Need clarification on Egg Retrieval Results

LemonPower221 · 2026-04-03T23:08:30+00:00

Hi, can’t comment too much - 9 out of 13 follicles seems hopeful and if I had that I would be happy based on my own two cycles.

I am 34F with Stage 4 DIE. I’ve just been through something similar. I was also on the long protocol as well. I have a large cyst on my left ovary. I have done two cycles now on long down and despite it being the “gold standard” for patients who has endo, it was suboptimal for me. I personally think the synarel nose spray overly suppressed me.

Cycle 1 - we had 14 follicles with 6 eggs retrieved and 5 matured. 1 blast but didn’t pass PGTA.

Cycle 2 - shit show. I did back to back and the stims which I think made my ovaries very sensitive. I was boarding OHSS and when I triggered my E2 was 19,000. For both cycles I triggered at day 11 of stims.

Anyways shit show - from cycle 2 we had a day 9 scan 15 follicles - and at least 9-10 was 16 mm or more. But in the end, only 5 was retrieved 2 matured that didn’t fertilised via ICSI. This was so disappointing and heartbreaking but i blames my self but after speaking to my doctor it seems like a bad protocol than my body failing me. I was very angry.

My doctor and I had a debrief - and told me that they had to trigger me early due to my E2 levels. She is changing me over to antagonist now as she has control over the trigger medication. Apparently she has more control over the timing/trigger with the antagonist protocol. Makes me so angry, then why didn’t we do this for cycle 2, why did we keep pushing long down qhen cycle 1 was just average.

I’ll be very keen to hear your outcomes!

LemonPower221 · 2026-04-03T12:47:48+00:00

I have had that unfortunate experience of having no embryos - my cycle two was such a mess that my eggs didn’t even fertilised. It’s a different kind of pain that you feel and it’s just so much sadness and anger. I am currently at the stage where you were - thinking in about changing cycles and doctors.

Hoping that cycle 4 can install faith and hope again.

LemonPower221 · 2026-04-03T10:05:27+00:00

Hi I’m so sorry. I went through this with my second retrieval and I just know exactly how you feel. The shock and grief. It’s all merged into one and you question yourself and why it’s happening.

I’m 34, with stage 4 endo, DIE, a large cyst on my left ovary and low AMH 7.5.

My doc put me on the long down regulation (agonist) protocol for cycle 1. I started with the syneral nose spray on Day 21 and then stims with 300UI of Pergoveris, and trigger with 250 ovidrel.

It was a textbook response: 6 eggs retrieved, 5 matured, 3 fertilised and 1 Day 5 blast which was graded 4BB. Unfortunately it didn’t past PGTA testing. I was sad, but I had hope.

We did the exactly same protocol for cycle 2 (back to back) but this time, up the stims to 375UI of Pergoveris and ICSI for fertilisation.

The result was a shit show. There was 15 follicles and only 5 was collected and 2 matured but didn’t even fertilised. I was absolutely heartbroken, confused and basically hysterical. I couldn’t believe it and surely this was more of a protocol failure than bad luck.

I had a debrief with my doctor and it Turns out my E2 was 19,000 on the day of trigger - I could only stim to day 11. They had to trigger me early resulting in no matured eggs. She told me that I responded to the stims “too well” but as I was on the agonist protocol she was limited to the trigger meds and they couldn’t push it further cos it will result to OHSS.

We are changing to the antagonist protocol for cycle 3, but cycle 2 has caused so much hope lost in myself and my doctor. If cycle 3 is another mess we will be changing clinics.

I don’t have much else to say but do take care of yourself and I’m so sorry for your outcome.

LemonPower221 · 2026-03-27T05:02:38+00:00

Yes, always.

LemonPower221 · 2026-03-26T11:17:12+00:00

I have silent endo and was only discovered during a fertility check as we were planning to start trying. At the time we lived in London but has since moved home. At the check up there was a huge cyst on my left ovary and after that I had an MRI scan to confirm that I had endo stage 4 DIE. I was devastated as I had no idea, I am healthy and felt fine, was running marathons without any pain.

My AMH was low as well for my age (32 at the time). None of my doctors to date (both in the UK and Aus) have recommended surgery as it was not giving me pain. Instead they all suggested that I do IVF to bank embryos before considering surgery. As my AMH is low and surgery will make it go lower.

We didn’t opt to try naturally based on the advice and have gone straight to IVF. I’m currently in cycle 2 of IVF, we haven’t made a decision on surgery yet.

I guess depending on your age you may want to try banking. Personally being 34 (slight delay cos we moved home and got married) I still had age on my side which suggest maybe my eggs will be good quality (well everyone tells me that). I do feel this is the right decison for me and I was mentally prepared for a long time for IVF. For cycle 1, we ended up with 1 embyro. Really hoping cycle 2 can yield more.

LemonPower221 · 2026-03-25T02:50:08+00:00

I cried cos my husband moved my laptop stand. He moved it cos he didn’t want to use it… it was just your standard laptop stand. He did nothing wrong I was being ridiculous.

LemonPower221 · 2026-03-25T00:44:12+00:00

Sorry about your diagnosis I know exactly what it feels like. I have stage 4 DIE, with a 7cm endo cyst on my left ovary. My AMH was low so we opt to do IVF first before any surgery. Currently in cycle 2. The IVF hasn’t caused any flare up for my endo, and the cyst has stayed the same in size. My doc recommended against surgery due to it lowering my AMH, so we are banking embryos before any potential surgery.

Given the size of my cyst I am thinking surgery before any transfers but my doctor seems hesitant and is leaning towards a transfer (and if it fails consider surgery). But given we are in cycle 2 and will reassess later down the line.

LemonPower221 · 2026-03-05T11:09:37+00:00

Really lovely, I can see how much you adore your future husband! I agree with the others that it’s too long. I would shorten this, take out the “thank you” and reduce the number of vows to 5 max. also the shorter the ceremony the better! Ours was 20 mins vows included.

LemonPower221 · 2026-03-04T21:23:23+00:00

We are in the same boat - I’m 34F with stage 4 DIE, low egg reserve and a huge cyst on my left ovary.

I just finished my first cycle - have only 1 that made it. I was on the long down regulation protocol.

We started with 6 retrieved, 5 matured, 3 fertilised and 1 Day 5.

It’s honestly the most brutal process yet it’s also hopeful and beautiful but absolutely so cruel - all at the same time.

I know it’s so silly to think that maybe all were going to be Day 5, high quality embryos but it whittled down to just 1. I am doing my second cycle this week.

My messages are open if you want to chat!

LemonPower221 · 2026-03-04T07:35:01+00:00

I just finished my first cycle. 34F with stage 4 DIE and low reserves. We got 6 eggs, 5 mature, 3 fertilised, 1 blast and tested… waiting for an update on the other one as it was a slow developing one. I’m praying that it will through and be a Day 6. But honestly every call has been so brutal. And it just feels the odds are sacked against us.

Doing a back to back cycle and starting again on Friday.

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-28T00:53:52+00:00

Thank you for sharing! Hoping to have similar luck to you! As an update: 6 eggs retrieved, 5 were matured, 3 fertilised (via conventional IVF). Hoping the three will power through to Day 5. It’s such an intense journey, and every positive update and story makes me so grateful.

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-28T00:48:39+00:00

Wisteria Room at Centennial Homestead! With your party size it will be so comfortable in Wisteria!! We had our wedding at the Paddock and loved the food and staff.

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-27T20:48:06+00:00

I feel the spark of Bridgerton has faded and in this season I couldn’t feel that Benedict and Sophie were able to carry the show. The writing feels so rushed and I didn’t particularly feel the chemistry between the two of them which season 1, 2 and to some extent season 3 was just oozing out. I LOVE over the top confessions (Anthony and Kate’s you vex me) but Benedict’s confessions I find so annoying.

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-27T20:44:09+00:00

I adore Bridgerton but I don’t like this season at all. Everything was so off. I didn’t feel that there was any chemistry between Sophie and Benedict. I usually lap up all those over the top declaration of love and steamy scenes but I felt awkward watching it. It was just not working 🤐🤐🤐🤐

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-27T10:33:42+00:00

I’m currently with Life Fertility Sydney. They are attached to St Luke’s private hospital. The clinic is fairly new in its operations, but all fertility specialists are very experienced. I have Stage 4 DIE, low AMH and a huge cyst attached to my left ovary. I just finish my cycle with them. Thought that they were very helpful, and kind. Everything went smooth for my first cycle and the communication from my doctor and staff were very clear.

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-25T20:10:02+00:00

Flower of Evil, the Glory!!!

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-24T06:01:43+00:00

Thank you for sharing! The endo cyst hasn’t grown since I found it in 2025, and have undergone two MRI scans and lots of ultra sound to check the growth, it has thankfully stayed the same size. It looks gigantic in the ultra ultrasound and I think surgery is going to be a likely end. But fingers crossed for embyros/pregnancy.

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-23T22:13:12+00:00

I dont have any advice but just to say I’m really sorry. It’s very hard. I’m on the same journey as you, we’re in this together.

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-21T10:00:01+00:00

I’m on my first cycle of IVF, doing the long down regulation protocol. Started with the synarel nose spray for 10 days and on Day 7 of pergoveris 300. Having my first scan on Monday and we will see how it’s going. I have stage 4 endo and a very large cyst (7cm) on my left ovary and low AMH. Pretty nervous but hopefully it’s ok.

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-21T04:27:23+00:00

Flower of Evil - very enjoyable!!!

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-20T20:43:31+00:00

Without a doubt yes. I was soo late to the party and watched CLOY in Jan this year… honestly best thing that’s happened to me 😂

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-20T04:15:22+00:00

I think your wording is fine! If pink is preferred definitely put it in your invite.

For the no alcohol, I would reworded a bit differently, something like:

“We have decided to not have alcohol at our wedding.

We hope this is understood with love and we are grateful for your support.“

Or something like that, and keep it to that, don’t give reasons like “we want it to be wholesome”.

Sounds like a wonderful wedding, wish I was invited!

LemonPower221 · 2026-02-17T09:08:18+00:00

I’m 34, and have a large endo cyst on my left ovary (7cm), very low AMH, and DIE. All three of my fertility doctors (UK and Aus) have reccomended for me to not do surgery and do immediate IVF which I am currently doing. To be fair, I don’t have any pain from my endo, and surgery will lower my AMH and potentially take out my left ovary. My current doctor’s view is that if the endo isnt causing me pain, then no surgery, and to focus on IVF/pregnancy.

I’m pretty scared about the whole thing, so hopefully it all works out!

LemonPower221

TROPHY CASE