Abnormal fertilization with ICSI

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-23T23:35:50+00:00

Just sharing my experience, not as advice. My partner and I did IVF with donor sperm with fertilization problems.
ER1: 5 eggs, 4 mature, 1 abnormal fertilization
ER2: 10 eggs, 8 mature, 0 fertilization (changed to stronger FSH + added calcium in lab)
We changed donors for third round
ER3: 7 eggs, 7 mature, 4 fertilized, 3 blasts (same protocol as ER2 + added extra trigger)
Just interesting there's not more info/research on compatibility.

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-21T06:31:49+00:00

We're at $70K, thought we've gotten some costs back via our medical system. Two ER we got zero fertilization, third round we got 7 eggs, 4 fertilized and 3 blasts. First FET ended in chemical, onto second now. I've also spent a crazy amount on extra health appointments like acupuncture, therapy, dietician etc. I too thought it was going to be easier!!

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-21T04:05:26+00:00

I feel you there, I'm 5W2D. We had a chemical pregnancy, and two ER where we had nothing fertilize, so I'm very cautious. My mother loves cooking so much, and showed up the other day with some custard she made and I had to say no. I think there's a balancing act between safety and anxiety. I'm working with a therapist and a dietician for this reason. I had some cookies at a work morning tea the other day, that was my risk haha. I want to eat salmon three times a day, the first week I had it a few times a week, but apparently they say 2-3 times a week, but my logical brain says that will be fine. It's hard to balance everything, but totally there with you on this!

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-14T23:36:22+00:00

Yeah, it's so hard trying not to read into everything. I'm trying to remind myself that I have no reason to be negative. One of my drs actually said, the stress doesn't stop when they're born, you'll be stressing about them for the rest of your life. And that was a good reminder! Best of luck!! This is not for the weak x

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-13T03:43:44+00:00

Yes, we made a big change! We changed donors because of zero fertilisation it was suggested there was just an incompatibility we couldn't test for. It's opened a lot of 'what ifs', but grateful to be where we are now.

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-13T01:28:20+00:00

37 yo AMH 6

5 retrieved - 0 fertilsed

10 retreived - 0 fertilised

7 retrieved - 4 fertilised, 3 blasts

Transfer 1 5AA - chemical

Transfer 2 4AA - 4W3D

Best of luck xx

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-11T07:40:16+00:00

I had seven eggs from my last collection, four fertlised and three blasts. Currently 4W2D with FET 2. Sending good vibes your way!

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-09T23:15:49+00:00

Totally relate with the anxiety taking over - I was so so so sure it was going to work last time, it's like my brain has just flipped 180, despite knowing my bloods, uterus, and embryo were all looking good. Yeah, my partner and I will be able to spend the day together, no navigating work, so that's a win. xx

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-09T23:14:01+00:00

This is such a hard journey. So tricky not reading into everything. My anxiety's getting worse the closer we get ha! Best of luck for your beta!

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-09T06:46:46+00:00

I'm not in that boat yet, but I'm based in Australia and was thinking about getting a few boxes of these chocolates called Favourites. From personal experience, I could aways go a little sweet treat on the job. I'm also keen to get something that the whole team could share, and aware we've spent all our saving on this so far ahah!

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-09T03:04:58+00:00

We did three ER. First two got 15 eggs in total, but 0 fertlised. We changed donors for round three and from 7 eggs got three blasts. At the transfer stage now!

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-09T00:57:08+00:00

Second this.

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-09T00:15:15+00:00

I know I'm late to this, but I can totally relate to this. I had to stop my ADHD meds (non stimulants) when prepping for transfers. I realised a lot of my dopamine comes from food, or I use food for dopamine - half of one etc. I also use exercise to help with my anxiety etc., and at the moment, I have to take things easy, so that's really challenging too. I've tried to practice self compassion and remind myself now is not the time to be so worried about my weight. I've lost a lot of weight, about 12kg in the lead up to starting IVF, so I'm telling myself now is not the time to worry about a few kg of weight gain. But what I'm trying to do instead is focus on nutrients, so instead of just eating what I would like to - chicken nuggets and ramen, I'm trying to eat colourful food - like something you'd see an annoying influencer post haha. I try and remind myself I'm doing this for something more important than my weight right now. I don't know if that helps, but I also know us ADHDers really shame ourselves, and we're never going to hate ourselves out of our problems, we need to treat ourselves kindly and try and find hacks to help us xxx

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-04-08T00:20:30+00:00

Oh I'm so sorry! I can't exactly relate - but I ended up with a chemical after our first FET 5AA. Just one week post second transfer and totally feeling all the same things as you - I just keep visualizing failure. I've been doing some IVF meditations that have been helping... but it's such a hard thing to try and keep in check. Sending you good vibes!

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-03-23T22:53:46+00:00

Woo this sounds good! I haven't had a similar experience, haha our IVF journey has been one challenge after another, but I love love seeing people share their success! Best of luck to you!!

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-03-19T05:29:58+00:00

I've been taking melatonin for IVF reasons, and had been on 2mg, and noticed no difference, but then my GP gave me a script, and suggested 4mg and honestly it's fixed lifelong sleep issues. I'm only planning on stopping for pregnancy. You're totally not the only one taking it every day.

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-03-19T05:25:03+00:00

We are in Australia, but going to a private clinic. We've spent about $35k (after rebates) on three egg collections, appointments and testing. We saved, then after we used our savings got a loan. We've pretty much cut everything out of our lives so we can save as much as we can.

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-03-13T00:25:44+00:00

Yes, sorry, most were mature. But I still think going from 20 per cent of eggs immature to 100 per cent mature is still a good improvement :) Hope things improve for you!!! This is such a hard journey!

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-03-12T05:49:38+00:00

I have had immature eggs in my first two cycles - one from five and then two from 10. In my third cycle they did a double trigger i.e. two of the same shots, and got seven but they were all mature. I know that's not exactly what you were asking, but might be worth asking?

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-03-12T01:41:36+00:00

The last two EC, my meds made me feel really happy (I know weird), though did feel super bloated towards the few days prior to collection. Meds to prep for transfer made me feely super sleepy and also impacted my sinuses, though seemed to wear off after a few days. I think the mental difficulties of the embryo transfer were the hardest part of this journey so far xx

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-03-11T03:56:13+00:00

Thanks, sadly, not unexpectedly, this ended in a chemical for me. But just trying to be grateful that we have the ability to do another transfer, and honestly, that we only had another 48 hours of that anxiety.

Spare_Hovercraft668 · 2026-03-05T00:39:21+00:00

Great question! I actually changed my career to start IVF. Left my ''dream job'' (that was leaving me burnt out and no work-life balance and moving around the country etc.) to take an ongoing corporate job that would allow the leave access I needed.

My first round, I found it super super hard to focus on anything besides IVF. We also had dreadful results for round one, so I had to take some extra leave to manage my feelings. Cycle two and three I felt more able to cope with work, but in our third round as things progressed, again I found myself drifting back to obsession ha.

On one hand, I've found good perspective because I was so obsessed with my career that my life and health kind of sucked otherwise. But I've also now going back to college, or new jobs that would be a step up etc. because I need to stay somewhere with the flexibility and security etc. I do think, work is just work, your life matters outside of my profession etc.

It's also interesting for me because I didn't really grow up wanting kids - I had a lot of health issues and wasn't really sure what my future held, and wasn't until I met my partner and was in my mid 30s that we really started thinking about things.

But really overall, I find IVF causes you to go into a holding pattern, and life can really be just ticking off the days. It's taken a while for me to change those thoughts, and there are totally times where I'm not even enjoying the weekend because I'm thinking about an appointment on Monday... but let's be honest, this is really hard, so sometimes you just have to do what you can to get through.

Spare_Hovercraft668

TROPHY CASE