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[b]Wh
y
doesn't every embryo become a baby?[/b]

The enigma of embryo implantation ? why doesn?t every embryo become a baby?

While modern technology is very good at making embryos in the laboratory, we still cannot control the implantation process. We do not know which embryo will become a baby ? and this can be very frustrating, for both patients and doctors ! Many patients who do not get pregnant after an embryo transfer start believing that their bodies are defective, and that they have "rejected" the embryo. They feel that if they failed to become pregnant even after the doctor transferred 3-4 good quality embryos, that they are flawed. However, you need to remember that embryo implantation is a very complex process, which consists of a series of phases in which the embryo has to appose and attach itself to the maternal endometrium and invade into it.

First, the embryo has to undergo further development, till it reaches the blastocyst stage, when it hatches from its shell, known as the zona. The hatched blastocyst then needs to implant in the endometrium, and the three phases of implantation are known as apposition, adhesion and invasion, and occur during the period of time known as the implantation window. Apposition, or orientation of the embryo (which is at the blastocyst stage at this time ) within the cavity of the uterus, starts when the cavity has become minimal due to the suction of endometrial fluid by pynopods (small protrusions found on the surface membrane of the cells lining the uterus). Adhesion of the blastocyst is a progressive phenomenon that ties the embryo to the endometrium and is the primary event initiating invasion. Many molecules, such as cytokines, growth factors and cell adhesion proteins called integrins play an important role in this complex process during which the blastocyst and maternal endometrium must undergo an exquisite dialogue. Invasion is a self-controlled proteolytic process that allows the embryonic trophoblast to penetrate deep into the maternal decidua and to invade the endometrial spiral arteries by producing chemicals called proteinases. How implantation is regulated and brought about remains an enigma, but we need to remember that the implantation process is surprisingly inefficient in humans ? Nature is not always very competent! After IVF, it?s only about 10%, which means that only 10% of embryos implant successfully to become a baby.

The responsibility for this low efficiency has to be shared between the embryo as well as a defective embryo-endometrium dialogue. We still cannot successfully predict which patient will get pregnant after embryo transfer . We now know that one of the major reasons for failure of the embryo to implant is a genetically abnormal embryo. Basic research on implantation is of great interest today, because embryonic implantation is the major factor limiting in allowing pregnancy after ART, but we still need to learn a lot about this "black hole" in our knowledge, before we can learn to control it !

Many patients blame themselves when they don't get pregnant after an embryo transfer. They feel that the fact that the embryo did not implant means either that their body is defective; or that it "rejected" the embryo; or that they did not rest enough. However, please do remember that embryo implantation is a complex process, which you cannot influence by your diet or physical activity ? so there is no need for you to blame yourself if the embryos do not implant.

Wow, Mahogany Heart....that is awesome information. Very thorough & detailed. I honestly never knew that it took ALL of that for an embryo to implant itself. That IS amazing!! Only the good Lord Himself could have thought of something as complex as that. That just proves that ultimately....we really don't have control over whether we conceive or not. That is why children really are a blessing from the Lord.

BABY DUST!!!!
Monica

Thanks for the info Mahogany Heart. It's really a miracle when it happens. Because there are so many steps that could go wrong in this whole process.
Tomorrow is my day to find out....... I've been Ok the past 2 weeks but last night I started crying for no reasons. As my DH said, Hormones overload. I think that's what it is as well as being anxious for tomorrow.
Pray for me! !
Baby dust to all.

Monica,

Thank you. I was sitting at the computer last night and tears begin to run down my eyes not because of my Infertility but everyone like me. I started thinking about this thing call Infertility and I remember way back when my Doctor told me your body is doing everything it suppose too. She told me I had poor CM because of the Clomid and well as telling me that my husband at that time is not the one for me.

I put it together and thought if everything is in place then what is going on and I thought about the Prometruim I'm taking and why I'm on it because out of all the years I been ttc no one mention it to me.

Prometruim is for the Lining of my uterus. Then it all came to me, IMPLANTATION. I did the research and saw that website. I even posted something on the Ovulex VI with a link for you all to take a look at.

Its not what you are doing it is what you can't do and that is IMPLANTATION!!! You are right Monica, Children are a BLESSING FROM THE LORD!!!

FISO,

You are welcome!!! Keep the Faith and be Faithful to your Infertility. Keep Positive and stay strong.

[glow=green,2,300]Supernatural Baby Dust to Monica and Fiso.[/glow]

Thanks Mahogany Heart; I receive that SUPERNATURAL - GOD ORDAINED BABY DUST!!!!!! ;)

Monica,

You are so sweet and well Blessed!!! Keep the Faith!!!

MH, Thank you that was some powerful information, and everything you said is so true, I missed being able to chat with my sisters the way I talk to my husband about you all he probably thinks I'm crazy, I have said it over a hundred times this site was God sent to me and I thank him so much for that, You are truly a blessing....Love China

You are welcome China. To God be the Glory!!!

Do something about your Infertility just don't allow it to Rob you!!!

Who's with me???

MH I know this may sound silly but I had a dream last night that you wrote to us after all this time that you have finally conquered infertility!!!!!!!!!! I just thought that is was so weird that I came down this morning to see you write in this board that hasn't been written in since 2/3/06. I know you are going to conquer this!!

Some special sticky baby dust to you and all others that are trying to conquer infertilty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[quote author=NANCY link=board=4;threadid=1946;start=0#25301 date=1157888696]
MH I know this may sound silly but I had a dream last night that you wrote to us after all this time that you have finally conquered infertility!!!!!!!!!! I just thought that is was so weird that I came down this morning to see you write in this board that hasn't been written in since 2/3/06. I know you are going to conquer this!!

Some special sticky baby dust to you and all others that are trying to conquer infertilty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!
[/quote]

Beautiful
Nancy,

That don't sound silly at all if any thing I receive that. It makes me feel so good when we as a whole can come together and fellowship. I'm so thankful for shared journey. I don't post everyday but I check it daily. It's been a long time since I wrote on this thread and some of the good things get forgotten. If enough of us stand together and do something about our TTC we could be just a blessed with our little one like you and Monica. Thank you Nancy.

Keep the Faith!!! God is faithful!!!

Mahogany Heart: I second that motion! I can't wait until you conceive!!! We will ALL be celebrating with you!

Luv You Sis!
Monica :)

Thank you so much Monica. All I can do is trust the Lord and continue doing something about my ttc. It is no longer TTC is is ttc. Not major but minor.

If only I can get some supporters who are doing something about their ttc.

Hello there!!!

I go back to alot of my old stuff that I have written because I'm to here to Encourage Somebody. I'm here to let them know you are not alone. I been there, I know how it is.

Don't give up!!!

Keep the Faith!!!

Do something about your ttc!!!

Ibuprofen. Pain relievers, such as Advil or Aleve, sometimes sabotage ovulation, particularly if you're taking them regularly. "If you're on fertility medication or have been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant, just stick with acetominophen (Tylenol)," Notes Mitchell N. Essig, MD, an obstetrics and gynecology instructor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in the Bronx, who also has a private Manhattan practice in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

Medications and Your Fertility
by Mary Kittel with Deborah Metzger, MD, PhD

Accutane. An acne treatment containing synthetic vitamin A, Accutane is linked to birth defects, including mental retardation. Because injury can happen in the first few weeks of pregnancy -- often before you know you're pregnant -- you may want to stop using Accutane or ask your doctor for a safer alternative before trying to conceive.

Antibiotics By altering cervical mucus patterns, antibiotics sometimes throw off ovulation while you're taking them. Studies have yet to definitively show, however, whether it's the antibiotics that temporarily squelch fertility or the illness being treated.

Antidepressants. Not only can depression drugs scramble your menstrual cycles, temporarily suppressing fertility, but research also indicates that they may boost your baby's risk of birth defects if you use them during pregnancy. For example, monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors such as phenelzine (Nardil) and tranylcypromine (Parnate) have been shown to cause an increased risk of brith defects when taken during the first 3 months of pregnancy. Since you don't always know you're pregnant right away, consider weaning yourself off antidepressants or finding a safer alternative well before you conceive.

Antianxiety drugs. It is unclear how drugs such as diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax) affect fertility, but like some antidepressants, their use has been found to cause an increased risk of birth defects during the first trimester. For this reason, it's wise to avoid taking them, if possible, when you're trying to get pregnant.

Cold and flu remedies with antihistamines. Designed to dry up overactive mucous membranes in your nose and throat, these popular remedies also occasionally thicken or dry up cervical mucus. For sperm, that's tantamount to swimming across a bone-dry desert or through a sea of Jell-O.

Corticosteroids. Creams and ointments containing corticosteroids are used to relieve the redness, swelling, and itching of skin conditions, like psoriasis. These products can cause irregular menstrual periods, depending on the potency of the drug and the amount used.

High blood pressure medications. Potassium-sparing diuretics that contain spironolactone (such as Aldactone) can also throw off menstrual cycles.

And Again Ibuprofen. Pain relievers, such as Advil or Aleve, sometimes sabotage ovulation, particularly if you're taking them regularly. "If you're on fertility medication or have been trying unsuccessfully to get pregnant, just stick with acetominophen (Tylenol)," Notes Mitchell N. Essig, MD, an obstetrics and gynecology instructor at Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University in the Bronx, who also has a private Manhattan practice in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

Thanks for all the info. Mahogany it is very helpful. thank you for helping us with those advice.

Love Lili