u/eastks93

TW: Semi good news-not out of the woods yet.

Well, I made it to my fresh day 3 transfer yesterday. I’m officially 1dp3dt. My embryo was originally a 6 cell that divided again right before transfer (good Sign I guess ?) and ended up an 8-cell Grade A embryo with minimal fragmentation. We have 1-7 cell grade B and 1-8 cell grade B, haven’t made it to day 5 yet. I felt oddly hopeful and more optimistic this cycle, which for me is not my usual. I am also in a little denial i think because this cycle has gone better than previous, and ive also never had a positive test aince starting TTC over 4 years ago. With my first failed transfer I was pretty hopeless the whole cycle and same with my other cycles. I would love to hear successful 3 day fresh transfers, frozen as well! Any encouragement and really just anything positive to get me through to beta day on the 22nd is welcomed. Please and thank you.

1st cycle Nov. 2025: 9 eggs, 6 mature, 2- day 3 embryos with 1 failed fresh transfer of a 6 cell, 1-8 cell day 3 frozen. unsure of grade (different out of state clinic than my last 3 cycles)
2nd cycle May 2026: Cancelled retrieval and converted to IUI, unsuccessful
3rd cycle July 2026: 4 eggs, 3 mature, 2 fert, 0 embryos after day 3.
4th cycle October 2026: Retrieval 10/7: 5 eggs, 3 mature, 3 fertilized with above grades.

Hi everyone, so I started cycle day 1 on 9/5. I messaged my clinic to let them know- they called me in 5mg northindrone to take 1 x day, starting on CD 4.

I voiced to the clinic that I was concerned about taking this again because my first IVF cycle with them was cancelled due to having 1 mature follicle. They said it would be okay, so I just said sounds good- I didn’t feel like going back and forth. But now I’m dreading starting this cycle. I know it could be completely different this time however, I’m still guarded. I do have a follow up appointment Wednesday to debrief and discuss my last cycle with them.

Idk if I just want reassurance, advice or what 🤷🏼‍♀️ I really don’t want to go through another cancelled and/or failed cycle (not that anyone ever does).

I primed with estrace with my 2nd IVF cycle with them (my recent cycle) and it was a flop- 4 eggs- 3 mature- 2 day 3’s that arrested

Hi everyone, just posting again because well- what else do you do when your in the trenches lol

I’m 32 and have been TTC for 4 years, and I’m trying to figure out what could be going on with my egg maturity/quality and embryo development.

1st cycle 2025: Antagonist: 9 eggs, 6 mature, 3 fertilized, and we ended up with 2 day-3 embryos (1 unsuccessful fresh transfer and 1 still frozen).
2nd cycle: Antagonist&Omnitrope: Started at a new clinic was ultimately cancelled/converted to IUI due to 1 mature follicle.
3rd cycle: MDLF & omnitrope: 4 eggs, 3 mature , ended up with 2 embryos that unfortunately both arrested around day 3 and discarded.

My AMH has also dropped significantly despite making diet/lifestyle and supplement changes(last September 0.84-this summer 0.27).
I have a follow-up with my RE next month and want to go into it asking what else we can investigate or change before trying again at the end of next month. I’m also having a pre-op appointment for planned endometriosis surgery for the fall with a different provider, so I’d especially love to hear from anyone who has had endometriosis surgery and whether it made any difference in egg quality, maturity, fertilization, or embryo development (rather than just implantation/pain), there is also the fear that my AMH tanks again post surgery.

Did anything help you get better embryos after having similar results? Protocol changes, trigger changes, sperm testing/treatment, supplements, surgery (doing it before or after retrievals) etc.? I’m honestly at the “kitchen sink” point and would love to hear experiences—even if you ultimately didn’t find a clear answer. And if you had multiple failed/poor retrievals before finally getting a good outcome, I could really use some hope too. Thanks 🥹

Hi everyone, I’m 32 and have been TTC for 4 years, and I’m trying to figure out what could be going on with my egg maturity/quality and embryo development.

1st cycle 2025: Antagonist: 9 eggs, 6 mature, 3 fertilized, and we ended up with 2 day-3 embryos (1 unsuccessful fresh transfer and 1 still frozen).
2nd cycle: Antagonist&Omnitrope: Started at a new clinic was ultimately cancelled/converted to IUI due to 1 mature follicle.
3rd cycle: MDLF & omnitrope: 4 eggs, 3 mature , ended up with 2 embryos that unfortunately both arrested around day 3 and discarded.

My AMH has also dropped significantly despite making diet/lifestyle and supplement changes(last September 0.84-this summer 0.27).
I have a follow-up with my RE next month and want to go into it asking what else we can investigate or change before trying again at the end of next month. I’m also having a pre-op appointment for planned endometriosis surgery for the fall with a different provider, so I’d especially love to hear from anyone who has had endometriosis surgery and whether it made any difference in egg quality, maturity, fertilization, or embryo development (rather than just implantation/pain), there is also the fear that my AMH tanks again post surgery.

Did anything help you get better embryos after having similar results? Protocol changes, trigger changes, sperm testing/treatment, supplements, surgery (doing it before or after retrievals) etc.? I’m honestly at the “kitchen sink” point and would love to hear experiences—even if you ultimately didn’t find a clear answer. And if you had multiple failed/poor retrievals before finally getting a good outcome, I could really use some hope too. Thanks 🥹

So I’m about to go into my 3rd IVF round, it’ll be my 3rd retrieval but 4th round of stims, I had a canceled cycle. I’m having a lap done for suspected endo in October. My mom is wanting me to get a consult with the veritas Napro people, but I honestly don’t know if it’s worth it or not at this point. Has anyone used a Napro doctor, with having DOR can they even help with that?

-side note, no living children, never had a positive test, trying for 4 years, I do have a day 3 embryo frozen, never made any blasts.

Thanks!

I’m going in for my follow up consult due to my most recent MDLF cycle that failed. I'm wanting to ask about trying a mini/mild IVF approach for my next retrieval.

For some context, I’ve had a few different protocols:

• CNY clinic: 2025, Age 31: 1st cycle/retrieval:Estrace priming-letrozole-Follistim + microdose hCG/LH. Retrieved 9, 6 mature, 3 fertilized, and ended with 2 day-3 embryos (fresh transfer + 1 frozen).
• Changed to OU clinic: 2026, Age 32: 2nd cycle/canceled retrieval: Antagonist protocol — cycle was ultimately canceled for poor response of 6 follicles but only 1 mature, we did do IUI just so it didn't feel like a complete waste.
• Most recent cycle at OU: 2026,Age 32: 3rd cycle/2nd retrieval: Estrace priming- MDL-Gonal-F + Menopur. 4 eggs, Only 3 mature and unfortunately 0 blasts. This cycle, they had me all the way up to 475 Gonal and 150 menopur towards the end of stims, I did omnitrope as well.

So if you’ve done a mini/mild protocol, please share the protocol, results, anything else worth mentioning, and also advice on how to ask about this to my doctors. At this point I’m not expecting even a handful of eggs- but I would love to try and maximize getting anything- blasts especially.

Additionally: wanting insight on anyone who also is dealing with their husband’s low morphology, otherwise great numbers. I’m assuming his quality is an issue- any advice for helping improve or just stick to the classic multivitamin + CoQ10 and lifestyle.

Please and Thank you!

So I just got confirmation this morning that both embryos arrested, they tossed them- I cried some tears and now I’m trying to accept it, move on and not have a bad day.

Has anyone had unsuccessful cycles with 0 embryos to transfer and then eventually had anything to transfer or had surprisingly good results? I know most of you can probably relate, with DOR I feel like having just 1 embryo to transfer is a win at this point

This was my second retrieval, have another planned late September/ early October and maybe squeeze another in before the end of the year. Hoping to have a follow up with my doctor about this cycle soon.

I’m in the pits of it right now, but not depressed or anxious. I’m honestly not excited or happy about the future, just kinda pissed off and wondering if this is going to be my reality. Also, it seems to me like you can do all the right things, change up lifestyle habits, do everything in your control- and still fail, so it’s like is all of this worth anything? The supplements, lifestyle change, etc.

Sorry for the long winded post, I’m just having a pity party and you guys always make me feel better and help snap me back to reality when I need it.

Editing to add: Age 32, recent AMH 0.27 in June, AFC 10-12, 3rd stim cycle, 2nd retrieval, last one was cancelled. Primed with estrace for 2 weeks, did Gonal/menopur/omnitrope and a pregnyl trigger. This cycle I got 4 eggs, 3 mature and 2 fert.

The embryologist called me a little after 07:00, which is never a good sign since I needed to do my vaginal progesterone at 07:30 for my 09:30 fresh transfer. 😑

We had 2 eggs fertilize after retrieval Monday, but they said both appear to have stopped developing around day 3. They’re going to keep watching them until day 7, but they were very honest that they don’t look promising.

I hate that my gut was right once again about not getting good news, I’m honestly just numb, a little jaded feeling and pissed. I haven’t crashed out and cried yet just a few tears and then I try to dry it up because I just don’t feel like going there yet and spiraling. I went back to bed for a few hours and haven’t talked to my husband about it yet (he was with me when they called). We went back to bed after we hung up.

Not the way I wanted to wrap up my 3rd stim cycle/2nd retrieval but here we are. Thankfully I have my counseling appointment Monday and I got to keep my tattoo appointment Wednesday so I can go be in pain the way I like and have a good outcome 😂

Ever since I was a teenager and then throughout my early 20’s, I had this feeling that getting pregnant would probably be difficult for me. There were times I wasn’t using birth control or protection consistently and never had a scare, could I have just not been in my fertile window, who knows 🤷🏼‍♀️.

Tried naturally for 3 years, last year start IVF and I just wrapped up my 3rd IVF cycle (2nd successful retrieval) of IVF and that feeling has turned into more of a fear that maybe it just won’t happen for me. I feel like I used to feel like this would just be more difficult than everyone else and now I have this gut feeling that just leans towards it never happening. But then I have feelings that it will. Which I know, feelings don’t matter when it comes to predicting how things play out, and they can always be incorrect.

For those who have had success (or unfortunately haven’t/didn’t), did you ever have a strong gut feeling one way or the other? Were you convinced it would never work and then it did? Or did your intuition end up being right? Looking back, do you think your “gut feeling” actually meant anything, or was it more a reflection of the stress and uncertainty of infertility?

I’m not looking for anyone to predict my outcome, I’m just curious how others experienced this emotionally, and also in the thick of it, waiting for my day 5 embryo report Saturday that I’m absolutely dreading.

Thanks friends ❤️❤️❤️

Hi everyone,
I’m at the tail end of my IVF cycle and just had my monitoring ultrasound and bloodwork today. They counted 3 possible follicles this morning, I want to say 19.5,18,15?

The Doctor said they’re expecting to retrieve around 3 eggs if everything goes as planned, and then went through the usual attrition rate. Needless to say, I left feeling pretty discouraged, which I already was due to my last cycle getting cancelled.

I’m not looking for false hope, I know IVF can go either way. I’m just hoping to hear from people who had a similar response.

I’ve been doing MDL since 7/15, Gonal and menopur since 7/17, omnitrope since 7/22. Likely will trigger today if not I have another appointment tomorrow morning.

Whether your outcome was positive or not, I’d really appreciate hearing your experience. I think it would help me have a more realistic perspective while I wait for retrieval. While I’m thankful to have not been cancelled again and to have responded and have 3 possible eggs, at this point I’m just struggling to be hopeful for anything.

Thank you 🥹

Okay maybe I need talked off the ledge or tough love idk at this point lol

I posted here the other about my estradiol levels, back story- started estrace 2mg 2x day from 6/30 until 7/14 to prime.

I had my baseline labs on 7/13 and it was 273, checked it again 7/20 it was 118. (I posted here that day and was reassured this was normal decline after stopping estrace).

Today at my US and lab appointment- my doc said my US looked better than my last cycle that was cancelled, he sounded like everything was on track- got my labs back after leaving and my estradiol is only 173. He increased my Gonal from 375 to 450 and stay at 150 menopur. I go back Saturday for another US and lab draw.

I guess I’m just trying to not expect the worst since my estradiol isn’t rising like I thought it would. He did see growth, not sure how many are growing vs not, 10 follicles in total tho. Any thoughts, advice, experiences with the same labs/numbers??

Thanks in advance

Looking for some reassurance or honest opinions:

I had my IVF baseline on 7/13 with an estradiol of 273 (I had been estrogen priming with Estrace since 6/30 and stopped it on 7/14) and an AFC of 10.

I started MDLF 20units AM/PM on 7/15, then Gonal 300 units and menopur 150 starting 7/17 at night. Today: Stim Day 4 if counting Gonal/Menopur, day 6 MDLF, my estradiol came back at 118. I only had bloodwork, no ultrasound until Wednesday.

Is it normal for estradiol to drop like this after stopping Estrace, or should it already be increasing by now? Has anyone had a similar start and gone on to have a good retrieval?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, Looking for some encouragement from anyone who has switched protocols after having a cancelled or converted to IUI cycle.

My may IVF cycle got converted to an IUI because I only had 1 mature follicle despite high-dose stimulation (I had 5 other little ones that weren’t even near mature). My husband and I didnt think it was worth using our benefits for one possible egg, So my clinic was okay with us converting (In my head it didn't feel like a complete waste 🤷🏼‍♀️). I used gonal f and follistim for 8 days, omnitrope for 5 I think. I primed with Aygestin a few weeks before.

For this cycle, my RE changed my protocol, I’m now doing microdose Lupron a few days prior to and then throughout stims along with Gonal-F and Menopur, hoping for a better synchronized response. I'll be doing omnitrope again. This time I'm priming with estrace.

Has anyone with DOR had a better outcome after switching protocols? Also, if anyone had better results post endometriosis surgery either IVF or natural pregnancy, please comment as well! I’m having my lap done in October to rule out endo. Thanks everybody 🥹

Hey everyone, so I had labs done recently, late last night I saw my AMH had come back. I’m trying to not spiral like I did last year when I got my amh checked and it was 0.84 ng/ml. Last night it was 0.27ng/ml. I’m kinda shocked, can’t believe it’s dropped that much in a year. I’m guessing that might explain why my may IVF cycle was converted to IUI, as I only had 1 mature follicle out of 6. Idk what to think or feel, this just feels like I went 20 steps back.

I am 32, getting a lap to check for endo sometime in the next few months hopefully, if not in the fall.

For anyone who has had a major drop, did they change up your protocol and did you have success?? I’m just wondering what the heck to expect moving forward.

Hey everyone, so I had labs done a few days ago. My prolactin came back at 109, last July it was 7.8. So needless to say I’m trying to not spiral with that number since from I’ve looked up its high and I’m not sure the reason. My may cycle was converted to IUI and I have a scheduled IVF cycle to start July 17th and then September 25th.

I’m trying to coordinate with the surgeon that’s going to do a lap to check for endo and see if I can do it in between cycles since I’ll have a decent break or if I have to wait until fall.

Has anyone ever had the prolactin issue, did it get resolved with treatment? Also did anyone either have better retrievals, success with transfer or get naturally pregnant after their surgery??

Thanks in advance! I appreciate it.

Had monitoring this morning and unfortunately my response wasn’t great, so my doctor and I decided to convert to IUI instead of using IVF benefits on a likely very low-yield retrieval.

Current follicles and protocol: Day 8 stims
225 gonal F increased to 300 yesterday, 150 menopur, added omnitrope started on stims day 3.

Right ovary: 2 under 10 mm, 29mm cyst
Left ovary: 1-28 mm and a few under 8 mm
Assuming labs look okay, I’ll trigger today and do IUI tomorrow.

Oddly enough, I’m not as devastated as I expected to be. I think part of me feels relieved that we’re preserving our IVF benefits so we can hopefully attempt retrievals again in July and September with protocol adjustments if needed.

I do still feel discouraged though and would really appreciate hearing converted IUI success stories,“bad” cycles that unexpectedly worked, protocol changes that helped poor responders/DOR patients, what your clinics changed after poor response cycles

Had monitoring this morning and unfortunately my response wasn’t great, so my doctor and I decided to convert to IUI instead of using IVF benefits on a likely very low-yield retrieval.

Current follicles and protocol: Day 8 stims
225 gonal F increased to 300 yesterday, 150 menopur, added omnitrope started on stims day 3.

Right ovary: 2 under 10 mm, 29mm cyst
Left ovary: 1-28 mm and a few under 8 mm
Assuming labs look okay, I’ll trigger today and do IUI tomorrow.

Oddly enough, I’m not as devastated as I expected to be. I think part of me feels relieved that we’re preserving our IVF benefits so we can hopefully attempt retrievals again in July and September with protocol adjustments if needed.

I do still feel discouraged though and would really appreciate hearing converted IUI success stories,“bad” cycles that unexpectedly worked, protocol changes that helped poor responders/DOR patients, what your clinics changed after poor response cycles

Retrieval cycle #2, Day 6 stims today and honestly I’m struggling mentally.

My ultrasound this morning was not encouraging and my doctor more or less told me to prepare for either converting to IUI or cancelling the cycle depending on how things look this Friday. He didn’t sound very confident about moving forward with retrieval.

My estradiol today was 508, which technically has risen appropriately from baseline, but my follicle count/response is what seems concerning. They saw possibly 2 on my R ovary and 3 on my left with one of them being 18mm on the left and saying that one will probably be over mature. Also, I started cetrotide today. 

I think what’s hitting me hardest is feeling like I already know how this ends. I don’t know how to have hope going into Friday’s appointment when it feels like I’m just setting myself up for disappointment again. Part of me almost wants to stop now because emotionally this feels so heavy and pointless, not mention the TWW if we do go IUI route.

For those who had a cycle look discouraging early on: did things improve after day 6? did anyone go on to retrieval after being told to “prepare” for cancellation? how did you decide whether to continue vs stop or switch to IUI? I feel like IUI over cancelling is what I’d want to do. 
I think I just need honesty, support, and realistic perspective right now because I feel pretty defeated. Thank you all in advance ❤️

Looking for insight/success stories from other low AMH women with very different IVF cycles. My husband does have low morphology, otherwise good numbers. Especially if your “worse looking” cycle unexpectedly turned out better, or if you eventually had success after a discouraging round.

My first IVF cycle: October 2025
AFC: 11, Retrieved: 9, Mature: 6, Fertilized: 3
Ended with: 1 day 2, 6-cell embryo (failed fresh transfer), 1 day 3, 8-cell embryo 

I started my second retrieval cycle today and it already feels emotionally harder because my baseline AFC was lower than last time, they saw 6 follicles on Wednesday. My REI basically told me to mentally prepare for doing a fresh transfer instead of embryo banking because “there may not be anything to bank,” which absolutely crushed me because embryo banking was really what I wanted to do, we have another cycle scheduled for July due to wanting to bank back to back.

Changes this cycle: New clinic, menopur 150 + Gonal-F 225, Adding Omnitrope this time, lifestyle changes with diet and excercise, consistent egg quality support supplements for 6 months, red light therapy to my lower abdomen. 

I know every cycle is different, but it’s hard not to compare numbers and spiral a little. I’d really love to hear from ya’ll who had lower AFCs but better outcomes, had cycles with uneven/poor starts that turned around, added Omnitrope/Menopur and noticed a difference, eventually found the protocol that worked for them

Thanks in advance!