IVF girls- How many embryos?

[emilyjean]

Did you transfer, and why? I know the recommendations tend to increase due to age, but I'm curious as to other reasons. If you haven't done IVF yet, how many are you planning to transfer?

I think I'm leaning towards transferring two, though I've thought about doing three as well. I want to have higher chances, and also wouldn't mind twins. I think I'd prefer twins as one IVF cycle is going to cost us nearly 20k, and we want at least 3 children. I haven't really talked to my doctor about this though, since we are still a couple months away from starting.


So ladies, how many?

 

[emilyjean]

anyone?

 

[JaniceT]

It honestly should boil down to the quality of embryos and how many you're willing to have. In addition, the riks involved by carrying multiples.

I had 3 ICSI's:
1st ICSI, 3 embies low and average quality.
2nd, 3 embies low and average quality.
3rd, 4 embies, average quality. (the only 4 that made it out of 30 fertilised eggs). Given 10 percent chance per egg.

Statistically, my single BFP had less than 3 percent chance througout my TTC journey.

 

[tinybutterfly]

we can't really chose, law issues.

bc i'm young, the first time (today) they only transfer 1 embryo
every next try we can opt to have 1 or 2, our decision

if you're over a certain age...not sure if it's 35 or 40, they transfer 2 the first time
and up to 3 every next try

 

[emilyjean]

Thanks Janice- congrats on the pregnancy! My doctor automatically includes ICSI, but I didn't realize how low the chances are of the eggs fertilizing, or being good enough to qualify for transfer!

tinybutterfly- How exciting! Can I ask where you're from and how old you are? I know with my age they will probably not recommend doing more than 2, but I don't believe there are laws determining how many can be transfered.

 

[Dilek]

I did 2 and i was 28 and my consultant didnt even budge he actually was giving me the ok. Only cause of my bad endo and other issues. And we only have 1 baby. Honestly i think most do 2 and mostly there is only 1 baby. But ofcourse there are a few with twins.

I always wanted to 2 cause if u did 1 you would always kill urself for not putting 2 back. Plus freezing the embies affects there quality when its time for fet.

Good luck

 

[Starbright]

Hi
We were told that our clinic had a very strict single embryo policy. But, on the day of the transfer the embryologist recommended transferring two based on the quality of t he embryos. There were 5 overall - 2 were at grade 2 and the rest were grade 3. But one of the grade 3s had developed more than the others, so they recommended transferring that one along with one of the grade 2s. We had about 20 minutes to make the decision!!
... I got my bfp last week

Good luck for your treatment xx

 

[emilyjean]

Dilek- I think you're definitely right about most doing 2 and ending up with one baby. Thanks! Congrats on the baby!

Starbright- OMG congrats! Do you know yet if it's one or two?

 

[Blue12]

My clinic does 2 for a fresh cycle and 3 for a FET cycle - but since we are paying we get to make the choice regardless. My clinic typically does day 3 transfers, but I have two friends whose clinics do day 5 transfers and they usually encourage 1 for a fresh cycle, and 2 for a FET cycle.

Best wishes.

 

[natp18]

we can't really chose, law issues.

bc i'm young, the first time (today) they only transfer 1 embryo
every next try we can opt to have 1 or 2, our decision

if you're over a certain age...not sure if it's 35 or 40, they transfer 2 the first time
and up to 3 every next try

Hey Hun

I am in the uk and under 30, my consultant said it's up to us if we choose 1 or 2 didn't mention out about it being law that you could only transfer 1 egg on 1st attempt. I was told you do have to be above 35 to have 3 put back.....
I think it's a matter of what consultant you talk to, some have recommended 1 and other have said 2

Still not made up my mind yet..

Hugs
Nat x

 

[tinybutterfly]

^^ no no, regardless of consultant, first time they only put back one,
they changed the law here around that bc there were too many multiples born.
that's just here in my country though, elsewhere they're not that strict

tinybutterfly- How exciting! Can I ask where you're from and how old you are? I know with my age they will probably not recommend doing more than 2, but I don't believe there are laws determining how many can be transfered.

i'm from belgium and am 25 and we do have laws for that here.
otherwise i would have definatly picked to have 2 put back hehe. i'd love twins!


shedding more light on the ICSI-odds, ours were also made with ICSI, out of 15 eggs, 10 fertilized
1 topembryo (grade 1 as you guys call it) was put back, and 7 others (also grade 1, they're terribly strict when it comes to freezing here) for future FET if we'd need it.

 

[Starbright]

Dilek- I think you're definitely right about most doing 2 and ending up with one baby. Thanks! Congrats on the baby!

Starbright- OMG congrats! Do you know yet if it's one or two?

Thank you!! Don't know yet if it's twins or a singleton. I've got an early scan next week so should find out then. I'm still a bit shellshocked as I was convinced it wasn't going to work!

xx

 

[emilyjean]

Thanks girls!

tinybutterfly- Wow, so ICSI gives much higher odds for sure, that's relieving. I know a lot of women have to pay extra for it, I feel fortunate that my doctor does it standard. And ugh I bet the TWW after IVF is crazy! I hope you've got a lot to keep yourself busy! I have a good feeling for you!

Starbright- lol, I imagine I'll be shocked when it finally happens for me as well! Definitely keep us posted, do you have a pregnancy journal? I want to stalk it!

 

[tinybutterfly]

i can keep myself busy, work tomorrow and friday and we also booked a holiday early september (to go visit my brother),
so i'll spend the weekend doing laundry, making sure i have all the dresses, skirts etc i want with me haha.

the nurse told me that some patients asked if they could have 2 weeks of from work to rest.
omg, i'd go NUTS if i just sat around and did nothing all day

 

[vineyard]

My doctor said no more than 2. But, when it came down to it we put back 3. 2 were only mediocre quality. Plus, we only had 3 left on day 5. Doctor wasn't willing to freeze just 1 and I wasn't willing to throw the 3rd one away so the doctor agreed to transfer them all.

I now have 10 month old twin girls!

 

[BizyBee]

Hi! I opted for 2, 5-day blasts (I'm 30). I'd be happy with twins but also felt I would regret putting one back if it didn't work. My clinic will do 1-3 depending on quality of embryos, age, and patient preference. I won't find out if it worked until next week, so I'm trying to stay busy.

P.S. I know it varies based on egg quality but I had 6/7 fertilize using ICSI.

 

[JynxPhD]

I had 21 eggs retrieved, 17 were mature and fertilized by ICSI. By day 5 only 9 were good. We transferred 2 and I miscarried at 4-5 weeks. I then had 2 of the frozen ones transferred and am now almost 33 weeks along with twins. My clinic will only transfer 2 embryos until you turn 39. Then they will transfer a max of 3. Under 30 they recommend only transferring 1. Those are their policies. There aren't any actual laws in the US just guidelines.

 

[JaniceT]

Thanks Janice- congrats on the pregnancy! My doctor automatically includes ICSI, but I didn't realize how low the chances are of the eggs fertilizing, or being good enough to qualify for transfer!

tinybutterfly- How exciting! Can I ask where you're from and how old you are? I know with my age they will probably not recommend doing more than 2, but I don't believe there are laws determining how many can be transfered.

Thanks Emilyjean It's been a very long journey for us. My track records show a low success rate even by transfering 3 embies each time. I'm glad my new Doc for the 3rd try tweeked my ICSI procedure and suggested I put back 4 due to the low quality. He was in fact quite pleasantly suprised that I was pregnant

Yes, for some, it's easier to fertilise with more than 50% fertility rate of eggs. For me, it isn't because I have PCOS. PCOS is an annoying thing, it tends to produce lots of eggs but of lower quality.

All the best to you and may your dreams come true

 

[Isi Buttercup]

Supposed to start mine in October/November, God willing. Both hospitals I spoke with put in a maximum of 3, for my age (33). My absolute heart's desire is to have twins!!!!

Good luck