Transfer 1 or 2 embryos???

[Teta81]

I am so torn about what I should do and am looking for some advice and curious as to what others have done and their success. I had my egg retrieval 2 days ago, 9 eggs retrieved, 8 of which fertilized, and 7 dividing today on day 2. I will either have a 4 or 5 day transfer. My re said he will recommend a single embryo transfer on day 5 if there is a good looking blast. But will give me the option of transferring 2 if I want. I am totally stressed out and don't know what the right answer is! There are so many factors, I would be devastated if one didn't take, and wish I did 2, but am very cautious about having twins, as I work in a field were I see many high risk pregnancies. I would love to hear what other people have done and how it worked out for you!!

 

[HandM]

I am in my second pregnancy from IVF. I have a 2yr old son from IVF in '09. Both times 2 embryos were transfered on the 3rd day. Both times only one took. My doctor strongly recomended both times to transfer 2 and not 1 because of it being a better chance, and they said they would hate to see me only do one and have to try IVF again if the one didnt take. ( Its a " chances" thing!)

my first time after transfer the embryos didnt develop any more or well enough so they were disgarded. So if it didnt work i would have to start all over from begining.

this time I have 5 that developed and we now have them frozen incase we want to do again in future.

Hope this helps!! If I had to do it again for a 3rd time i would transfer 2 again!!!

 

[Teta81]

Thanks that does help! I have a 2 yr old daughter as well, not ivf tho, through iui which didn't work this time after 8 rounds of trying... So knowing that you understand the chances of twins with a toddler at home part helps a lot! Congratulations to you!!

 

[HandM]

LOL! yeah, we definatly thought alittle more about the number to be transfered this time around with the toddler at home!!! but like I said, when i brought the conserns(sp?) to doc this is what they suggested.

Good luck to you!!!!!

 

[Teta81]

Thank you so much for your reply. It really helps to hear others input and reasoning. I know it's going to end up being a last min decision based on what they have to say about the embryos, there is just too much I don't know yet to make an informed decision. My dr will push for 1, but My gut is telling me 2, so that I can have one as "backup", but I think that is my miscarriage experience talking. (FYI I miscarried IDENTICAL twins in July, resulting from iui, a chromosomal abnormality- prob should have mentioned that!) But I know that one is safer and would be better for our family. At the same time I know that if I do have twins, it will feel like It was always meant to be!

 

[icklefish]

Hi teta81, I am having a 3dt tomorrow, I only had 3 eggs to collect luckily they all fertilised. We are going with a 3dt as that what has been recommended to us by our consultant and embryologist, we will be havin two put back in, DH & I have discussed it length and we'd be happy with twins if that was the outcome.
Follow your heart and good luck
xx

 

[ickle pand]

This site is pro-single embryo transfer but it does explain the reasons why it's safer etc. It's always best to have all the information before you make a decision. One thing I took from it, is that transferring a single embryo rather than 2 doesn't halve your chance of getting pregnant like you'd expect. It's a very personal decision though, I just thought I'd pass this on to help make the right one for you.

https://www.oneatatime.org.uk/index.htm

HTH

 

[Teta81]

That site is great! Thanks so much for sharing it!! I seems from my research that SET is encouraged much more in Europe than in the US, and I get the sense that it is related to finances more than anything. I have learned a lot on the research that I have done, it's very interesting. It's going to be a last minut decision for my based on how my embryos look, how many are good to freeze etc. thanks again for your input!

 

[ickle pand]

Yeah it's a good site with lots of good info rather than just saying don't do it. I know that when our time comes I'm going to have to fight the urge to beg the doctor to put all the embryos back lol!

Let us know what you decide and we'll send sticky bean vibes your way

 

[Teta81]

So I had my transfer yesterday. It went very well and we decided to transfer TWO embryos!!! The embryologist came in and told us that there were 2 good looking embryos (a 4AB blast and a 3AA blast) and acted like that's what we were putting in. Then she hesitated and said... Unless you want one?? Both my husband and I felt like she thought right off that we should put both in. Then the dr told us that there is a 40% chance of pregnancy and 25% chance of twins with both going in. The other factor was that there were only 2 "ok" looking embryos to freeze. I just felt like if I froze one of the good ones and didn't end up pregnant and lost that one in the thaw, it would have been wasted for nothing. I'm very comfortable with my decision which is a huge relief. Thank you again for all of your input!!

NOW FOR THE WAIT...................

 

[ickle pand]

Good luck! Keep us posted when you test

 

[HandM]

Im excited to hear how it goes!! waiting takes foever!!!!

 

[babydrms]

I stalked your thread a little...having same dilema ourselves. Our clinic HIGHLY encourages SET and are roud of their low rates of multiples...That being said I am leaning towards two as well. My reasons are a little different...If we had two, I honostly feel we would be done and I would never have to go through the IVF nightmare again. I also work in high-risk obstretics, so I am also worried about the possible complications...Such a big decision.

Teta - so glad you can make a decision you were comfortable, by this time next week I will be in the same position.

 

[Teta81]

Babydrms.... I'm not sure if I mentioned this is my previous posts, but I am a nicu nurse which also weighed heavily on my decision. So i 100% undstand where you are coming from. I can say at this point I am still happy with the decision and it just felt right at the time. I'll keep you posted!

 

[babydrms]

Babydrms.... I'm not sure if I mentioned this is my previous posts, but I am a nicu nurse which also weighed heavily on my decision. So i 100% undstand where you are coming from. I can say at this point I am still happy with the decision and it just felt right at the time. I'll keep you posted!

Now that you mention it, it does ring a bell that you are a NICU RN from another thread. So many RN's in these threads!!

I think we should all remember how many HEALTHY twins deliver. We delivered 5 sets last week, earliest being 36 weeks and they were the only ones to go to NICU (and only because any gestation less than 37 goes per protocol) - Many NICU RN's don't even realize how many are just fine because you only get to see the sick ones.

 

[Teta81]

It's so true I don't know such a thing as healthy twins bc I never see them. I actually called my OB before The transfer to ask them how many do well. They acted like I was nuts!!

 

[babydrms]

It's so true I don't know such a thing as healthy twins bc I never see them. I actually called my OB before The transfer to ask them how many do well. They acted like I was nuts!!

haha, your too funny. I just looked at my hand-out from the RE which is from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the average length of pregnancy for twins is 35 weeks - so we obviously know some go earlier, but a lot go very close to term.

Clearly the OB must know that ALL us IVFer's are nuts!!

 

[Teta81]

Hahaha true. I never used to be nuts. This all made me into one of "those"

 

[Teta81]

Babydrms how did your retrieval/ transfer go? Did u have them yet?? Did u decide how many you will put back in?? As for me I go for my beta tomorrow morning but have had 3 days of bfp now!! Started testing on 6dp5dt and got a pretty solid positive, and only stronger from there. I am pretty convinced it is twins since with my daughter I didn't have a bfp until the 14dpo!!! My latest worry is that one embryo split and there are 3 in there!! Yikes, why can't we just enjoy it and not worry?? So beta in am, trying not to get my hopes up yet......

 

[Care76]

Teta we had our transfer on the same day. Mine were 3dt though as we only had 3 embryos and didn't want to risk loosing them. I won't have my beta until later next week though! I won't be testing for a while either as I was urged not to by my RE.

Congrats on your BFPs!!!!!!!!!

FX for Babydrms too!!!