Trine and Morten’s Journey: From 6 egg retrievals in Norway with 14 blastocysts and multiple losses to a baby after 2 individualized IVF treatments with own eggs and own sperm at O.L.G.A. Clinic

Trine and Morten wrote to us shortly after birth:

"Theodor is here! He was born Saturday October 28th at 5:13 pm and he is just perfect :)

Weight: 2830 grams, height: 50 cm.

We are both doing well — recovering and relaxing at home.

We just wanted to send you and the team a BIG, BIG thank you for making our dream come true. Without the O.L.G.A clinic little Theodor would not have been here. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Thank you and the team for always being there for us. Even though you are based in Russia we've always felt that you have been closer than any other clinic here in Norway that we have visited. Thank you for believing in us when we had lost all hope We are so in love with our little bundle of joy.

Please send our regards to Darya, Dr. Pavel, Dr. Olga and all the other super helpers at the clinic

Best wishes from Theodor, Morten and Trine"

Trine and Morten’s journey to parenthood was a long and emotional one, marked by hope, perseverance, and great love. Over the years, they went through six IVF attempts in Norway, resulting in a total of 14 blastocysts. However, despite such promising numbers, their dreams were repeatedly shattered by multiple miscarriages and failed implantations. 

Why did all these beautiful blastocysts not stay? What has helped Trine and Morten become parents using their own eggs, own sperm and own uterus in O.L.G.A. Clinic?

Here is their treatment journey:

Trine, 38, experienced a natural miscarriage and a non-developing twin pregnancy after IVF. Her AMH level in October 2021 was 32 pmol/L. Morten, 46, in good health with a normal sperm count.

Between 2019 and 2021, Trine underwent six IVF attempts in Norway with varying protocols, using medications such as Gonal-F, antagonists, and Ovitrelle triggers. The responses varied, but none resulted in a successful pregnancy.

Seeking a more personalized approach, they addressed O.L.G.A. Clinic, where Trine underwent two additional IVF cycles in 2022. The protocols included half-long stimulations, adjustments in medication dosages and careful monitoring to improve egg quality and embryo viability.

Details of IVF cycles in O.L.G.A. Clinic:

Before starting stimulation, Trine took birth control pills to synchronize follicle growth, with ultrasounds ensuring no cysts or dominant follicles were present.
To enhance egg and sperm vitality, Trine took Coenzyme Q10, Omega-3, Vitamin D, Folic Acid and Myo-Inositol. Morten followed a similar supplement regimen, focusing on Omega-3, Folic Acid, Vitamin D, and Myo-Inositol.

The ovarian stimulation process involved a half-long protocol using Gonapeptyl, followed by Gonal-F and Menopur. Ultrasound monitoring on specific cycle days helped determine the right time for the Ovitrelle trigger shot.

• The first IVF attempt at OLGA Clinic resulted in 14 retrieved eggs, 11 of which fertilized normally, leading to six blastocysts. However, only one embryo was chromosomally normal, which sadly resulted in a missed abortion.
• In the second attempt, six eggs were retrieved, three fertilized normally, and two developed into blastocysts. This time, one chromosomally normal embryo led to a successful pregnancy and the birth of their baby.

Chromosomal analysis (PGT-a) revealed that only 2 out of 8 blastocysts were chromosomally normal – 25%, whereas the expected percentage for a woman of Trine’s age was 33%. By transferring only chromosomally normal embryos, we managed to increase pregnancy success rates, reduce miscarriage risks, and shorten the time to a successful live birth.

PGT-A increases chance of live birth per embryo transferred and shortens time to pregnancy and live birth.

Diagnostics and treatment of maternal reasons of repeated implantation failure before the embryo transfers:

During a hysteroscopy and laparoscopy in Norway in 2018, doctors discovered superficial endometrioid foci, which was treated with electrocoagulation. They also identified a bicorporeal uterus with a rudimentary right horn lacking endometrium, while the left horn was normal. An MRI later confirmed the right horn as rudimentary. 

A hysteroscopy in April 2022 in O.L.G.A. Clinic revealed a unicornuate uterus with no endometriosis. A histological exam showed a polypoid-type endometrium in the early secretory phase, fibrosis, and an endometrial polyp. Blood tests for thrombophilia, viruses, and autoimmune diseases came back normal, and an ERA test determined a receptive window at 128 hours.

Results of two embryo transfers of euploid blastocysts:

• First embryo transfer: In April 2022, Trine underwent antibiotic treatment, microbiome normalization, and adhesion prevention therapy. By June, she was ready for the transfer of a single euploid blastocyst, confirmed as normal by the ERA test. Unfortunately, this resulted in a non-developing pregnancy in July.
• Second embryo transfer: Determined to continue, they pursued another IVF round, leading to the transfer of a second euploid blastocyst in February 2023. This time, the pregnancy was successful, and in October 2023, their baby, Theodor, was born!

What helped OLGA Team to achieve a baby within 2 embryo transfers after multiple attempts in other clinics?

• Individualized stimulation to receive maximal number of viable blastocysts
• PGT-A to exclude abnormal blastocysts from usage
• Thorough investigation of the uterus to better understand its special unicorn anatomy and situation in endometrium
• Treatment of inflammation and adhesions
• Paying special attention to a unique uterus anatomy while embryo transfer procedure which helped to achieve pregnancies;
• Continuous medical follow up during the whole pregnancy up until live birth supported pregnancy and helped to achieve live birth

Acknowledgements to:

Dr. Alenka Sirovec for analyzing all the data from Trine and Morten and believing in their success using own eggs and own sperm

Dr. Pavel Semenov for creating exceptionally competent eggs which made it possible to achieve excellent fertilization by conventional IVF and grow viable blastocysts

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

Dr. Nina Bogdanova for thorough hysteroscopy

Dr. Pavel Semenov for diagnostics and treatment of maternal reasons of miscarriage and non-developing pregnancies and individualized preparation to embryo transfer, which made it possible for the body to keep the pregnancy

Fertility nurse Olga Malysheva and Dr. Olga Romanova for following through the whole pregnancy

Coordinator Anna Savelyeva / Administrator Darya Ivanova for communication, logistics, coordination and support on distance and in St. Petersburg

 

Lots of love and gratitude to Trine and Morten from the whole OLGA Team for being such lovely patients and such a wonderful couple!

It was a true pleasure to have you as patients in our clinic!

Without your mutual love and support this baby would not have become a reality!