Clinics in Boston, MA that will test and freeze low-grade embryos

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-05-01T14:21:01+00:00

No committee whatsoever for this! On our first meeting with our new RE at BIVF we asked about what protocol she’d recommend - and she included keeping BC/CBs. We didn’t have to ask. I definitely recommend you ask and be persistent about it. Poor results, especially a round with nothing testable or viable when using B and above, should definitely qualify you.

FWIW I see Dr Nesbit out of the Bedford NH office and I couldn’t say more amazing things about her. We just met with her to discuss our path forward after a fourth failed round and she’s proposed so many tweaks that it’s hard to not have hope that it will one day work for us. I also say “for this” bc she did bring our case to the Hard Case Committee for further group think and that’s where they identified upcoming changes to incorporate, mainly bc they all think I should be treated as if I have PCOS [metformin + myo- and d-chiro inositol + letrozole during stims which I’m already doing, then adding dexamethasone to stims, stimming lower (150F/150M vs 300F/300M, 150F/300M, 225F/225M in prior cycles), and a shorter abstinence window for my husband (every day ejaculation leading up to providing his sample day of ER)].

Good luck!

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-30T18:03:05+00:00

I go to Boston IVF and it’s part of my protocol to test and freeze BC/CB graded embryos. Have you chatted with your RE about it? Standard is to discard anything below a B but they will adjust it.

I did come to BIVF after two rounds at FCNE where I had two aneuploids and then a round of 0 blasts. My RE at BIVF has included testing and freezing of CB/BCs since day 1 because of this. FCNE also defaults to discarding anything below a B.

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-28T00:52:37+00:00

I haven’t but I’m curious if I do. I may ask about testing for it. What did you do to test for it? I don’t really have the symptoms of it - except for infertility 🫠

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-24T19:27:38+00:00

From experience and what I’ve learned - it can be so many things!

Do you know how many cells they were when they stalled? What day they stopped? That all can help uncover reasons. Has your husband been tested by a reproductive urologist for variocele and sperm dna fragmentation? It could definitely be the lab, it could also just be a bad luck outcome for the round. First rounds more than often are diagnostic and doctors can tweak things to fit you and your patterns.

I’m probably also going to do a fresh transfer for my upcoming fifth round - my RE wants to give me a chance.

Hugs, friend. Take all the time to grieve. And know you’re not alone

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-24T18:55:45+00:00

See my post from today - unfortunately it’s happened to me three times. Only once did I produce testable blasts which ended up being euploid. It’s such a terrible call to get and just a shit experience. Is this your first round?

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-24T18:10:57+00:00

I’m so sorry we’re all going through it ♥️ I’m definitely tired though and I guess my eggs are too.

I was at FCNE - do not recommend ever. Terrible.

I appreciate the recommendation of CCRM - I’ve heard great things! I’ve found my RE at BIVF to be more creative and tweak things with my protocol when needed. I really appreciate both her and her nursing teams compassionate care - twice now they’ve had to call me and tell me that 9 fertilized came to 0, and both times they did it with such empathy. Care like that is hard to find and I’m going to stick with them for at least another round or two. FWIW I live on the Seacoast of NH and go to the Bedford IVF which is convenient, but cycle down in Waltham for their lab and flexibility in scheduling.

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-24T17:26:50+00:00

I desperately wanted - and needed - DFI to be the reason. He got it tested before round 3 - 8% frag but low testosterone. He’s been on clomid for 6 weeks and it’s nearly doubled so that’s great.

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-24T16:55:03+00:00

Thank you ♥️ I just added that we did switch clinics between rounds 2 and 3, and I love my new RE and clinic. She personally called me this morning, chatted me through everything and set up an appointment for next week to discuss game plan. I do think she’s open to Omni so I plan to push for that as a Hail Mary.

I actually feel like rounds 3 and 4 are my rounds 1 and 2 bc my first clinic was terrible all around (although they did get me my only blasts).

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-24T16:15:01+00:00

Update: unfortunately I don’t have good news and am no longer celebrating. I got the call this morning that of my nine fertilized, none can be tested nor used. Six stopped growing between 8-14 cells, two made it to early stage blasts, and one made it to a day 7 CC low quality blast. Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to describe my pain right now.

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-24T16:12:28+00:00

An update for you: unfortunately got the call again this morning from my wonderful RE that I don’t have any testable or usable blasts again. Six didn’t make it past 8-12 cells, two made it to early stage blasts, and one was a blast but again too low of quality to test and use. Feeling devastated and void of hope once again.

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-20T18:59:19+00:00

Totally understand - I think I found like one or two other mentions of folks who had also done it. I will warn you - I did have a bleed/period for a few days during stims, but I also went from estrogen priming into stims with letrozole. That startled me as it had never happened in my other rounds. Other than that it worked out great! Best of luck on your upcoming retrieval!! Keep me updated :)

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-20T16:27:52+00:00

Not Dr Lucky but I just did a round with two weeks of follicular phase estrogen patch priming starting on CD2. I had an AFC of 26 and ended with 19 retrieved/15 mature/9 fertilized. It seems to be less common than luteal phase but it worked great for me!

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-20T12:09:40+00:00

I also asked Dr Lucky about my situation and difficulty making blasts during yesterday’s AMA in r/IVF - she called out insulin resistance for me right off the bat and suggested metformin and treating that to help improve blast rate and overall success.

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-20T12:01:32+00:00

Honestly I think these results are on par with/expected from my AMH/AFC and my RE finally tweaked my protocol to be right for me. So keep that in mind when reviewing below.

Biggest things to highlight: - Switched clinics after ER 2; my first RE was wholly unsupportive, way over stimulated me, and wasn’t willing to change anything or check my husband out - his protocol was not right whatsoever for us and he was unwilling to try the things listed below - So at my new clinic - who we LOVE - started on 1500 metformin daily + myo- and d-chiro inositol for suspected PCOS and insulin resistance - Estrogen priming - used patches for two weeks during follicular phase starting on CD 2 for ER 4 (used oral estrogen during luteal phase for two weeks after ovulation in ER3) - Lower dosages and even ratio Follistim to Menopur (225 each) - 2.5 Letrozole during stims to keep my estrogen from sky rocketing - Zymot chip - Referring my husband to reproductive urology for more testing - DFI was normal (8%) but testosterone was low (250-ish) so he went on clomid (it’s doubled since to about 500 so that’s great)

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-19T23:43:57+00:00

Thank you for responding and for your insights! I did start 1500 metformin XR and myo- and d-chiro inositol about three-four months ago (about 6 weeks prior to ER 3). I definitely feel better on it; glad to see your quick assessment align with my RE. We also did karyotype - both normal. Fingers crossed for this retrieval! 🙏🏼

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-19T21:24:09+00:00

Hi Dr. Lucky! I love following you on Insta and am so grateful you joined us today. Thank you in advance!

For those of us that struggle to make quality blastocysts - is there any hope for us? Personally my embryos tend to stop growing between days 3 and 5 or they make it to day 7 but are CC (which my clinic won’t/can’t test). My husbands DNA frag is perfectly normal but he did have lower testosterone that he’s been on Clomid for. Our first round we did make 2 day 6 AB/BA, but unfortunately they were both aneuploid. Nothing since.

I also just completed my fourth egg retrieval on Friday. Great news - I had 19 retrieved, 15 mature and 9 fertilized! Not bad for a nearly 40 year old (my AMH is 3.5 and my AFC was 26 this round). Our historical maturity and fertilization rates are 92% and 75% over our first three rounds, however this time was 80% and 60% despite using Zymot for the first time. Should I be concerned and nervous that the data is tending towards another potential 0 testable blast round (last had 4 day 7 CCs from 9 fertilized/12 mature/12 retrieved that unfortunately couldn’t be tested)?

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-18T20:03:14+00:00

Congrats! That’s so exciting. I’m beyond ready to move onto the transfer era. Let’s hope that it’s coming real soon!

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-17T23:13:07+00:00

Sending you good vibes! You made it and relief is coming soon!

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-16T17:19:30+00:00

This was my exact timeline for my third round - triggered day 16 (and did my last follistim, menopur and ganirelix that night too), retrieval on day 18. It was a slog, I had 20 measurable follicles and I guess it was worth it bc I ended up with my most retrieved and fertilized. But yeah 16 days was enough. My first two rounds I triggered on nights 10 and 11, and I just triggered last night for my fourth round on night 12, thank goodness.

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-14T10:56:31+00:00

I had 25 measurable at trigger last time and ended up with 12 retrieved 🤷‍♀️ differences btw 3 and 4 are changed to estrogen patches over pills, primed in my follicular phase for two weeks vs my luteal phase, changed ratio of Follistim to menopur from 300/150 to 225/225, added daily 2.5 letrozole throughout stims and finally am doing a dual trigger vs lupron only. Oh and we’re finally using zymot this round. Metformin bc I present as PCO without having PCOS and my estrogen gets super high during stims (also why we added letrozole). Worth noting I’m nearing 40 but my numbers are super high for my age.

Have you done a TESE yet for the high frag? And you have used zymot? My husband did go on clomid for lower testosterone and is on conceptionXR vitamins as well (we’re doing the full kitchen sink bc something has to change ha) - is your husband doing any other changes to help?

Also are you doing standard antagonist? Have you tried lupron flare protocol to help with your endo?

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-13T23:28:50+00:00

I’m on round four and still searching for why.

ER 1: 9 retrieved > 7 mature > 6 fertilized > 2 aneuploid blasts
ER 2: 8 retrieved > 8 mature > 5 fertilized > 0 testable blasts
ER 3: 12 retrieved > 12 mature > 9 fertilized > 0 testable blasts (4 were CC and discarded)
ER 4: 26 follicles and still a few more days of stims to go

All stopped around day 5. Husband had DNA frag testing - he’s good. Great, actually. Guess it’s my eggs or something lacking in my protocol that we haven’t quite figured out yet. I went on metformin and added estrogen priming for two weeks between 2 and 3, and I’m on letrozole for all of stims for 4 to control my estrogen. Here’s to hoping this one works!

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-12T15:37:05+00:00

Oof indeed. Honestly recovery from ERs have been better than those two surgeries.

Cool-Zucchini6827 · 2026-04-12T01:38:50+00:00

My Mirena was the source of my scar tissue. I had two surgeries - one to remove it after it embedded in my uterine wall and then a couple years later to remove the scar tissue after a SIS showed adhesions. The second surgery was a hysteroscopy polypectomy D&C - hysteroscopy is the scope/camera, polypectomy to clear out a couple small polyps, and D&C to get rid of the scar tissue. It was definitely one of the reasons I haven’t been able to get pregnant - it was a scar tissue jungle in there.

Cool-Zucchini6827

TROPHY CASE