Elective SET????

[Mrs G]

So at our planning appointment today we had to think about the number of embryos to be returned. They will do 2 but are pushing us (quite gently) to do SET. I went in thinking I def wanted 2 but after speaking to the nurse now think we were maybe being a bit short sighted. OK it MAY increase our chances slightly of one implanting but the risks of carrying and having twins are huge and the last thing we would want is to jeopardise our child's health cos we chose for him or her to be one of a twin.

I know there are no guarantees of 2 (or any) embies making it if 2 are transfered but I now feel like the potential risks outweigh the possible benefits.

Thoughts please...

Thanks xx

 

[Brambletess]

I thought that way too and still think it maybe is the best decision but after miscarrying I want to put two back in as am not so confident about the quality of my eggs anymore. Its such a dilema but I think I am going to go with two, if I get that many. If you get a good crop will you aim for a blastocyst? That would give you a clear front runner?

 

[rachelle1975]

Hmmm... i think i would opt for 2 still.
I know i have no personal experience of an IVF cycle (yet) but, having seen what so many people have gone through on this board with IVF and MC i think i would prob 'hedge my bets' for want of a better phrase... look at lovely Tanya - 2 put back in and only 1 took so you can just never tell

 

[akcher]

I knew I wanted 2 put in. My hubby wanted 3. Good thing we didn't listen to him lol. If you are careful and look after yourself. There should be no reason why you cannot carry healthy twins to term.

 

[Sammy2009]

Hi, well OH wanted just one... he is not over the moon about having twins but we have spoken (more like "I" have spoken lol) and we have agreed to have two put back in. The doc didnt really want to transfer two (like its HIS decision) but considering my age I think its best. I have made my peace with the fact that it might be twins and OH has as well although hes still secretly hoping its just one! ha ha. I dont want to have to go through this anymore times than i have to and I would kick myself if I only had one transfered and it failed, i know i would regret it. Chance of twins is 1 in 6 and it does seem to happen quite a lot to be honest. I would be happy with one to be fair... that would be ideal. But i am not in control of that so I will accept what and if i am lucky enough to be blessed with! (praying) If you have two or three chances free though (like I have) our doctor said he could try one the first time and then if it didnt work try two.... it may be a thought?

 

[Mrs G]

We have at least 2 goes on NHS and this is only our first shot at it. I'm just really worried that IF we have 2 put back and IF they both implant we might be risking the health of our babies. Rates for infant mortality and things like cerebral palsy are higher in twins. The hosp will do two but they do push you towards SET. I'm confused!!

xx

 

[Dilek]

I think you have to look at the quality of the eggs thats really important. Im sure when it comes to the time you will know whats best for your family.

 

[CurlySue]

There are a lot of ways of looking at it really. I suppose hindsight is always a wonderful thing. I always wanted two but was told I could only have one. When it came down to it though my eggs were not perfect and so two were put back because of that. It does depend on embryo quality a lot of the time. If one is perfect then they reckon it's better to go with one. If two are not so perfect then you are getting a better chance if both are put in. Apparently.

Now I have ridiculously been doing a lot of research lately but I really am in a Catch 22 situation, here. I have read that if you get pregnant with twins and one does not form/dies/messes up then there IS a chance of it affecting the other one. There is also a chance of going on to carry through a healthy pregnancy but studies have shown that a percentage of women who lose one twin will go on to lose the other one. I suppose these studies are very subjective since it could go one way or the other but unfortunately I have to ask myself if mine went the 'bad' way.

One of my 'twins' is a full sized 9 week old blighted ovum and the other one is now dead, forming only to around 5 weeks. I'm waiting to miscarry both. I have to ask myself did the one twin that blighted affect the other one; was I one of the unlucky people whose living baby was affected directly by the fact that the other embryo implanted and then messed up? There is such a thing as vanishing twin syndrome, where one does not make it and the other one forms perfectly, but there are also studies which suggest the body spends so much time trying to 'right' the 'wrong' one before giving up on it that the other baby suffers as a direct result. My blighted ovum is still growing. The baby that formed? Well, it's not.

But then, on the other hand, I also have to ask myself if only ONE had been transferred, would that have been the blighted ovum anyway? There was a 50/50 chance that it would've been. Then again there is a 50/50 chance that it WOULDN'T have been.

There is no guarantee the baby that formed would have survived if it had been transferred alone - but, it's something that truly does mess with my head.

Then there is the fact that it's more common to miscarry twins and yada yada yada...

I was quick to opt for two embryos transferred. I don't know if I'd do that again. I was so obsessed with that extra 5% that they quote - but now I wonder if it truly IS the be-all and end-all.

There are always risks. There are plenty of people who go through IVF and successfully carry twins. There are a few on here. I suppose I was unlucky in that sense, but it is good to know the pros and cons beforehand. If I do this again and there IS one perfect embryo, I'm getting just the one transferred. But, I was like most people beforehand, always preferring two. Like I said, hindsight is a wonderful thing...

 

[Beckic]

Hi hun,

I am a twin myself and have always wanted twins but it usually skips a generation - so I have always had the little thought in my head that I will get twins through IVF and then I can look back and say 'see - all that pain and crap we went through - that was so I could get twins' - so I elected for two good embryos to be put back in. Yet - despite both being well developed neither of them took.
I am glad that I put the two in - cos I think if I had only put back 1 I would now be sitting here wondering that if i had had two would it have made a difference - I know that Chocci wishes she had had two cos her perfect embryo didnt implant in her SET. SO i suppose you need to know what you would regret more.

Esp beacuse me and DH are unexplained i wanted to put back in two - cos I just have no idea of why it hasnt happened for us - and do worry that we have had fertilised eggs naturally before - but for some reason they don't implant.

Its such a difficult and personal decision - and I agree with the other girls that you dont always know till you see the quality of the embies anyway.

As for me - next time - if would they let me I would put everything i have back in there - cos if you throw enough crap at a wall somethings gotta stick right?

Bx x

 

[Mrs G]

CS and Bec, thanks so much for your replies. Like you say it's a case of which "what if" could we live with if something went wrong. I think we'll stick with one until we get the embryologist report and if there is no "perfect" one then we'll take their advice on 2.

xx

 

[Brambletess]

Good plan, some of the replies, especially CS's have made me rethink a bit my views. Its really tough but I have some time to think about it. Only a few days now before you start sniffing!!

 

[Mrs G]

I'm an injector, not a sniffer!!

x

 

[Brambletess]

is that once a day? would prefer that to having to remember to sniff at exact times. Only 5 days now and 9 for me! well 11 for sniffing and 9 for Noristerone (or whatever its called, but it regulates my cycle and ensures I bleed when am supposed to). Sorry this is the SET thread and not IVF Clover thread. Have a nice day.

 

[Mrs G]

Yep, buserelin once a day at same time. xx

 

[MissAma]

Same here two in - none out

I fought them for the two. They were perfect and they claimed I was young and were reluctant, I wanted 3 in if possible, I would have rather had multiples than had to go through it again. They wouldn't hear of it. We have three more cycles. I'll fight for 2 or even 3 every step of the way and hope to God we get to have it. You've had some good advice here and making a decision this early may not be what you need.... take your time and see how you feel closer to the date, it will come to you. Good luck!