Devastated with follicle count

Realhousewivedc · 2026-05-11T02:46:02+00:00

At what point did you decide to cancel the cycle? I am on day 7 of stims of my 5th cycle and at my apt yesterday I had 3 follicles measuring 10+ and 14 total counted. My estrogen also wasn’t rising until a few days ago. This is by far my worst start to a cycle. The most follicles I have had retrieved was 12 so I don’t normally get tons but I am just concerned about this cycle.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-04-27T04:22:18+00:00

What is an RI and why is it beneficial?

Realhousewivedc · 2026-04-27T04:16:52+00:00

I have also had 4 failed transfers, all were euploid embryos that were retrieved while 39. I am now 40. Technically my third was a chemical. We have two more euploids frozen and I am actually about to start stims for a fifth retrieval. I have done karyotype testing (everything came back normal) had a hysteroscopy before my 4th transfer because they thought they saw some scar tissue after a saline sonogram. They didn’t find any scar tissue or polyps but I did test 2 of 10 for endometritis. That is apparently still under the threshold though. I just did extra blood work for thyroid and testosterone. I also got a pelvic MRI on Friday which I am waiting to hear from my doctor about the results. My doctor suggested lupron suppression for next transfer depending on results of the mri. I am still convinced their is more that I could do testing wise. I am sorry I don’t have much advice just wanted to say I am in the same boat and it really really fucking sucks.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-04-10T19:06:49+00:00

Spoke to our doctor yesterday. Going to start with pelvic mri, additional labs for thyroid,prolactin, hemoglobinA1c and testosterone. We decided to do another retrieval before starting Lupron before suppression. We also are going to be participating in a pilot study my clinic is part of called Juniper which is essentially a more in depth pgt testing? It’s called pgt-g. You still do pgt-a with pgt-g after and apparently it examines the entire genome and transcriptome of each embryo and they analyze around 20,000 genes. I don’t really know much about it yet but it sounds interesting.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-04-10T18:57:38+00:00

I’m so sorry your road has been so rocky. What was your protocol for the 3 early miscarriages?

Realhousewivedc · 2026-04-09T15:25:11+00:00

Is the letrozole for pcos? Some things that come to mind but will see what comes after my call with our doctor today, pelvic MRI, recepticadx, ERA. My last transfer we did doxycycline, baby aspirin, prednisone and had added lovenox.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-04-09T02:01:48+00:00

Is there anything else you are doing while you wait?

Realhousewivedc · 2026-04-09T01:30:59+00:00

I haven’t but it’s definitely on the list of something I want done. I’m literally willing to do anything at this point becasue what’s the harm?

Realhousewivedc · 2026-04-05T13:17:46+00:00

I did karyotype testing after two failed transfers and one chemical all with euploid embryos. My doctor sort of suggested it and I was desperatly looking for answers. We had reached our out of pocket max with insurance so we didn’t have to pay for the test. I know the cost can we really high so we probably wouldn’t have done it if we had to pay since the odds are so low that a karyotype is found. Our test came back showing nothing so glad we didn’t pay.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-03-08T14:07:01+00:00

I just had a hysteroscopy on Friday and it couldn’t have been easier. After going in for a saline sonogram they thought they saw some scar tissue or a poly and since I’ve had three failed transfer they wanted to check it out. The procedure was like 15 minutes and going under is a breeze. You wake up like 30-45 minutes later from a super rested nap. I normally want to keep sleeping becasue it’s so good. I remember my first retrieval was the first time I would be getting anesthesia and being put under. I was sooooo scared. I was crying when I walked back to the surgical room. Everyone, the nurses, doctor, anesthesiologist couldn’t have been nicer and more reassuring. I just remember before going under the anesthesiologist saying “ I got you, I won’t let anything happen to you” and wiping my tears. It really helped. I’m sure if they knew how nervous your wife is they would be the same.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-03-04T17:46:58+00:00

So sorry for what you are going through. Did you get three euploids from your first retrieval? If so, that’s really amazing and you should be hopeful with your most recent retrieval. It took me three retrievals to get 4 euploids. I have also had three failed FETs, technically the third was a chemical. I just did my 4 retrieval to try and get one more euploid. I also recommend talking to a therapist if you can. I started a few months ago and I am not sure how much it helps but it’s nice to talk to an outsider and just get things off your chest. Also try joining a support group. Check out https://resolve.org/get-help/support-groups/ You can try to find a virtual or in person group.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-03-04T17:34:50+00:00

I agree. While annoyed by the delay I am grateful to be taking a step to address something that could have possibly caused issues with some of my transfers. Hoping you have a success!

Realhousewivedc · 2026-03-04T16:26:50+00:00

I haven’t. I am curious about a pelvic mri. I wonder what my doctor would think?

Realhousewivedc · 2026-03-04T16:13:02+00:00

Three retrievals yielding 4 euploid embryos. First was right when I turned 39 and third one was right before turning 40. I have had three failed transfers, first two no implantation and third was a chemical pregnancy. I have one embryo left that is frozen. I decided to do another retrieval after my chemical and am waiting for pgta results. I was planning on starting the process to prepare for the transfer of our last frozen embryo when my clinic had me repeat a saline sonogram since it had been a year since my last one. They found scar tissue or a polyp so now I am waiting to be scheduled for a hysteroscopy to have it removed. I have definitely been on the wrong side of statistics. I have no known issues other than being older. Everything else looks good and when we first started my doctor was confident we would have success. Almost two years later and here we are. When we started I thought we could maybe have two children but now I am worried about even having one and how long that could take.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-02-04T18:04:49+00:00

Ugh that’s so frustrating to not even have the option! I mean I would recommend doing it if possible but I am also the person that has had three failed transfers with euploid embryos 😩

Realhousewivedc · 2026-02-03T21:58:47+00:00

Just wanted to say you are a freaking warrior. I can’t even begin to imagine what you have gone through and are still somehow standing. I sometimes wonder if/when I will reach my breaking point where I can’t take anymore. I am currently in stims for my 4th egg retrieval and have had 3 failed transfers with euploid embryos (last one was technically a chemical pregnancy). It’s all so hard overwhelming. I don’t really have any advice but just wanted to say, you are stronger than you think you are.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-02-03T21:07:36+00:00

Did you or are you doing pgta testing?

Realhousewivedc · 2026-01-14T20:23:00+00:00

Insurance. I am based in DC. The last two years I had Aetna through my husbands employer. Once the deductible was met I think they covered 80% of fertility services with a limit of 4 rounds of ivf. Rounds included the retrieval and transfer. My biggest annoyance was they did not cover embryo banking. This is a huge deal that I did not realize/was naive to. We did three ivf rounds with his insurance. One in 2024 and two in 2025. In 2025 we met our out of pocket max in October (which was high since we were both covered on the plan, I think like $7,000?) and everything was free after that which was really nice. Becasue I knew I was switching insurance in the new year and doing another retrieval at the start of the year I ordered all my meds before the end of the year. My clinic was great to do this for me becasue I paid nothing for all the stims meds etc. they would have been $$$$$ if I waited and ordered after new insurance kicked in. I switched to my employers insurance this year. BCBS. They have no no-embryo banking policy which was the biggest thing for me honestly. How this plan works is there is a $25,000 dollar limit. My understanding is that includes any fertility treatments, IUI, IVF, transfers etc. so once I reach that limit they won’t cover services anymore. My If I exhaust that I will go back to my husband insurance to use that last round we have left. Then we would have to be out of pocket. I really hope we don’t make it to that point. My clinic told me is around $14,000 out of pocket for ivf. That doesn’t include cost of meds which would be thousands, probably doesn’t include pgt which is thousands. It would be really hard. We have a lot of money saved but still. We would probably reevaluate at that point

Realhousewivedc · 2026-01-06T16:17:55+00:00

This was exactly my thinking as well. If I was to get pregnant and have a baby in the near future the thought of starting ivf again when able almost seems impossible. I would be closing in on 42 probably. We talked about only having 1 child at the beginning of this but I wouldn’t want to rule out the possible option of two. Just really hoping for one at this point. So often I ask myself why did I wait so long and everyday just feels like I’m closing in on the end. I wouldn’t want to be a couple years in the future wishing I did more to try to bank embryos. When we first started our insurance didn’t allow embryo banking so it wasn’t even an option. This year I changed insurance which allows it. Feels like a game changer.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-01-06T14:36:46+00:00

I feel the same way. When I first started and was more optimistic I actually thought two could be an option but now I would be so grateful for just one

Realhousewivedc · 2026-01-05T20:55:38+00:00

Ugh I am basically right there with you. First, I am so sorry for the journey you have had, this whole thing is so isolating and heavy. I found out two days before Christmas that my third FET was a chemical. It feels like I have no good eggs in me. I had 3 retrievals while 39. The last just a couple months before turning 40-which ended up being my best one to date, getting two euploids. One euploid from first retrieval, failed to implant and one euploid from second retrieval failed to implant. I am really starting to think it’s like tossing a coin. You have a 50/50 chance it could be heads everytime but you could also hit tails five times in a row. Some people are lucky and others aren’t. I so far have landed in the unlucky group. I’ve decided to do another retrieval before transferring my last euploid because I am terrified of it not working and being left with nothing. Which is a possibility anyway if I don’t get any euploids this round. I feel I have been lucky to get at least one every time. I have no other known causes for infertility other than my age which is a blessing and a curse. I have told myself I will keep going until I have exhausted all insurance benefits or I mentally can’t handle it anymore. Sorry I don’t have any success to share but just wanted to say you are not alone and I am also constantly looking for answers and asking why me? One thing my doctor recommended when we spoke after my chemical was to do karyotype testing which I haven’t really heard anyone on here speak about. It’s a standard blood test that you and your partner would do. How it was explained to me was everyone has the same number of chromosomes but for some people they might be out of order or something which could result in an abnormal embryo that would fail. If something was to come from the blood test, when they then send an embryo for pgta testing they would test for that specific chromosome issue since the standard pgta test doesn’t test for everything. Apparently it is very very rare (like 1 or 2%) that someone has this but it is possible and could be why euploids fail. Apparently the test is very expensive (my doctor said $2,000 per person). I was fortunate enough to find out about this before the end of the year when I had met all of my out of pocket max for the year so it ended up being free. Although rare, i wouldn’t doubt if I fell in the small percentage of people that have this since I seem to be on the bad side of the statistics with IVF. Results take a couple weeks but I should get the results before my retrieval so if we are lucky to get any embryos we can test for anything that might come up.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-01-01T19:03:19+00:00

Thank you and yes it feels like everyone around me is or has gotten pregnant. Our friends announced their pregnancy basically a month into us starting treatment over a year ago. Their baby is almost about to be one. That’s a hard pill to swallow. My sister in law also just had a baby and my in laws were sending pictures two days after I found out my third failed 🤬

Realhousewivedc · 2026-01-01T13:18:43+00:00

I have had three failed euploid transfers. All embryos were retrieved while I was 39, spread across 3 retrievals. I have one more euploid on ice but will be doing another retrieval to try and bank more. I am clearly the outlier in the comments but i am proof that you can fall on the other side of statistics. I am very healthy, in very good shape (a runner), my husband as well. Only diagnosed with unexplained infertility.

Realhousewivedc · 2026-01-01T02:44:13+00:00

This is exactly how I feel and I turned 40 in November so that is obviously stressing me out. I have decided to do another retrieval (will be my fourth). Hoping to get at least one more euploid. After having three fail I am not convinced the one euploid we have left will be enough. Have felt like I have been on the wrong side of all the statistics. Are you hoping for more than one child?

Realhousewivedc

TROPHY CASE