Another IVF Q

cmw&tdm

Sorry to be a PW, but you guys are my best source of info on all things IVF, besides my RE of course.

 Can they tell the quality of the eggs at the time of retrieval?  I don't think this is an issue, because last time we only expected 9, but since I really don't want any leftover embryos I'm wondering if I can choose to not fertilize anything over about 10 eggs.  Like, say I get 20 eggs.  I wonder if I can have them fert 10 and freeze 10 for possible later use. 

Anyone's RE do this at a pt request?

caden

I asked my first RE about my egg quality and she only seemed to know if the eggs were mature or not. She wasn't able to tell me if the mature ones were any good. Maybe you could call your RE and ask. I'm not sure what embryologists can tell just by eyeballing the eggs.

skoorbnibor

Not all REs freeze eggs, do you know if yours does?

roaringrock

I don't think they can tell the quality but they can see if they're mature or not.

cmw&tdm

skoorbnibor:

Not all REs freeze eggs, do you know if yours does?

 Hmm, I honestly don't know, but they do have an egg donation program if that would indicate anything.

krissyh21

No, all they can tell is whether the eggs were mature or not. I have heard that freezing eggs before fertilization kind of hurts their quality, that is why not very many REs even consider doing it.

ETS - when an egg is donated, usually it is inseminated that day (just like IVF), so that is not an indications if they freeze eggs

SaraJaneKregel

With my IVF, the embryologist gave my matured and fertilized eggs grades A to D.  A being the best.  She was able to determine this after the retrieval during the 4-5 day period before transfer to see how they were growing.  We were able to freeze 2 eggs.  She said they only will freeze eggs that are a grade A.  I don't think I had a choice with the other ones.

ladychicago

we did limited fert....    so they got 13 mature eggs from me, fertilized 2, and froze my remaining eggs for future cycles.  

when we asked about egg quality assessment, our RE said it was much less sophisticated than embryo assessment.   it sounded like there wasn't much variation in mature eggs, but they said they could fert two they knew looked good.   we didn't ask for too much more detail. 

I'm not sure what exactly your reasons would be for not wanting to fert all of your eggs, but just know that egg cryopreservation is still considered relatively experimental, and freezing/thawing eggs is more risky and less successful than freezing/thawing embryos.    embryos seem to hold up better to the process than eggs typically do.   the technology is getting better, but as of right now, a lot depends on the process they use to freeze the eggs, so you'll want to ask about that.     

cmw&tdm

krissyh21:

No, all they can tell is whether the eggs were mature or not. I have heard that freezing eggs before fertilization kind of hurts their quality, that is why not very many REs even consider doing it.

ETS - when an egg is donated, usually it is inseminated that day (just like IVF), so that is not an indications if they freeze eggs

That makes sense.  I didn't know about how the egg donation works.  Guess I'll just ask about it.  It's probably a moot point anyway.

Btw, your siggy is so cute!  Can't believe how big he's getting!

ladychicago

I'll also add that some RE's do have a frozen egg donor bank...      and someone over on IF just got pregnant using donor eggs from a frozen bank.   but they aren't the norm.   

in general, egg cryopreservation was mostly used in situations like with cancer patients before chemo...  with women trying to preserve fertility before undergoing something that might cause them to be sterile later.   so it just wasn't very common and not the standard of care with most REs.    but many, especially university-based/research-oriented REs are doing a lot to try to advance it and make it more successful.    

krissyh21

cmw&tdm:

krissyh21:

No, all they can tell is whether the eggs were mature or not. I have heard that freezing eggs before fertilization kind of hurts their quality, that is why not very many REs even consider doing it.

ETS - when an egg is donated, usually it is inseminated that day (just like IVF), so that is not an indications if they freeze eggs

That makes sense.  I didn't know about how the egg donation works.  Guess I'll just ask about it.  It's probably a moot point anyway.

Btw, your siggy is so cute!  Can't believe how big he's getting!

Thanks - I can't believe it either! He has turned into a little man over night!

Good luck with your cycle!!!

JGirl2005

I don't think they can tell much from eggs alone - gotta be embies.  that said...I don't think you can freeze eggs.  You can freeze a whole ovary, but not eggs.  I think you CAN but they would not survive like embies would.  If this was the case you could use donor eggs frozen like donor sperm and that isn't hte case because if you do donor eggs you have to time it correctly with the egg donor.

JGirl2005

SaraJaneKregel:

With my IVF, the embryologist gave my matured and fertilized eggs grades A to D.  A being the best.  She was able to determine this after the retrieval during the 4-5 day period before transfer to see how they were growing.  We were able to freeze 2 eggs.  She said they only will freeze eggs that are a grade A.  I don't think I had a choice with the other ones.

they didn't freeze your eggs if they were fertilized, they are embies at that point.  they only grade embies.

JGirl2005

for example, I think Jennifer An.niston was rumored to have frozen her eggs (since she didn't have a guy to fertilize them...), but the chance of those making it are very low, so they have to freeze a lot more eggs as krissy says - it isn't advanced at all. 

I am not sure of the numbers but embies are better managed, survive more, etc.

Now, freezing your whole ovary (for cancer surviviros or before they undergo chemo) has a better chance than freezing eggs - from what I have read.

That is why if you watched grey's anatomy they asked Alex to fertilize Izzie's eggs as they are much better than just plain ole eggs.

Not sure why you don't just fertilize all...I mean I know you don't want left over, but I would just fertilize all.