After four retrievals, three failed transfers, and two miscarriages, Hannah conceived from a fresh 8-cell Day 3 embryo after a laparoscopy for stage 1 endometriosis. She is now 16 weeks pregnant and cautiously hopeful.
⚠️ These stories are personal experiences, not medical advice or scientific evidence. Success stories are more likely to be shared than unsuccessful ones, so they should not be interpreted as proof that a treatment works. Always discuss treatment decisions with your doctor.
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📊 Story Snapshot
👩 Age: 31📆 Years trying: 3
🧬 Embryo: Day 3, 8-cell
🧪 Retrievals: 4
🐣 Transfers: 4
💊 Diagnosis: Low AMH/DOR, Poor ovarian response, Endometriosis, Recurrent implantation failure, Male factor infertility
📈 Outcome: 16 weeks pregnant
We started trying when I was 29, and my husband was 30. We didn’t expect any issues as we are both healthy, and I have always had regular periods. We tried for about 9 months and finally got pregnant unassisted in May! Around 7 weeks, I started spotting and we found out it was a blighted ovum. Devastated but not ready to give up, we continued to try once I got my period back waiting for our reproductive endocrinologist consult the following November.
We found out I had DOR (AMH 0.8, FSH 14) and my husband had low motility. To say we were in shock is an understatement.
We started our first IVF cycle in January – retrieved 8 eggs, only 3 were mature and 1 fertilized with ICSI. Did a fresh day 3 transfer with our 1 fertilized egg that was 8 cells. It failed to implant. We were shocked and confused about both the response and potential egg quality issues. Totally blindsided.
My next attempt to cycle was canceled due to high estrogen at baseline. Regrouped and tried again the next month – for our second retrieval got 6 eggs, 4 mature (seemed that double trigger helped a bit), but again only 1 fertilized, and day 3, 7 cells failed to implant again.
We took the summer off and switched clinics wanting to try estrogen priming, calcium ionophore and zymot to mix it up. Got 11 eggs (!), again only 4 mature, and 3 fertilized – we thought this was it. Transferred fresh, day 3 our best 2 – one was 6 cells, the other was 4, and the third fertilized and didn’t grow. I was hopeless going into this transfer because this was the poorest quality we had, and as I figured, third implantation failure.
The doctor told me, without much compassion, to move on and consider alternatives.
Very confused, angry, and lost, we took some time off of IVF, and somehow spontaneously conceived the next month only to be told at my 7 week scan that there was no heartbeat. Decided then that I wanted to look into endometriosis and endometritis.
Biopsy was negative for endometritis, but had a laparoscopy after my D&C for a second miscarriage and had very minimal stage 1 endo. I recovered from surgery, went back to my original clinic, and with much encouragement from my REI doctor, went in for one last try with Lupron flare protocol and some transfer add ons.
I was barely responding, only 3/18 follicles seemed to grow, somehow got 8 eggs, but only 2 were mature, and 1 fertilized. Transferred our fresh day 3, 8 cell – and it somehow stuck.
I had accepted defeat and was trying one last time before I was going to close the door (at least for the time being) on my eggs knowing we did our best. But with frustration and no explanation for my seemingly poor egg quality, hostile uterus (?), and body betraying me, it was hard to do.
But somehow after 4 retrievals with subpar outcomes, 3 implantation failures, and recurrent pregnancy loss, this 4th transfer has stuck around. At 16 weeks I’m still holding my breath, but maybe just maybe it’ll be me this time who is a success story.
What would you say to someone who’s going through what you went through?
Find people who know what you’re going through and confide and find comfort in them. Lean on them – use them for any and all support. And try not to let those who don’t get it into your head. You’re truly not alone, you’re not a failure, and this is NOT your fault. You deserve to be a mom. And advocate for yourself – find someone who believes in you and wants to try with you.
— Hannah
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