Posted by: white tea

Our diagnosis is idiopathic infertility and all our test results are within normal range. I am 34, and my husband and I are trying to conceive for the last four years. During the past year we had three intrauterine inseminations and three IVF procedures. In first and second IVF cycle fertilization occurred, however, embryos were developing slowly and were transferred as 4-cell embryo on day 3, and as morula on day 5.

Can you please tell us what could have caused this, and if there are additional tests that we could do to find out the reasons of slow development of embryo. Does this point out to something? In our third IVF I did not react to the stimulation and the cycle was cancelled.

Thank you.

Answer by: Martina Bračun, M.D.

Without detailed insight into your medical documentation (type and dosage of drugs used, number and quality of eggs, your hormone assays), it is difficult to explain what could have been the reasons of slow embryo development and low response to ovulation stimulation drugs. Even without those, I would recommend chromosomal analysis for both of you.

Unfortunately, even with advances in medicine, we are still not able to find out the reasons of IVF failures, as there will always be some unidentified disorders of sperm, oocytes, or fertilization. But considering you are young and had two embryotransfers out of three IVF procedures, I believe you have a chance for pregnancy if you will be persistent.