How many embryos did you transfer?

jerseyleo

I see that many people have transferred 2 embryos. My doc says that they will only transfer 1 because of certain guidelines they must follow. I guess they look at my age (27)  and it being my first IVF. I just thought that 2 would better my chances. Ugghhhh. I just want to be a mommie already!

farmerlynda

My plan was to transfer one high quality blast on day 5, but when we got to the ET, our embryo quality was terrible so we transferred three (and got a BFN).  (By the way, I'm definitely the exception, not the norm -- so don't get too freaked out by my story.)  I'm 28 and if everything had gone as planned, I would have been comfortable with the decision to transfer one -- as long as we had some to freeze too.  DH and I would strongly prefer a singleton to twins, and our RE (like yours) basically told us we had to transfer one, so that's how we arrived at the decision.

At our next appointment, we will be talking to the RE about how many to transfer.  I am currently leaning towards two since we already have one failed cycle.  However, if my eggs are miraculously perfect this time around and the embryos look great on day 5, then I might consider transferring one.  My biggest issue right now is with the emotional side of things... if I transfer one and end up with a BFN, I know I will be beside myself feeling like I didn't do everything I could to get pregnant.

kelnyc

*sig warning*

This decision really does depend on your diagnosis, your doctor and the embryologist's advice, and your own feelings. Unless your fertility status is dire, I have to agree with your doctor. Even at my age (35) my doctor would not transfer 2 blasts on day 5. We did transfer 2, but it was on day 3, when the odds of both implanting successfully is much lower. We are now expecting 1 baby.

Everyone who goes through this wants to be a mommie, like yesterday. But that does not justify risking your health or having a high-risk pregnancy that risks both babies' lives in the process.

If you get a good number of eggs at ER and get to a day 5 transfer, I would just transfer 1 and freeze the others as your backup. There is also a good bit of research coming out that shows as single embryo transfer actually has better odds of taking in many circumstances, so you should consider that as well. 

jerseyleo

Farmer, I know we have different situations but I totally feel the same way. I want to do Everything and Anything I can for this to work. I am not sure that I can handle more disappointments. I'll be sending T & P your way .

jerseyleo

Thanks kel.

lawjjg522

My first transfer was in October,  I was 26,  they suggested two and said that really they dont recommend more then that (im sure many variables..)  Ended up with a BFN....

 

  I just had my FET  yesterday, I am now 27.  they transferred 3.....2 good/fair and one fair/poor

chels38026

I am 28, and my RE highly recommended transferring just one embie on my first IVF. She would only transfer two if it was 3 day transfer because she said there was less probability of them splitting, but DH wants to just transfer one. If this IVF doesn't work, we will plan to transfer two on a 3 day next time.

NMscubagirl

I am 31 and on day 5 we had 8 fairly strong embryos. Our major dx is severe MFI. We wanted the best chance at a healthy uneventful pregnancy so we decided to transfer the best looking expanded blast. Sadly it did not work.

With our recent frozen transfer we transferred 2 decent looking blasts. I am hoping it works this time.

GL to you 

farmerlynda

kelnyc:

If you get a good number of eggs at ER and get to a day 5 transfer, I would just transfer 1 and freeze the others as your backup. There is also a good bit of research coming out that shows as single embryo transfer actually has better odds of taking in many circumstances, so you should consider that as well. 

Do you have a link to the study?  I'm very curious to read it!  I haven't seen any of that research, despite the headlines that seem to suggest otherwise.  The studies I've read talk about having the same odds of getting pregnant after transferring the same number of embryos over time.  (In other words:  Transferring two embies at one time, versus transferring one embie each in two separate cycles -- one fresh, one frozen.)  For those people who are OOP, option one may be more feasible than option two, and unfortunately finances factor into these decisions.  And yes, option one does result in far more twin births than option two, which is why the media spins it into "fewer twins, same chance of success by transferring one embryo."

Also, I've seen a number of women on here get pregnant with one baby after a 2-blast day-5 transfer...  which really makes you wonder whether, had she gone with a 1-blast transfer, the doctors would have picked the "right" blast (the one with the ability to implant).  If the FET is part of a package deal, it matters less, but if you've already dug deep into your savings and you don't qualify for a package, that initial BFN matters a lot more.

Obviously it's a decision best left up to the patient and her RE, and we can all only speak from our own experiences.  Still, I don't think it's crazy or insane to transfer two blasts -- out of my last two REs, one recommended it and one didn't.  I'm curious to see what the third recommends next week!

KSTAR99

In my first IVF attempt I had only two embryos that made it to transfer day. We transfered both and one was successful. At the time I was 28 years old. My RE normally transfers two if possible.

Gregermis

We also were only allowed to transfer one. We'll be transferring 2 for my upcoming FET

Snarling Fox

Im 37 so they transferred/recommended 3 on a 3dt. 

marieinmonaco

Everyone already had so much good advice!  In our case, my RE strongly recommended just transferring 1 blastocyst for my age (it's a hatching 5-day blastocyst).  He told me 2 would be too risky since the 1 already had a high chance of taking & b/c I am already high risk for the next pregnancy. However, the choice was up to us ultimately in the end - 1 or 2 blastocysts but no more than 2.  But everyone's situation is so different! This was just what my dr. strongly advised me.

jessican08

My RE recommend transferring two unless we had a really stellar looking embie. As we were nearing ET I was really contemplating switching to one but seeing as how none of our remaining blasts made it to freeze, I'm glad we transferred two.

amandaleigh1

Ticker warning!

Sucess rates with number transferred and age group are likely to vary widely between clinics. I would have been recommended to transfer 1 at 5 days even at the age of 37 due to the data showing a similar outcome up to that age grou at my clinic. It turned out I got scheduled for a day 3 transfer due to only having 6 embryos to choose from.

But I did not want to have a twin pregnancy with any factors I had control over, so I only transferred 1 on day 3 and it stuck. The eSET decision was a lot easier for me because I purchased a multicycle plan ahead of time so that I would not be making a decision based on pure finances.

One thing I found helpful that my clinic showed me on the day of transfer was the number of pregnancies resulting from transfer of 1 vs 2 for my age group at my clinic. Success rates were pretty much the same but the twin rate for those successful was 50 to 60% for the 2 embryo transfer group. that was too high for me. 

ThereBeDragons

This is our fourth transfer. We've transferred two day 5s every time except FET#2 (there was only one available) and the sum result of 5 day 5 embryos was a singleton pregnancy lost at 6 weeks. Needless to say, the doctor isn't trying to talk us into a single transfer anymore. He's also not suggesting three though.

When we started I was 30, had no known issues apart from minor ovulation troubles. We're IVF due to MFI. He suggested a single transfer but if I specifically requested two- he would do two. I requested two. Our first FET, one blast didn't defrost properly but the other one was very very good. He, again, recommended just transferring the one. We requested two so he defrosted another to go with it. singleton lost at 6 weeks. We only had one left for FET#2, and it didn't work either.

Our embryos are amazing looking this time but there was no discussion of a single transfer. Twins are not a terrible outcome for us. 

kelnyc

farmerlynda:

kelnyc:

If you get a good number of eggs at ER and get to a day 5 transfer, I would just transfer 1 and freeze the others as your backup. There is also a good bit of research coming out that shows as single embryo transfer actually has better odds of taking in many circumstances, so you should consider that as well. 

Do you have a link to the study?  I'm very curious to read it!  I haven't seen any of that research, despite the headlines that seem to suggest otherwise.  The studies I've read talk about having the same odds of getting pregnant after transferring the same number of embryos over time.  (In other words:  Transferring two embies at one time, versus transferring one embie each in two separate cycles -- one fresh, one frozen.)  For those people who are OOP, option one may be more feasible than option two, and unfortunately finances factor into these decisions.  And yes, option one does result in far more twin births than option two, which is why the media spins it into "fewer twins, same chance of success by transferring one embryo."

Also, I've seen a number of women on here get pregnant with one baby after a 2-blast day-5 transfer...  which really makes you wonder whether, had she gone with a 1-blast transfer, the doctors would have picked the "right" blast (the one with the ability to implant).  If the FET is part of a package deal, it matters less, but if you've already dug deep into your savings and you don't qualify for a package, that initial BFN matters a lot more.

Obviously it's a decision best left up to the patient and her RE, and we can all only speak from our own experiences.  Still, I don't think it's crazy or insane to transfer two blasts -- out of my last two REs, one recommended it and one didn't.  I'm curious to see what the third recommends next week!

I had gotten a paper on it from my doctor, but ofcourse now I can't find it.    I know that it is new data coming out that suggests this, and obviously nothing proven. I agree that finances are a factor in this decision as well, which is why my advice hinges on them making it to day 5 and having at least a few of good quality to freeze. It would still suck and cost more to have to do FET, but it's not as much as a fresh cycle. 

MrsTrelayne

We transferred two the first time with no luck, and we only had one this time - still waiting to see.

Our doctor has criteria for eSET, and you don't *have* to meet them to transfer just one, but they recommend that you do. With my recent surgery for an ovarian endometrioma, I do not meet them. They have slightly higher success rates for single transfers, but that is almost certainly because they usually limit single embryo transfers to the most favorable situations.

MiRae

We transferred two "excellent" embryos on Day 5. That's what my RE recommended. We weren't against having twins though - I am a twin and would be ecstatic if that was the outcome. One of our embryos was hatching and he still transferred two.

Run20K

We transferred 2 on Day 3 during our last cycle at the RE's request, but the cycle was unsuccessful.  My husband and I agreed to always take our doctor's recommendation.  We're perfectly fine with transferring one as well, and in fact that's my RE's preference, but due to our unique situation it made sense to transfer 2 at the time.  

 

cyndi72

We transferred 3 embryos on day 3. With my age and DOR that was the best decision. One 6 cell, one 4 cell, and one 3 cell. It all depends on your age and diagnosis. If you are younger and have a favorable prognosis, they transfer less embryos and/or blastocysts.

orchid32

I hear you on the wanting to be a mommie thing!

We tranferred two today, which was 5 days past egg retrieval.

My RE says the chances that you get pregnant with one is much better when they put two in. He says the chances we will get twins is only 1 in 5. But he always puts two in. I am 33 years old. 

Best wishes to you! 

 

 

jerseyleo

Doc called today and said that 4 embryos have made it to day 5. I'm a little disappointed because we started with 32 eggs, 19 mature, 17 fertilized. These numbers go down quick. He said he usually likes to transfer 1 for women who don't have children but i have the option of transferring 2. I hadnt even mentioned that I would feel more hopeful that way. He also asked if I had a preference for gender. I do but I would never risk the quality because of gender so I said no. So today they are going to do PGD. I'm hoping and praying that they are all ok for tomorrow's ET.