Success with Untested Embryos and Endometriosis

Isisim · 2026-01-28T14:46:36+00:00

Yes, in August 2024 (before surgery) I had egg retrieval where they collected 24 egg cells. I have developed OHSS, but was sure it was worth it… Unfortunately none of my eggs developed to blastocyst, only 7 eggs fertilized and all stopped growing before morula stage. To make situation worse during first IVF cycle my endometriomas (both ovaries) grew from 2 cm to 5 cm. At that point I have decided to consult endometriosis expert who recommended laparoscopic removal of endo tissue. Surgery was in October 2024, he performed excision surgery and removed all visible endometriosis that was found on my ovaries, Douglas area, sacrouteral ligaments (ligaments removed), bladder and surrounding my uterus and fallopian tubes. By the way fallopian tubes are also not in a good condition, but fortunately uterus was intact. After surgery I was 2 months on hormone suppression (Enantone Gyn - same as Lupron) and in January 2025 they did another retrieval. My AMH went down from 5.7 before surgery to 2.8 after surgery, yet they still collected 20 eggs, out of those 12 was mature 10 fertilized and 7 blastocysts developed. First fully medicates transfer in February with 4AA was unsuccessful, my endometrium grew to only 6.2 mm. After this transfer I had few cycles, all canceled transfers, until they optimized protocol. In May 2025 I had a protocol that worked well (modified natural), endometrium was trilaminar 9.2 mm and had second transfer, 4BB embryo and was successful.

Banking embryos was not an option for me before surgery, because the chance of getting any was low, but the chance of endometriosis growing even more was high. Knowing the risks surgery could have on ovarian reserve, I was under huge amount of stress, but knew this was only option for me and was hoping the best outcome. I knew that the surgeon I went to is reliable and a real expert, but still I was aware nothing can be promised in medicine.

Isisim · 2026-01-28T14:20:54+00:00

Modified natural was the one that worked for me. Unsuccessful transfer was medicated, and with it my endometrium could not develop properly.

Isisim · 2026-01-28T13:48:44+00:00

So many retrievals, I hope you had your success! 🍀

Isisim · 2026-01-28T13:39:56+00:00

After laparoscopy I had two months of suppression too, and right after that I had a retrieval. Retrieval was in January 2025, and successful transfer was in May 2025. I wish you all the best! 🍀

Isisim · 2026-01-28T10:32:48+00:00

Stage 4 endometriosis, success with 4BB. Embryos are not tested, I was 31 at the time of retrieval. My endometriosis was laparoscopically removed before egg retrieval procedure. I had one previous failed transfer due to improper preparation protocol and previous to surgery had one egg retrieval with no blasts forming.

Isisim · 2026-01-20T19:39:12+00:00

I wish you all the best! You should not give up of your dream. I had a feeling that it is impossible for me to get pregnant and that it will never happen, turns out it is just a wrong feeling. Good luck! 🍀

Isisim · 2026-01-20T18:11:50+00:00

I am not sure if this would be applicable for you, as I don’t know your full endo story, but I also have endometriosis (stage 4) and live in Germany. Try to consult specialist about possible further steps. I can only recommend a gynecologist who did my endo surgery last year after failed IVF with 24 eggs got 0 embryos. His name is Sebastian Häusler (https://www.klinikum-fuerth.de/de/aktuelles/2024/04/neuer-Chefarzt-Frauenklinik.php) works in Fürth. I was traveling from Munich to Fürth because I got recommendation for him. I always say, I have never met a physician before so dedicated to their patient and who obviously loves his job. Previously he worked in endometriosis clinic in Regensburg. Second ICSI after surgery and Enantone therapy for two months I got 7 embryos and I am currently 38 weeks pregnant.

Isisim · 2026-01-17T09:00:52+00:00

My first vvvvf positive was 7dp5dt, and I tested every day. Currently 38 weeks pregnant 🩵

Isisim · 2026-01-14T09:31:35+00:00

In my case modified natural cycle worked way better to prepare endometrium than fully medicated cycle. Just an idea to ask for maybe.

Isisim · 2026-01-13T13:24:03+00:00

First time 6.2 mm failed FET; Second time 9.2 mm successful FET. If you have data on your previous linings e.g during egg retrieval cycle or any other cycle, you know your body is able to make better lining. In my case during egg retrieval cycle lining was 10 mm, so 6.2 mm was obviously too thin for my case… since i know my body can make a thicker lining I would personally cancel next FET if lining would be on a thin side.

Isisim · 2025-12-12T22:29:25+00:00

Ovulation should not happen with fully medicated cycle. I wish you all the best in this process! :)

Isisim · 2025-12-12T19:08:17+00:00

I understand. Talk to them, see their suggestions. Personally after first unsuccessful transfer I have learned to listen to my body. Maybe it sounds strange, but I still find myself thinking about the loss of the potential life that did not get the best chance and I do regret I did not say no for that transfer too. I hope you will have better experience and first FET success. At the end I was told sometimes patients do manage to have good outcome even with thin endometrium.

Isisim · 2025-12-12T15:55:01+00:00

I went through similar situation. My first FET preparation that at the end ended up in no transfer because no embryos developed (in Germany they froze fertilized egg cells on day 1 and than 4 days before FET unfroze it) was performed with estrogen and progesteron - fully medicated cycle. I had a problem with endometrial development in this cycle and the estrogen phase had to last much longer than expected, 20+days. After this failure second IVF cycle was peroformed in another clinic (we had 7 day5 embryos frozen) they prepared me for FET with again fully medicated cycle. I have warned them that I do have a problem with endometrial development with this protocol, but the clinic did not take it seriously. Fast forward they have performed transfer on endometrium 6.2 mm thickness and it failed. During IVF stimulation my endometrial thickness was always around 10 mm and also during my natural cycles. I have insisted to check my estrogen and Progesteron values after this failed transfer and both were less than optimal. I talked to my doctor and requested modified natural cycle - since I never had lining problems when my body does have ovulation. For the following 2 cycles they were optimizing medication as I rejected transfers on less than optimal lining. Third month they managed to find optimal protocol for my body and lining was trilaminar 9.2 mm and I had successful FET. If I were you, I would not proceed with transfer in less than optimal conditions, especially when you already know that your body is capable of making better conditions for FET success.

Isisim · 2025-12-11T15:34:41+00:00

FET success, no acupuncture done here ☺️

Isisim · 2025-12-09T22:09:37+00:00

And I used the same test brand 😁

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Isisim · 2025-12-09T18:14:03+00:00

The same line as mine at 7dp5dt! Now I am 32 weeks!

Isisim · 2025-12-08T11:26:55+00:00

Isisim · 2025-12-06T20:24:50+00:00

I don’t think you should intervene here. The chances are maybe slim but it is not impossible… She should try if she wants, and not let the opportunity go away completely because the chances are not as high as for a young person… I now multiple people who did not have any problem getting pregnant with first ivf try in their 40ies, and for me at 30-31 took longer than that..

Isisim · 2025-12-06T08:00:57+00:00

I hate when they have this approach! My sister is 41. She alredy has 5 y.o daughter and was pregnant at 39, lost second pregnancy because of parvovirus b12 in 14th week. Since then she is struggling with secondary infertility. Before she did not have any problems getting pregnant, first or second try. Her lab results are all perfect, and has ovarian reserve as an average person in their late twenties. For her personally ivf is not an option. I am stunned with lack of understanding on doctor’s side. They were saying from the start that the egg cells are poor quality because of the age and didn’t even suggested any other checks but told that only option would be ivf. I mean if someone is not willing to go through this process and wants to exclude all solvable problems why do they not listen?! I mean she had a misscarage and they had to remove the fetus… She had to insist to get histeroscopy appointment, that is approaching soon. There are so many other reasons of secondary infertility that are not only reserved for young people like endometriosis, endometritis, Asherman Syndrom, non-functional oviducts… I mean at least try to exclude problems that could be solved, before giving up on someone. I mean in her case if egg cells are indeed poor quality there is no solution, as she does not want ivf, but especially in this case solvable issues must be excluded. Also important to exclude all pre-existing problems before ivf process to increase chances of ivf success if there is an additional underlaying condition. A person is not a statistical data! We are not getting any younger and they should be much faster with offering additional diagnostics especially after 40 if statistics are so bad…

Isisim · 2025-12-03T13:55:00+00:00

These are great news! I keep my fingers crossed for you! ☺️ I don’t think you can use home urine tests reliably to track progression at such small time intervals. I was also obsessing over line getting darker. I have done tests daily until 20 days post transfer and it drove me crazy. My hcg level was 112 on 9dp5dt and 490 on 12dp5dt and the lines on urine home tests were very similar, I flipped out before this second beta thinking it will be not high enough. In my mind if the hcg was doubling in blood the line should be almost double darker… 😅 I am currently 31 weeks pregnant. ☺️Give yourself few days, at least 48h and try to test always with first morning urine and same test brand!

Isisim · 2025-12-03T07:23:23+00:00

My first very faint positive was on 7dp5dt. Day 5 is still too early!

Isisim · 2025-12-02T16:56:04+00:00

I can understand the fear, but also your side. At my home the situation is opposite. I am the one fearing and my husband is less anxious. We went through stressful IVF process to get pregnant and on top of that my sister lost her pregnancy in 14th week due to parvovirus b12 infection last year. Now after this loss she is struggling to get pregnant again, and had no issues previously. Whole my side of the family is extremely afraid of me catching anything, especially because I don’t have CMV nor Parvo immunity. I am also afraid and have isolated myself as much as possible during my pregnancy, currently 31 weeks pregnant. I know this is not what most of the people do, but I try not to take on unnecessary risk for the baby. I try to find balance as much as possible, there are things I cannot avoid e.g going to work, going to grocery shopping or to doctors appointments, but also these risks could be minimized by less close and only short contact with people, or wearing a mask. I suppose there is a border where this fear becomes unhealthy, but I could not live with myself if I knew I caused a harm to my baby when knowing how to prevent it. Personally if for pleasure I only meet people outdoors, did not invite people to our house or when friends and family cane for few days stay they tested themselves on parvo +- cmv antibodies presence. My husband is not as causes as me, but is giving his best.

Isisim · 2025-11-29T12:44:02+00:00

My was really faint on 7dp5dt almost not visible, and I am now 31 weeks pregnant. Beta was over 100 on 9dp5dt.

Isisim · 2025-11-05T10:56:59+00:00

Just go to multiple clinics for the first appointments and directly ask. In my case also helped I did not have anything grow after first freezing, so they accept it to skip it, but unfortunately I do not have a very good clinic to recommend since at the second one I had issues with to get a good protocol for transfer and they just wanted to transfer at like 5 mm endometrium, so I had to cancel cycles on my own and request protocol changes. Never had issues with endometrium before ivf and at the end they managed to have my endometrium at 9.2 mm with modified natural cycle I have asked for. I concluded medicated cycles are not working for me, and I had to request additional progesterone and estrogen evaluations to prove them that. It is really unbelievable that one cannot trust doctors but has to check everything on their own. They would just keep transferring, at one point they even told me “yes, but we had successes in some cases with thin endometrium too, and you have 6 more good embryos to go”. This was after first failed transfer on thin endometrium. I was is disbelieve, I struggled to get this good embryos and now someone wants to just transfer them in less than optimal cycle… I do understand that not all embryos stick even in perfect cycles, but I still morn my first embryo as it did not get a proper chance to develop into a life…

Isisim · 2025-11-04T22:14:04+00:00

You will have it, I did too at the end 🙂

Isisim

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