fertilization not great - question

gaylemae · 03-14-2005, 06:33 PM

Just wondering if any of you have experienced this: Last 3 cycles used de; low fertilaztion; has dh's sperm tested (scsa?) came back good fertility potential. Last cycle low fertilization. Have any of you experienced this?

**BC-KarenS-MI** · 03-14-2005, 07:24 PM

I don't have any experience with this, but I just want to wish you the best. I hope someone will be able to help answer your question & give you some encouragement!!

Karen

**BC-MAV** · 03-15-2005, 07:02 AM

I don't think we have ever experienced poor fertilization. Only 1 time we had fertilization that was good but the next day every thing pooped out.... very freaky and unusual for us... the RE comped his fees for the next cycle because there was no explanation... and we had done IVF's with him before with very good results.

I know the IVF's we did here with our hometown RE we always had 60-70% fertilization. We did NOT have male factor and the RE said this was good fertilization. What was the fertilization % you got? I was expecting higher but anyone would be lucky to get 90%. I don't know if this figure was for those ttc in general or just for his IVF clinic. Also ICSI does not guarantee fertilization. One IVF I got 10 eggs I think and I asked the embryologist to do half the eggs regular IVF and half ICSI. The fertilization was EXACTLY the same in both groups!(I thought because they stuck the sperm in the egg in would guarantee fertilizAtion and that's not true!)

There is some new test the last RE suggested before we did donor egg. I can't think of the exact name...sperm assay test?...it measures the ability of the sperm to fertilize the egg... relatively new test... might be in research stages. I asked if we did this particular test and the results came up not so good for DH what was the treatment. The RE said high doses of antioxidant vitamins-LOL! We then said "no thanks". And I just bought DH some vitamins!!! The test COULD point to something where everything seems normal. But didn't make much sense to us.

What is the morphology? the count? Are those normal? Perhaps ICSI would help? What does your RE or embryologist say about that? I wish I had an answer....

gaylemae · 03-15-2005, 03:05 PM

Thanks for responding. Yes, dh had SCSA (an advanced semen test) came back good fertility potential, out of 3 catagories, Excelllent, Good, & Poor. Of course SA. Had testicular sonogram for any obstruction. All came back good. fertilization rate about 30%.

Our clinic is not big on giving details. They don't "grade" embryos, etc. kinda frustrating. They pretty much do SA and SCSA test for semen and that's it.

Just thought some of you might have had male factor issues.

Thanks

**BC-MAV** · 03-15-2005, 03:24 PM

Just adding these... I'm sure you've done them.

What about BOTH you taking routine antibiotics before BMS or before IUI to wipe out any bacteria that might be causing poor fertiliation?

What about a test for sperm antibodies?

What about a test for retrograde ejaculation?

What about genetic karotyping on BOTH of you?

What about specifics on the semen sample... are there immature sperm cells or white blood cells in there that would contribute to the sample's ability to fertilize?

Have you done any immunological testing of both your blood?

What about going to another RE for a different opinion?

I am really stumped!!!! I feel for you because we are stumped too with unexplained infertility... and we have good results on paper. We have done ALL these things listed and more!!! Of course everything turned up normal for us (with the exception of + for ANA and high natural killer cells for me), but if you haven't had these tests it COULD explain something?

03-14-2005, 06:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
gaylemae Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 95	fertilization not great - question Just wondering if any of you have experienced this: Last 3 cycles used de; low fertilaztion; has dh's sperm tested (scsa?) came back good fertility potential. Last cycle low fertilization. Have any of you experienced this?

03-14-2005, 07:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
BC-KarenS-MI Board Coordinator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Michigan Posts: 28,043	I don't have any experience with this, but I just want to wish you the best. I hope someone will be able to help answer your question & give you some encouragement!! Karen __________________ ttc #1 for 7 1/2 years ~ IVF #1, 6-93, cancelled; IVF#2/rescue ICSI- 7-99, failed ~(switched RE's) ZIFT/ICSI- 1-00, successful w/twins, lost 1 at 8w ~ ZIFT/ICSI #2, to try for #2- March '03- successful ~ GS- IVF #1, 7-05 failed. FET 10-05- BFP, m/c 5w5d

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03-15-2005, 07:02 AM	#3 (permalink)
BC-MAV Board Coordinator for Surrogacy BB Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: way down yonder ... Posts: 29,651 Blog Entries: 50	I don't think we have ever experienced poor fertilization. Only 1 time we had fertilization that was good but the next day every thing pooped out.... very freaky and unusual for us... the RE comped his fees for the next cycle because there was no explanation... and we had done IVF's with him before with very good results. I know the IVF's we did here with our hometown RE we always had 60-70% fertilization. We did NOT have male factor and the RE said this was good fertilization. What was the fertilization % you got? I was expecting higher but anyone would be lucky to get 90%. I don't know if this figure was for those ttc in general or just for his IVF clinic. Also ICSI does not guarantee fertilization. One IVF I got 10 eggs I think and I asked the embryologist to do half the eggs regular IVF and half ICSI. The fertilization was EXACTLY the same in both groups!(I thought because they stuck the sperm in the egg in would guarantee fertilizAtion and that's not true!) There is some new test the last RE suggested before we did donor egg. I can't think of the exact name...sperm assay test?...it measures the ability of the sperm to fertilize the egg... relatively new test... might be in research stages. I asked if we did this particular test and the results came up not so good for DH what was the treatment. The RE said high doses of antioxidant vitamins-LOL! We then said "no thanks". And I just bought DH some vitamins!!! The test COULD point to something where everything seems normal. But didn't make much sense to us. What is the morphology? the count? Are those normal? Perhaps ICSI would help? What does your RE or embryologist say about that? I wish I had an answer....

03-15-2005, 03:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
gaylemae Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 95	Thanks for responding. Yes, dh had SCSA (an advanced semen test) came back good fertility potential, out of 3 catagories, Excelllent, Good, & Poor. Of course SA. Had testicular sonogram for any obstruction. All came back good. fertilization rate about 30%. Our clinic is not big on giving details. They don't "grade" embryos, etc. kinda frustrating. They pretty much do SA and SCSA test for semen and that's it. Just thought some of you might have had male factor issues. Thanks

03-15-2005, 03:24 PM	#5 (permalink)
BC-MAV Board Coordinator for Surrogacy BB Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: way down yonder ... Posts: 29,651 Blog Entries: 50	Just adding these... I'm sure you've done them. What about BOTH you taking routine antibiotics before BMS or before IUI to wipe out any bacteria that might be causing poor fertiliation? What about a test for sperm antibodies? What about a test for retrograde ejaculation? What about genetic karotyping on BOTH of you? What about specifics on the semen sample... are there immature sperm cells or white blood cells in there that would contribute to the sample's ability to fertilize? Have you done any immunological testing of both your blood? What about going to another RE for a different opinion? I am really stumped!!!! I feel for you because we are stumped too with unexplained infertility... and we have good results on paper. We have done ALL these things listed and more!!! Of course everything turned up normal for us (with the exception of + for ANA and high natural killer cells for me), but if you haven't had these tests it COULD explain something?