IVF ladies - Transfer question

mikey&amie

How many embies are you planning on transferring (assuming you have a choice), and how old are you?

I'm 40, and we're really struggling with this.  I want a baby, but I want ONE baby.  I get that it's not always that easy.  My doc said at my age, they generally transfer 3.  I'm not comfortable with that at all, and we're seriously thinking about doing a single.  Ultimately we will look at the quality and decide from there.  Our tentative plan is to do one rockstar embie or 2 so-so/good ones.    What are your thoughts, or what are you planning?

Mrs.McIrish

I have no children so if I am able, I would absolutely transfer 3.  I am 38 but unfortunately, the odds of me actually having 3 embies is low due to my DOR.  Also, my quality the last time was atrocious so even with 3, the quality is unlikely to be rockstar quality. I put back the 2 we had last time and nothing took.

It really is your choice. At 40, I would not do a single embryo transfer because the risk of it not taking is too great for me. Even though it may look like a rock star, it could still be chromosomally abnormal. It's a risk either way: 2 could give you twins but 1 could get you nothing. Also if you are doing assisted hatching, that raises the risk that the embie will split--so you could still end up with 2 even with a SET.

GL with your decision.

mikey&amie

Mrs.McIrish:

I have no children so if I am able, I would absolutely transfer 3.  I am 38 but unfortunately, the odds of me actually having 3 embies is low due to my DOR.  Also, my quality the last time was atrocious so even with 3, the quality is unlikely to be rockstar quality. I put back the 2 we had last time and nothing took.

It really is your choice. At 40, I would not do a single embryo transfer because the risk of it not taking is too great for me. Even though it may look like a rock star, it could still be chromosomally abnormal. It's a risk either way: 2 could give you twins but 1 could get you nothing. Also if you are doing assisted hatching, that raises the risk that the embie will split--so you could still end up with 2 even with a SET.

GL with your decision.

  This is very helpful, thank you.  My RE said that the chances for twins go way down with age but still overwhelming and a tough decision!

lhcooper

It really, really depends on the quality of the embryos you end up with.  I did my one and only IVF this summer, just before I turned 40.  We had 5 embryos, and all were "grade A," but on the day of our transfer (3-day), none were 8 cells the way they are supposed to be.  We transferred the 6-cell, the 5-cell, and 2 -- yes, 2 -- 4 cells.  None of them took.  At the time, our doctor said we had about a 1-2% chance of any kind of multiples at all.

I would never have transferred fewer than 2 no matter what the quality, since we are OOP and really needed it to work...which, of course, it didn't.  I hope it does for you -- good luck!

maddie7

Wow tough call - most of my friends transferred 3 but they NEVER all took, some 2 took, but most of them only 1 took. I would follow your doctor because they know what's best and who wants to waste a shot or go through it again? But this is opinion. I so want twins so I will put 3 in.

Country Girl in the City

At my REs office they really try to make sure that singeltons are the most often outcome of IVF.  I have a friend that goes to the same practice but a different location.  She has two transfered each time (she did not have three good ones or would have done three).  Each time she ended up with one baby.

My RE practice has a website with their stats on multiple births.  You may see if your has the same thing so that you can make an informed decision.  I would also have a serious talk with the RE about the likelyhood of ending up with multiples.  Personally, I would be fine with twins but it would not be good for my body. 

annalisel

Where we go insists on transferring 3, if available, for 40 year olds. A scarily high 1/3 of positives are twins (according to the SART statistics.) You could inquire around to see if there is a local doctor who does selective reduction from 2 to 1. A singleton pregnancy is much safer and healthier for the mother and surviving baby.

irishgirl0525

My RE's office will only transfer 2 max. Before I knew this, I was thinking that I woudl want to go with 3 if I had them, but I guess the decision is made for me on this.

lmydogally

It's going to depend on the quality of your embryos.  I'm 38 and we transferred 2 high quality with very little fragmentation.  My cycle was nearly perfect and we have twins on the way.  If it were me and I really did not want more than one, I would go by both the quality of the embryos and my lining and make a decision. 

Edit:  Also take into consideration a 5 day vs. 3 day transfer.  Mine was a 5 day and they were both at the highest stage for a 5 day transfer.  I knew I would most likely end up with twins but I didn't mind.  Now, in about 18 weeks I may wish I had just put back one.  lol :0