Fertility Files – Real Cases of Infertility Challenges

Turning Few Eggs into a Successful and Healthy Pregnancy Outcome

Low ovarian reserve. Very few eggs. Male factor infertility. Every cycle brought just a handful of chances and sometimes, that’s not enough. Because in IVF, success isn’t only about one cycle. Sometimes, it’s about building chances over time. Instead of relying on a single attempt, the approach shifted to something more strategic: collect, preserve, and choose wisely.

- Birla Fertility & IVF, Lucknow, (Dr. Shreya Gupta)

Case Snapshot

Patient AgeFemale: 37 years

ChallengesPoor ovarian reserve, low embryo yield, male factor infertility (teratozoospermia)

TreatmentIVF with ICSI, embryo pooling, freeze-all strategy, optimised embryo transfer

OutcomeSuccessful pregnancy and birth of a healthy baby

Timeline~6–10 months

Journey Timeline

1. Complex Challenges

2. Personalised Plans

3. Safe Retireval & Transfer

4. Guided Transfer

5. Successful Pregnancy

The Barriers They Faced

Poor Ovarian Reserve (POR)

Extremely limited egg retrieval per cycle.

Low Embryo Yield

Fewer embryos reduced success probability in a single attempt.

Male Factor Infertility

Abnormal sperm morphology affecting fertilisation.

Cycle Dependency

Each attempt alone carried low chances of success.

Need for Strategy Over Speed

Required planning beyond a single cycle.

Doctor's Quote

“The key was to tailor every aspect of care to this patient's unique needs, balancing safety, comfort, and clinical effectiveness.”

— Dr. Shreya Gupta

The Treatment Plan that made the Difference

Embryo Pooling Strategy

Considering the low ovarian reserve, two IVF cycles were planned to collect and freeze embryos. This helped increase the embryo pool and improve the chances of selecting the best-quality embryos for transfer.

ICSI for Better Fertilisation

ICSI was used to address sperm morphology concerns and maximise fertilisation rates. A freeze-all approach was followed so the embryos could be transferred at the most optimal time.

IVF Cycle Outcomes

In Cycle 1, 3 oocytes were retrieved, of which 2 were mature, resulting in 1 high-quality 8-cell embryo being frozen. In Cycle 2, 2 mature oocytes were retrieved, leading to the formation of additional good-quality embryos.

Embryo Pooling Outcome

A total of 4 embryos were successfully pooled, including two Grade 1, 8-cell embryos. This larger embryo pool allowed better selection and improved the overall chances of success.

Embryo Transfer

The two best-quality Grade 1 embryos were selected and transferred under optimal conditions for implantation.

A Story of Strategy Over Limitation

This case shows that when numbers are low, strategy becomes everything. Instead of being limited by one cycle: – Embryos were accumulated – Quality selection improved – Timing was optimised Even with very few eggs and male factor challenges, success became possible. At Birla Fertility & IVF, this approach turned limited chances into a successful outcome proving that sometimes, the best results come not from doing more at once, but from building the right opportunity over time.

The Outcome

β-hCG confirmed a positive pregnancy.

The pregnancy progressed successfully, resulting in the birth of a healthy baby.