Transferring Multiple Embryos

APM_SLP

I started chatting earlier today with a few fellow "Bumpers" about the possibility of transferring 2 embryos for my next FET.  I am curious what information you all have gotten from your RE's or your own research regarding positives and negatives.  Or, any personal experience you have with transferring two?

I've had 2 failed transfers thus far and have 3 PGS normal embryos in the freezer (4ab,4ab,5b-b-).  I am definitely planning on having an in-depth discussion with my RE before making any decisions.  However, as we are taking the month off for more testing that conversation won't happen for a few weeks!  

Thanks in advance for any information!   

sberries

This was a very difficult decision for me and my husband. Eventually we decided to transfer two. Part of our decision came from statistics from our fertility office (success rates were higher with two embryos transferred) and my age. A negative was the possibility of complications from a multiple pregnancy if both embryos made it. We were successful with the transfer and had one of the embryos stick. I think talking to your doctor is best! I had multiple conversations with him to weigh both options. Good luck!!!

capps42613

Although we did not do PGS testing, we transferred 2 & 1 stuck.

Isthisthereallife

APM_SLP we're just at the beginning stages of our IVF process. I haven't even started stimming yet. Assuming, however, that we get enough blasts to choose from, we will be transfering 2 embryos. Our clinic told us that if we transfer 1, we have a 45-55% chance of it sticking. She said if we transfer two, we have a 60-65% with a 30-40% chance of multiples for our age and DX. 

I hope that helps!

omarismyhomeboy

Ah! I am actually in a similar situation @APM_SLP. Just had my first failed FET with a PGS normal. I am going in for my WTF appt with my RE today and one of the things I am going to ask him if about the possibility of transferring 2. I know my clinic is very opposed to it given my age (31) and my PGS testing, but the reality is that I already had one that failed to implant. When I get back from my appt today I will let you know what he says. 

Colleen0516

I transferred 2 embryos 4 times all lead to no success. I transferred 3 fresh (day 3) embryos, 1 time and it lead to an ectopic pregnancy. Man, that sucks writing it out  
My RE will not transfer more than 2 on a day 5 transfer but will transfer more than 2 on day 3. I am going to be transferring 4 this time (I think). I think it all depends on the person, the medical history, the transfer history, and the quality of the embryos. Go with your gut and your doctors insight. 

jodes727

It's nice that your doctor will give you the option.  My re said that if we do pgs testing, she will only transfer one embryo.  I feel like I would rather transfer two, but she is firm on her beliefs on this topic.  So I am trusting her.

Colleen0516

@jodes727 if the PGS testing comes back normal, and the grading is good- i cant see why they limit you. I agree that we should have the option of 1 or 2, but at least the testing is good and your chance is very high

APM_SLP

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.  I want to do 2 if my testing this months comes back with no new significant information.  But, considering we only have 2 "good" graded embryos left (one male and one female), I'm so nervous we might lose one because we put two in.  Does that make sense?  Like I wonder if the odds of 2 live pregnancies are greater doing them separately as opposed to together.  

So far I have been completely against the odds when it comes to pregnancy success, so I don't know why I worry so much about statistics!

omarismyhomeboy

@APM_SLP Yes it makes sense. At my clinic this is certainly true. There is a slightly lower percentage of live births with 1 embryo than 2. Like, with putting 2 in, you have a slightly lower change of having 1 baby. BUT if only one takes, then you are probably just fine. 

Just had my appt with my RE and he's pretty opposed to putting 2 PGS blasts in. At least right now. He said I need more than 1 failed cycle to convince him it's a good idea. 

nellin-2

My clinic has a pretty firm policy of single embryo transfers because of the increased risk associated with multiples. 

In my case I had a lletz procedure for an abnormal pap smear which means multiples would be double risky (it means I have a weak cervix).

Hoping4Success

My re recommended 2 as well she said my chances go from like 60% to 80% with two so i. Ant decided plus my package only includes one embreyo transfer so if i have to pay more i wont. @Nellin ive had cryo done for an abnormal pap in 2010 but nothing was mentioned about that hmm

FatPony

When the embryo is very good, my clinic only allowed 1 for me. I've only transferred 2 embies once, resulted in a cp. I've done two single-transfers, those are the ones that stuck. So for me, it just seemed like random luck of the draw. 

ReesaAnne16

If you look at the SART website, you can use the calculator to estimate success rates. With my personal info, it suggests that the chances of a live birth with 1 cycle with 2 embryos is 57% verses 2 cycles with 1 embryo each is 66%.
https://sart.org/

flanners1

We had our embryos PGS tested and my RE would not put more than one back in the beginning either. After the second failed FET he agreed to putting back 2 - bit like what yours is saying  @omarismyhomeboy, he needed some proof one wouldn't work. 
Both stuck in the beginning but then we had what they call vanishing twin syndrome at week 9, and now have a healthy singleton pregnancy.
It's a tough decision to make, but just go with your gut feeling. Good luck @APM_SLP

tiffanyw1783

My RE recommends only transferring 1 in a fresh or FET. B/c of all of my complications and cancelled cycles, etc he transferred 2 in my fresh transfer (unsuccessful). We will also be transferring 2 in the FET just to try to give me the very best chances of getting pregnant.

nellin-2

@Hoping4Success I think from memory lletz is deeper than cryo. Or maybe it's about the severity? I had CIN3 changes and I think it was quite deep. I'm no expert so if you are worried it's probably worth asking your RE for peace of mind. 

My clinic does make exceptions to the single implant rule if they are low quality or after lots of failed rounds. 

APM_SLP

Awesome information!  Thank you all!

LadyMillil

My clinic automatically transfers 2 if it's a day 3 transfer (you can elect 1) and 1 at day 5.

Hoping4Success

@Nellin ya i should ask im considering doing one only because i might have to pay extra since my package only included one i think is how i understood it im all oop cant afford anymore extra put in i just paid 900 for my fet protcol 

mskeenan

**trigger warning :pregnancy mentioned ** 

i transferred 2 with my FET and only one stuck . My doc advised me against doing two due to my age (28 at retrieval ) but I did two anyways and I'm so glad I did because one didn't make it . I , however , had come to terms with the possibility of a multiple pregnancy so that's why my husband I were comfortable with our decision . I didn't do PGS though . 

Polythene Pam

**previous child mentioned **

the clinic we decided on only does one embryo transfer, we're in the very early stages but that's our current plan. I have one healthy daughter but her delivery was incredibly traumatic on me, so all doctors agree twins are not ideal for us, we're too nervous to risk it. Talk to me again though if we have enough not stick

Hoping4Success

Im also transferring two and were ok with twins but one healthy baby is the goal i will transfer 2 of my best to get us the best chances 

lilmissslp

I just had an ectopic so we won't be able to try again for awhile, but when we do, we'll be transferring two again. The only time I've ever been pregnant we transferred two. Unfortunately it implanted in the wrong place but it did result in a pregnancy.  

jodes727

@lilmissslp how are you recovering?  I've been thinking about you and hope all is going well!

APM_SLP

@lilmissslp I've been thinking about you so much! How are you?

lilmissslp

Thanks @jodes727 and @APM_SLP!  It's been a really rough journey. The surgery didn't take care of it all so I had to have a shot as well. I'm still going for weekly blood work until my hcg gets back to zero. I'm still just very sad and trying to move forward. How are you both doing?

jodes727

@lilmissslip I'm sorry that things have been so difficult for you.  I can remember sitting in the hospital waiting for the nurse to come to give me my shot for our second ectopic.  Just sitting there waiting, with tears and wishing for her to come quickly so I could go home and wishing at the same time that she would not come because I knew it would be over It is such a hard time!  What is your number?  

APM_SLP

@lilmissslp what a tough road you have been on.  I sure hope you are almost back down to zero and pray that you can start your next move very soon!

I'm okay.  My second FET failed, and we have no idea why because everything looked so great.  Just did some testing last week to see if anything else is going on before we do another.  In the meantime we are most likely breaking until the new year.  I've been so stressed out and even though I don't want to "waste" anymore time, I think I need to just clear my head for a bit.  

AandDM2014

*TW loss, bfp and pregnancy*

I had 9 embryos make it to day 5, and with each of my first 3 transfers, we did 2. On the third transfer, 1 stuck, but ended in a MMC at 10 weeks. For our 4th transfer, we only had 3 embies left, and after a terrible transfer history, doc agreed to transfer all 3. 3 weeks later, we saw 3 sacs with 3 heartbeats. All are still going strong at 15 weeks. Yes, there will be risks, but we were/are prepared for them.

Colleen0516

@lilmissslp how are you?? i've been thinking of you!

lilmissslp

@jodes727, I'm so sorry that you've had to go through this twice! Normally we hope and pray that our numbers go up and it just makes me so sad to hope mine go down. As of a week ago, my number was 172...finally out of the thousands! It's getting there just taking it's sweet time. Oh I was a mess at the hospital waiting for my shot too. I hate that the chance of a second ectopic is much higher. 

@APM_SLP I'm so sorry for your failed transfers. There just seems to be no rhyme or reason most of the time. As much as I want to try again, I am thankful that I have to wait due to the shot and my hcg levels. The hardest part of waiting to move forward is knowing that in that timeframe more friends and family will become pregnant, but I know I'm not physically or emotionally ready to move on. 

@Colleen0516, I'm hanging in there. Waiting for my hcg to get back to zero and trying to heal emotionally. This has been much harder than I expected and I'm still so sad. How are you?? I've been thinking about you too!! Will you be trying again soon?

Colleen0516

@lilmissslp your HCG was sooo high- its gotta be torture following it down. I HATED that part so much. I felt like I was stuck in the nightmare and couldn't put it behind me because my levels were still up. 

My levels dropped pretty quickly this time, they caught it pretty early for me. I'm currently in the TWW again. I'm scared though. I'm officially losing my mind and going crazy. Didn't really know how damaged I was, until recently. Its hard to just forget everything that happened. There is just too much to try and put behind me. I feel kinda numb this round. I'm still hopeful, but i'm starting to settle on the side of acceptance. By no means and I giving up, but i'm finally coming to terms with my journey and facing reality. We will see what this beta tells me..
What is your game plan??

lilmissslp

@Colleen0516 yeah at the time of my surgery it had gone up to 23,000. I think they were all very surprised. Yes, it is absolute torture waiting for it to come down and my body just doesn't know what's going on. No real game plan at this point. I had to have surgery and the shot and with the shot, you can't try again for at least three months. I'm meeting with my RE in a couple weeks just to see what he is thinking. This next try is our last try with IVF. 

Wow that's so exciting that you're in your two week wait! How many did you transfer? I completely understand how you're feeling. I'm very nervous about proceeding because I don't know how to move on emotionally. Some days I just feel so broken. I'm very hopeful for you and I can't wait to hear your results.