2 Embryo transfer?

[Aphrodite]

Just wondering who had the choice of 2 embryos or was it the clinics decision based on age etc?? Im obsessing over this at the minute as its a difficult thing to consider. I want to maximise my chances but obviously I am aware what the outcome could be! I really feel I want to go for it, I want a baby, but if I am lucky and the ICSI works, and if I get 2 then that would be wonderful-2 babies for the price of one!

How fussy are clinics about this?? What was your decision and how/why did u decide to do what you did? Im 26.

 

[mwmm]

At my clinic, we had to sign a form stating our agreement that only one embryo at blastocyst stage would be transfered, the nurse said that only in 'exceptional' circumstances did they transfer 2 blasts-We could, however, have 2 embryo's put back on a day 2 or 3 transfer, we were not lucky enough to have 2 transfered this time round though-I think the only time they put 2 blasts back is when you are over a certain age, or have had a number of failed cycles.

 

[Aphrodite]

There's another thread about this too-By the looks of it its down to each individual clinic. Ill have to find out on the open day. Thanks hun!

 

[Littlemo]

hello

i am also 26 and just had ivf/isci my hospital wanted just 1 embryo but i was'nt gonna take no chances i got 20 eggs 11 fertizied but only two was good enough in the end so i had them both transfered last saturday.

at the end of the day the hospital said its your choice but they will always only advise that 1 is put in due to me been young they advised me on 1 but we paid for this and i would never ever get over the fact that i had a choice of two and could have picked one that never worked....

i am keeping everything crossed that both my little embryos work but i belive two is better then 1 x

 

[Aphrodite]

Thanks littleMo, I agree 2 is better than one. I dont believe the potential risks are any more serious than if you conceieved twins naturally. If it can happen in nature, then I feel its ok for two.

Thanks for input, deffo want two and will push for this now. Thanks!

 

[kez70]

Hi,

My consultant has given me the option of 3 embryo transfers... If I get 3.

Think this is because I'm 39...

 

[bek74]

2 is the max you can have put back in here is Aussie. Some clinics recommend having only one put back in.
I had two put back in on day 2 transfer and both took.
My OB agreed to me having two without hesitation as I am 35 (almost 36) and by having two it increases my chances of having one. Also the fact I have already got children so he figured if both did take than I should be fine.
As I said, both did take.

I would recommend having two put back in, this is JMO

 

[Charmed73]

Here in the UK our clinic will only allow us to transfer a maximum of two in a woman of my age, but I am sure they would prefer if we only transferred one. I am also 35 (almost 36). We had 5 eggs collected, only 2 fertilised. We're due to have the transfer tomorrow - day 2. We would want and would be pushing for both to be put back. My husband and I know the risks of two being transferred, but it is a risk we are both willing to take. For us it's better to replace two and have either a twin or single pregnancy, than replace one and risk not being pregnant at all.

 

[Aphrodite]

I agree with you charmed, I think a lot of IVF women like us think along the same lines. Im only 26 but Im hoping for two also. Do you have a journal? I'd be interested to know how that works out for you. When are you having your treatment?

 

[rachelle1975]

Hey, i got put on the waiting list in Feb and they said that i could have 2 put back at that point.

Last week we had to confirm whether we were going for SET or having 2 embies put back - they said that at my age (34) we had a 30% chance with 1 embie and 35% with 2... we opted for 2 to be put back. I'm with Charmed.... i am happy to accept the risks - at least this is one part i have control over!

 

[Charmed73]

Thanks for your comments Aphrodite and rachelle.

We went along this morning for ET. One embryo had divided into two cells, the other into 5 cells. The embryologist described the first as being delicate. The second she gave a 4 out of 5 for quality. We were given the choice to replace one or both. We opted for two without hesitation.

If both were good quality or we were having day 5 transfer, I think they would have insisted on SET.

Now we have the two week wait... Pregnancy test will be Christmas Eve - what a Christmas present if it's positive.

I don't have a journal... but i'm thinking of starting one!

 

[Aphrodite]

wow charmed sounds like a cool present to me! So, which is better to have ET, Day 3 or 5?? Id read ur journal if u had one! Ill keep an eye on u

 

[Charmed73]

My opinion is that ET on day 5 is better than day 3 if you can get to day 5 and still have enough embryos to play with. If you can't get to day 5 then either day 2 or 3 will do. In my case I didn't have enough fertilised eggs to chance waiting until day 5, so they put them back on day 2... which is fine by me.

Everyone is different, this whole process is a lottery. Some you win and some you lose. Once the embryologist transfers them back in, then the rest is down to mother nature.

I've opened a journal called 'Journal: Charmed73 icsi' or something like that... look out for it.

 

[Aphrodite]

Thanks Charmed! I will x

 

[Tulip77]

Hi I agree with most of you guys... I am too in the process of having ICSI / IVF done sometime in 2010 & I would love to have twins. I am 32 yrs now and always dreamed of having twins. Thought would happen naturally, but sadly that hasn't been the case. Here in Aussie, the clinic I attended advised they will only transfer 1 embie at a time. Maybe I can push it & express my interest for twins...what do you guys think?

 

[Aphrodite]

By the looks of things tulip if you push for two as you specifically want twins, and you tell them that, they are maybe less likely to do it as it looks like these clinics want to avoid multiple pregs. But you could still push for 2-argue as ur over 30 or something u want higher chance-not that over 30 is bad, just saying use anythin as a reason to get them to put back two!!!

 

[FBbaby]

In England, clinics have been told they now have to stay below a certain ratio of twins to singleton births. At the moment, the percentage is the national average, so if the clinic has a lower rate of twins anyway, they are more likely to agree to two than if they have a high percentage. In a few years, they will have to be under an even lower percentage and they will restrict even more. The main factor for restriction is age, the younger you are, the more likely they will insist on 1 transfer.

The reason for this is it has to be said costs. Twins are much more likely to be born early and needing special care. The cost of looking after premature babies is massive, can easily go up to £100K or more per baby, which means it is putting a lot of pressure on the nhs budgets. Also, there is a known lack of specialist nurses, and I think that is all over the world in general, so there are concerns about the level of care those babies are getting.

PCTs are being pressured to increase the number of cycles they fund, including FET and in a couple of years, it is likely that most will fund 3 full cycles (with FET), so I suppose they will justify insisting on one transfer on that basis. Not too helpful if you go private, so maybe clinics will support two transfer for private patients, I don't know. Anyway, hope this helps to explain. I think there is a detailed explanation on the HFEA webpage.

 

[Aphrodite]

Thanks FB, very useful x x

 

[jojoD]

We are starting our ICSI treatment in January. I would love twins!!! But like most of you, our clinic prefers women of my age to opt for single embryo transfer (I'm 27). Unless they are a very low grade. They've noted I'd like two put back and I'll have to discuss it with the embrologist on the day when we know the grades etc.. Took this info off the net (applies to UK):

Single embryo transfer is the only effective method to reduce IVF multiple pregnancy rate, the single biggest health risk to both mother and child associated with fertility treatment.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) recently asked clinics to reduce multiple pregnancy rates from an average of 24% to 10% over the next three years. Currently in the UK, most fertility treatments involve transferring two embryos into the womb, increasing the likelihood of multiple pregnancy and the associated risks. These guidelines are designed to help clinics meet the criteria set by the HFEA, while not compromising the live birth rate.

The guidelines recommend:
Patients should be carefully examined to assess if eSET is suitable for them. In the UK, 87% of multiple pregnancies occur in the first cycle of treatment, in women aged under 37. If patients are carefully selected (e.g. women under 37, in their first IVF cycle who have several high quality embryos), eSET plus subsequent frozen embryo transfer can be as effective as double embryo transfer, and does not compromise the likelihood of conception.

Currently 1 in 4 IVF births in the UK results in twins or triplets, compared to 1 in 80 births following natural conception. Multiple pregnancy significantly increases the likelihood of miscarriage and death, prematurity and low birth weight in the infant. It can also lead to long term health problems for children, such as cerebral palsy, and risks to mothers such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes and heart disease. For more information see https://www.oneatatime.org.uk/

It's really not an easy decision and hard to make in advance without knowing quality etc.. Just hope I'll be guided on the day to make the right choice xxx

 

[Littlemo]

hi everyone,