How our individualised IVF and PGT-A helped Frances to become a mother after 3 unsuccessful IVFs in Sweden

Frances @francescaterinae @frances_symposia:

”Two years ago I met Dr. Olga at a seminar and what she told me gave me the hope and energy that I needed to go on for my dream, my long wanted child! On Valentines day 2024 dear Dr Natalia transferred the golden blastocyst that became my son. He was born on the 1st of November 2024. 

What Dr Olga told me that time was: 

— Ok, it is not you, it is the embryos. We will help you make competent embryos.

Those words made the whole difference for me.”

👶 While pregnant with Henning, Frances met her partner, who is now Henning's dad!

❤️ Happiness truly draws more happiness!

Frances is an amazing woman, accomplished already so much in her life — being an opera singer, vocal and scenic coach, certified medical secretary and ​​specialist in ICD-coding (classification of diseases)! But something important was missing from the picture and she decided to become a solo mom. She was 37 at that time and started IVF treatment in a local clinic being sure that it would work quickly. But unfortunately, 3 IVF attempts and 3 fresh transfers did not result in a pregnancy and even no embryos were found to be suitable for freezing. It had left Frances devastated and puzzled — what is wrong with me?

After the seminar and encouraging one-to-one talk with Dr. Olga Zaytseff, Frances quickly collected all the necessary data which two of our Expert-Doctors — Dr. Anna Gusareva and Dr. Maia Shestakova carefully and thoroughly analyzed.

Medical information by the first consultation at OLFA Clinic, January 2023.

General health:

• 38 years old, normal BMI
• 2020: Sarcoidosis of the lungs was diagnosed. There was a short course of Prednisolone for 6 weeks. The latest CT-scan in August 2021 revealed no significant progression of the pathological process.
• Depression was also diagnosed. Sertraline therapy was prescribed at a dose of 100 mg per day.
• Other: coxarthrosis  in connection to inborn instability of the hip joints. No treatment of this condition. 

Gynecological health:

• One natural pregnancy in 2016, terminated
• 2014: cervical conization due to CIN3.
• AMH 21/12/2022 : 2.7 mcg/L, AFC about 7+6
• 2021: hydrosonography (HSG), normal passage through both fallopian tubes.
• May and June 2021: hysteroscopic myomectomy performed in two parts. One submucosal fibroid and two small endometrial  polyps from the cervical-corporal border were removed.
• According to the notes from 2021, there are still two small intramural fibroids (3 mm and 15 mm) in the front wall/fundal part of the uterus.
• 2022:  second hydrosonography (HSG) to see the  uterine cavity. No pathological changes  were found.

IVF treatment history before OLGA

Trying for a baby since 2022.

3 IVFs with donor sperm and 3 fresh ETs, one on day 3 of development  and 2 on blastocyst  stage. Sadly, no pregnancy was achieved.

After careful review of all general and gynecological health details, previous IVF history we accepted a challenge and approved a 3 x IVF package with own eggs + PGT-A and 100% money back guarantee of live birth.

Stimulations:

IVF №1, June 2022, Sweden

Short protocol: Gonal-F 175IU for 9 days. Fyremadel from day 5. Ovitrelle as a trigger on stimulation day 10.

IVF №2, August 2022, Sweden

Short protocol: Menopur 187IU  for 9 days, Fyremadel from day 5. Ovitrelle as a trigger on SD10.

IVF №3, October 2022, Sweden

Long protocol with Synarela. Menopur 150 IU for 10 days, 75 IU for one more day. Ovitrelle as a trigger on SD12. Symptoms of overstimulation.

IVF №4, March-April 2023, OLGA Fertility St. Petersburg

Gonal-F 100 IU + Menopur 75IU for 9 days. Orgalutran from day 6. Diphereline 0,2 mg as a trigger on SD10.

IVF №5, November 2023, OLGA Fertility St. Petersburg

Short protocol. Orgalutran 5 days before stimulation. Gonal-F 100 IU + Menopur 75 IU for 12 days. Orgalutran from day 7. Diphereline 0,2 mg as a trigger on SD13.

Supplements to boost egg competence and vitality 2 months before egg collection:

• Coenzyme Q10 – 100 mg, 3 times daily
• Omega 3 – 1000-1600 mg daily
• Vitamin D - 2000 IU daily
• Myoinositol – 2000 mg, 2 times daily
• Melatonin – 3 mg daily
• Folic Acid – 1000 mcg daily
• Iron supplement – 100 mg daily

Creating competent eggs and viable embryos by the individualisation of ovarian stimulation

• P-pills for 1 cycle (and antagonist priming in IVF#5 before the start of stimulation) to synchronize growth of the follicles. 
• US 3 days before finishing P-pills to exclude presence of cysts or leading follicles.
• US SD1 to exclude leading follicle before stimulation begins.
• Antagonist protocol Gonal F 100 IU+ Menopur 75 IU
• US SD5, SD6 to choose the day of Orgalutran begin
• Orgalutran from SD6-7
• US SD9, SD11, SD 13 to choose the day for the trigger
• Diphereline 0,2 trigger to avoid overstimulation on SD10 (SD13).

Finding out reasons of repeated implantation failure 

June 2023 Hysteroscopy and in-depth investigation of maternal factors in  St. Petersburg.

• Hysteroscopy: No anatomical problems in the uterus cavity found. Scar tissue found and corrected.
• Histology: The endometrium of the early middle stage of the secretion phase.
• Immunohistochemistry: signs of chronic inflammation (endometritis)
• Culture test for microflora: some microbes detected
• Microbiome testing from uterine cavity: dysbiosis.
• ERA-test: normal implantation window (receptive endometrium after 128 hours of progesterone administration).
• Thrombophilia screening:  FV Leiden mutation detected in heterozygous form
• Autoimmune diseases: Antiphospholipid syndrome was not detected, antinuclear factor - negative. 
• Virus screening: presence of EBV and HH6 was diagnosed.
• Biochemical, clinical, hormonal blood parameters: within normal ranges.

Preparing optimal environment in the uterus and in the body for the VIP Embryo

Therapy after the hysteroscopy: antibacterial therapy (doxycycline 10 days, ornidazole 10 days), antifungal medication (fluconazole), Probiotics.

August 2023: a course of antiviral therapy, a course of probiotics to normalize the microflora.

September 2023:  transfer of a single Euploid blastocyst by ERA test. The result was a biochemical pregnancy.

November 2023: One more IVF round

January 2024: Repeated course of antibacterial therapy (Josamycin 10 days, Ornidazole 10 days), antifungal medication ( fluconazole), Probiotics. 

Prednisolone is included in the transfer cycle. Low-weight heparin (Clexane) is also prescribed throughout pregnancy to prevent thrombosis.

14/02/2024 transfer of a single Euploid blastocyst according to ERA test result

01/11/2024 a beautiful baby boy  (4090gr / 51 cm) Henning Tomas Cornelis was born!

What helped the OLGA team achieve a baby within two embryo transfers after 3 failed IVF / 3ETs in Sweden?

1. Focus on eggs energy and maturity which helped to get a competent cohort of eggs

2. Excellent fertilization and embryo culture techniques which brought in total 9 blastocysts (comparing to 2 blastocysts available in 3 previous attempts in total)

3. PGT-A to exclude abnormal blastocysts and select the only 2 normal in the pool received.

Only 2 out of 9 blastocysts were chromosomally normal, which is lower than expected at the age of 38 (1 out of 3 is expected statistically).

4. Optimization of the uterus and general health                                                                                                                    

• Thorough investigation of the uterus and the whole body revealed several bacterial and viral reasons of inflammation and recurrent pregnancy loss.
• Combined antibacterial, antiviral therapy prepared the environment in the uterus and the whole body for keeping the pregnancy.
• Diagnostics of thrombophilia factors and special attention to autoimmune processes in the body. Inclusion of anticoagulants and glucocorticosteroids in the plan for the prevention of thrombosis and immune aggression.

5. Strict timing of the embryo transfer based on the ERA test result.

6. Continuous medical follow up to prevent pregnancy loss and support during the whole pregnancy up until live birth.

Acknowledgements

Frances, Henning and Dr. Anna Gusareva at the seminar in Malmoe, February 2025

To Dr. Anna Gusareva and Dr. Maia Shestakova for analyzing all the data from Frances and believing in her success using own eggs.

To Dr. Natalia Shpiller for creating competent eggs which made it possible to achieve excellent fertilization and grow viable blastocysts

To Dr. Svetlana Shlykova and Dr. Maia Shestakova for excellent embryology

Dr. Nina Bogdanova for thorough hysteroscopy

Dr. Natalia Shpiller for diagnostics and treatment of maternal reasons of implantation failures miscarriages and individualized preparation to embryo transfer, which made it possible for the body to keep the pregnancy

Dr. Natalia Shpiller for gentle and efficient Egg retrievals and Embryo transfers

To Ekaterina Tint and Dr. Olga Romanova for following through the whole pregnancy

To Anna Lomakina and Natalya Glushkova for communication, logistics, coordination and support on distance and in St. Petersburg