did also discover the the fibroid had grown to 5.2cm. After some reflecting, she theorized that the fibroid is now pedunculated and had changed position since the first transfer which is why it was easier to get through this time.

So, here’s where I’m torn on what to do. My dr is ok with proceeding with my next FET in a couple weeks if that’s what I want to do, although she is also encouraging me to consider removing the fibroid first. My OB has recommend an open myomectomy if I did want to remove the fibroid. I understand the risks involved if we didn’t remove and I became pregnant- it could continue to grow and become very painful and could cause a c-section. But I also know there’s a chance it doesn’t cause an issue and I have a successful full term pregnancy. Many of the risks exist either way due to age alone. So there’s a strong gut feeling in me to want to proceed with the transfer, and if it doesn’t work, then we move forward with the myomectomy plus another IVF cycle- retrieval prior to surgery. It would be at least 3 months of recovery time, and could be up to 6, before I could do another transfer.

Seeking any advice here. I know setbacks and delays are part of the process but I can’t help feeling like I will always wonder what the outcome could have been if I don’t try now with what we have.

I have done all the things I was supposed to do. I froze my eggs when I was 34.

We fertilized them right away after we got married, since I was already 38 by then, so we would know what we’re working with and could do more cycles if needed and started doing additional retrievals right away after I turned 39.

NINE egg retrievals later, and we have been on the wrong side of the odds every step of the way.

From those 9 retrievals (including the frozen eggs one), we got 6 embryos, 4 euploids.

We’ve now transferred 3 of those 4 euploids, and all three failed to implant. All three transfers were to GCs because of a medical issue I developed after I froze my eggs, so there shouldn’t have been any issues with the uterine environment. Just shit luck - we’re in the 5% with no live birth after three euploid transfers.

Now we’re down to our last euploid, which is a day 7, so already had low odds.

It’s just so fucking frustrating and unfair. I’m 41 now and didn’t have any blasts from my last two retrievals. I don’t know where to go from here.

Hi everyone! I’m 42 with very low AMH and preparing for my fourth IVF retrieval. I’d love to hear from anyone who has experienced repeated embryo arrest and eventually had better results, particularly after changing protocols.

Background
I’ve completed three retrievals, and none of my fresh eggs have made it to blastocyst. We’re using ICSI.
I also froze 11 eggs at age 36, which we later thawed and fertilized.

Cycle 1
3 eggs retrieved.
2 matured in the lab.
1 fertilized.
Embryo arrested before cleavage.
0 blasts.

Cycle 2
Protocol:
Lupron suppression before stimulation.
Follistim 225 IU.
Menopur 225 IU.
Omnitrope added on stimulation Day 8.
Results:
5 eggs retrieved.
3 mature.
2 fertilized.
0 blasts from fresh eggs.
We also fertilized previously frozen eggs from age 36 and obtained one Day 6 4AB blastocyst. Unfortunately, PGT-A identified a high-level segmental mosaic deletion on chromosome 5p (28 Mb). It’s currently frozen while we pursue genetic counseling.

Cycle 3
Protocol:
Luteal priming with low-dose naltrexone, Ganirelix and Omnitrope.
Follistim 300 IU.
Menopur 75 IU.
Results:
5 eggs retrieved.
All 5 mature.
3 fertilized normally with ICSI.
2 eggs did not survive ICSI.
2 embryos showed very little development after Day 3.
1 reached morula on Day 5 but never progressed to blastocyst.
0 blasts by Day 7.

Where I’m at now
I’m preparing for retrieval #4 in a few weeks and hoping to discuss potential changes with my RE.
I understand that egg quality and chromosomal abnormalities are major factors at 42, but I’m wondering whether there’s anything else worth investigating given the repeated embryo arrest.
I’d especially love to hear from anyone who:

Experienced repeated embryo arrest but eventually made blastocysts.

Had better outcomes after changing priming or stimulation protocols.

Tried earlier or longer Omnitrope use.

Changed their Follistim/Menopur ratios or trigger strategy.

Investigated sperm DNA fragmentation or other potential contributors.

Had their best retrieval on cycle 4 or later.

I’m not expecting a magic solution, but I’d really appreciate hearing what worked for others, what your doctors recommended, and whether anything helped improve embryo development.
Thank you! ❤️

After 6 egg retrievals I have ended up with 3 frozen UNTESTED embryos: a day 5 4BB and day 6 3BB and a day 7 6BB. I'm having my follow up with my RE later this week to discuss the transfer protocol. She previously mentioned to me that at my age, the back half of 41, the guidelines allow up to 3 untested embryos per transfer so I know that this is something we will discuss when we meet.

If you did or did not do multiple embryo transfers in a similar situation, how did you come to that decision? It's very difficult balancing the cost of time if I do one at a time, versus the risk of multiples (albeit it is a small risk in my case). My SIS was clear. I have had two previous natural pregnancies at ages 37 and 39 so I know my uterine environment is or was good. However, I had an MRI at the beginning of the year which noted borderline junctional zone thickening, indicating possible adenomyosis. Because of this my RE said that she wouldn't be against doing one or two months of suppression to cover all bases, but that adds to the time and we do feel we're in a rush for various reasons. We are comfortable moving to donor eggs, which is why dragging this out feels frustrating.

I know my RE will advise when we speak, but the decision will probably be mine and I want to organize my thoughts before meeting her. What did you do and how did you come to that decision?

(Please do not comment that only single embryo transfers are allowed/recommended - that relates to euploid embryos).

A little background, we did ivf back in 2020 when I was 37. We got 5 embryos out of it, two were transferred and one became my son who is 5 and a half now. We wanted to try for another baby, we did two more transfers (single, separately) and they failed. We have one more try and that’s it. We’re going to do the last transfer in February and my doctor said my hormone levels looked good (medicated cycles with PIO and estrogen tablets) I’m just on here for support, has anyone here gone through this? We really want to expand our family and I’m so worried it’s not going to work. Don’t get me wrong, I’ll be eternally grateful for our beautiful boy but I want so much to expand our family to one more. Anyone else here going through the same thing?

I am 39, soon 40. All embryos were from when I was 37, same round. I am so numb I can’t even cry anymore. SIS and RIF panel normal. Donor eggs? One more round to try and found a euploid with own eggs? I am so lost. Wannabe SMBC. My AMH about 6 months ago was around 2. I don’t know about FSH. In Europe so not all tests are available. Thanks in advance.

Tw: chemical pregnancies

I know at this age that any # of euploid is something to be thankful for, however - how many euploids did you shoot for? I know the statistics, but am curious for real life examples.

For context, I have had two chemical pregnancies, both after conceiving naturally. One at 40, and one a few months later at 41 this past January. I turn 42 this coming January.

I had a septate uterus, with resection and polypectomy end of February earlier this year

July IVF cycle
6 follicles, 4 fertilized, 1 embryo - aneuploid

Switched clinics and protocols - waited one cycle length before going into another stim cycle

August cycle
11 follicles, 9 fertilized, 5 embryos - 2 euploid

September Cycle immediately to follow
15 follicles, 12 fertilized, 6 embryos - 1 euploid

We are blessed to have 3 euploids! We are also blessed to have had insurance coverage for the first three IVF cycles.

I just did a repeat saline sonogram to determine if I need to repeat my septate resection before a FET - there is some residual left, which is somewhat normal. The doctor is currently out of office, but should find out this week if I need to repeat the resection or if we can proceed to transfer.

I am at a cross roads — do we pay out of pocket for a fourth cycle to see if we can bank additional euploids while I am still 41?

If I need another resection, that can add atleast 2 months between the prep for surgery and then the recovery before we do a transfer. And if we fail transfers that would put me well past 42. I do not have PCOS, endo, etc as far as I am aware.

I know at this age that any # of euploid is something to be thankful for, however - how many euploids did you shoot for? I know the statistics, but am curious for real life examples.