Unscientific clicky poll - How many frozen embies do you have left

krissyh21

The link going on around facebook about the teacher who was fired because of ART got me thinking about this . But how many frozen embryos really do "go to waste". I don't know many people with an unlimited supply of frozen embryos to transfer so just curious.

Is it just a misconception people have that IVF produces 40 eggs and 39 frozen? I only had 1 frozen to use after 3 fresh cycles, but I am also a poor responder, so am not sure what the "norm" of frozen embryos really is.

Here is the link to the story in case you don't know what I am talking about. https://abcnews.go.com/US/teacher-fired-receiving-fertility-treatments/story?id=16205486

And if you could add - if you do have frozen embryos do you plan on future FETs with those. 

Thanks 

[Poll]

ladychicago

My interpretation of that article (and this part of the Catholic Church's objection to IVF) is not that IVF always creates a ton of embryos and just discard them.   But rather that the process produces excess embryos, period.   That could mean that people complete their families and choose to discard any remaining embryos OR it could refer to embryos that are created, not transferred, and not deemed high enough quality to freeze (so are destroyed/discarded/left to stop developing in the lab).  

Of course, the Catholic Church is also opposed to freezing embryos in the first place.  Not to mention their opposition to the creation of embryos in a lab, the creation of embryos via IUI (well, any creation of an embryo that doesn't happen between a husband and wife through sex), the collection of semen for analysis or fertilization (unless done with a perforated condom and sex)...    I could go on.  

I am Catholic, yet did IVF, so clearly I part ways with the Church on lots of these issues.    But still...   I just thought I'd attempt to clarify the "problem" for that Catholic school.     Regardless, it is highly unusual for a Catholic institution to take their stance on this issue as far as this school did.     (heck, my old Catholic employer even covered IUIs on our insurance....) 

LnR70707

We will be doing FET.  We have 7 right now, frozen individually and our clinic highly recommends single transfers.  If we have any left after #2 we will probably keep them until we are sure our family is complete, then donate to science.

Fancy3Face

We have three and we plan to use all. 

etoyama

We have 2 frozen and will transfer them one at a time. We would like one more child only. If we have any left over we'll do a "compassionate transfer". ETA: at one point I had 4 frozen but I used 2 of them for a FET that resulted in a BFN.

CardsfanSM

We had three frozen from IVF #2. Those were transferred and resulted in our twins.

Dragonfly1226

Yes, we hope to use our frozen embies for FET cycles. Ironically, insurance won't currently cover it since my Cd3 labs have been all monkeyed up. I don't even need my ovaries for a FET

krissyh21

ladychicago:

My interpretation of that article (and this part of the Catholic Church's objection to IVF) is not that IVF always creates a ton of embryos and just discard them.   But rather that the process produces excess embryos, period.   That could mean that people complete their families and choose to discard any remaining embryos OR it could refer to embryos that are created, not transferred, and not deemed high enough quality to freeze (so are destroyed/discarded/left to stop developing in the lab).  

Of course, the Catholic Church is also opposed to freezing embryos in the first place.  Not to mention their opposition to the creation of embryos in a lab, the creation of embryos via IUI (well, any creation of an embryo that doesn't happen between a husband and wife through sex), the collection of semen for analysis or fertilization (unless done with a perforated condom and sex)...    I could go on.  

I am Catholic, yet did IVF, so clearly I part ways with the Church on lots of these issues.    But still...   I just thought I'd attempt to clarify the "problem" for that Catholic school.     Regardless, it is highly unusual for a Catholic institution to take their stance on this issue as far as this school did.     (heck, my old Catholic employer even covered IUIs on our insurance....) 

I know the whole act of ART is against the catholic church. But the article just got me thinking in whole about misconceptions about IVF in general (not the church's misconceptions).

I know when I was completely uninformed about the whole process I was sure I would have to do this thing once and have enough for a couple/few of FETs and be done or not have to do a fresh cycle right away.

So my unscientific poll more has to do with the average number of frozen embryos to enlighten people that those 20 plus usually don't happen and I am looking for an (unscientific) average. 

kme930

I only have one left now, but I voted 5-6 because five is what we had after our IVF resulted in Will. I used 4 of those to get to #2.

I am Catholic also and had a long talk with our priest about my disagreement with this posture. He didn't fight me. I don't feel comfortable discarding embryos, but I think the church can trust us (or encourage us, whatever) to use them appropriately rather than taking the paternalistic approach of banning IVF outright.

I'm really surprised to see a school enforce this issue - do they also fire teachers if they learn they had pre-marital sex?

 

JenCW

Our family is complete, and we have made the decision to donate our remaining frosties to another couple.

I think most people, in general, are misinformed about IF - from diagnosis to treatment to success and everything in between.  In regards to religious points of view, I am Christian, and there was never an issue in my church community around seeking treatment for IF or our need to do IVF. 

Cajun_gal

I had typed out a long response and then lost it.  Argh!

We had 4 embryos with our IVF cycle.  We transferred 2, 1 resulted in DS1.  The other two arrested by next day so did not make it to freeze.

If we would have had any frozen embryos, we would have given all a chance through FETs.  This is one case where I was thankful to not have an abundance of embryos created.  I have my own, very personal, issues with not giving my embryos a chance at life and also couldn't handle donating them to another couple.  On that same note, this lead me to get my IUD removed because I couldn't handle the thought of embryos possibly being created and not given the chance at life.  This is a *very, very* personal belief, and I do not expect anyone to feel the same way as I do.  I'm all for donating to science or whatever you feel is best for your own family and your body.

charmcitygirl

We have 1 embryo and as long as nothing goes wrong, we will not be transferring the embryo. I am Catholic and wrote quite a nasty letter to my diocese and to the Pope himself when he publically came out against IVF, on Mother's day no less. I got a letter back from my diocese talking about using all the embryos and how each life begins at conception. But another issue they have with IVF is the selection of the strongest embryos to transfer, leaving the weaker ones behind. It's all rubbish in my opinion. God gave these amazing doctors the ability to give me a family. That seems like an amazing act of God that they should embrace.

newsbaby

I actually JUST received my bill today. I have 2 frosties. We will likely transfer them both at the same time because I don't want to pay for the FET cycle twice. I know its risky. At this point, DH and I do NOT want anymore children, nor do we want to destroy or donate our embryos. Tough spot to be in.

Carrie25

We had 10 frozen, but have used 6 of those for 2 FET's.  Those both resulted in BFN's.  We might do one more FET of all 4 or 2 more FET's with 2 transferred each time. 

crystalgirl

From two fresh IVFs, we have exactly ONE leftover embryo. We will at some point do a FET. That's 99% likely. The remaining 1% is the possibility that we will donate to another couple. We will absolutely not discard.

I am a Christian, and this point of view about ART (not only from the Catholic church) angers me to no end.

artygirl

I've done three IVFs.  The first one was successful but yielded no frozen embryos.  The second one was unsuccessful and also yielded no frozen embryos.  The third one was also successful and yielded 6 frozen embryos.  We feel like our family is complete so WE probably won't use them, but they will go to use somehow.

crystalgirl

charmcitygirl:

We have 1 embryo and as long as nothing goes wrong, we will not be transferring the embryo. I am Catholic and wrote quite a nasty letter to my diocese and to the Pope himself when he publically came out against IVF, on Mother's day no less. I got a letter back from my diocese talking about using all the embryos and how each life begins at conception. But another issue they have with IVF is the selection of the strongest embryos to transfer, leaving the weaker ones behind. It's all rubbish in my opinion. God gave these amazing doctors the ability to give me a family. That seems like an amazing act of God that they should embrace.

The problem I have with this and many other topics that "they" (not just picking on the Catholics here, though there are many examples from them since they are so upfront about their opinions on so many topics) choose to speak out on is that I feel they're really being very presumptuous. They are presuming to know exactly how God works, thinks, and feels about countless issues that were NOT discussed in the Bible -- either because they didn't exist at the time or the writers' knowledge of such issues was too limited to communicate them to a modern audience. (A simple and obvious example is the dinosaurs... There is no explicit mention of these enormous beasts before the presence of man on earth, yet there is clear evidence of them. We can't presume to understand His methods or process.)

To me, the notion that an infertile couple should just sit back and ignore the advances of medicine that could help them is akin to a cancer patient ignoring their doctor's suggested treatments, instead waiting around for God to heal them. While He certainly CAN do that, should He choose to do so, why would we presume that He WANTS to work in that way? I don't see why God would expect anyone to ignore the treatments that we are blessed to have available today. He is still capable of executing His will no matter what we choose to do. But there is no reason to think that this (ART, chemo, etc.) isn't the WAY that He chooses to go about it.

kthappy76

I answered zero, but we had two from our cycle and they are our twins.

kgs0505

I put 3, because that's how many we have now.  I had 5 total (2 fresh IVF's, none to freeze from the 1st one). Two we used in a FET 3 years ago.  I am just going back for the remaining 3 now.  Just have a few tests to get through before transfer.

esperanza123

Our first FET is scheduled for next month. We'll be transferring one of our four frosties at this time.

kkghotty

We have 9 and will be doing a sFET when we are ready for number three. 

itsmevkb

crystalgirl:

charmcitygirl:

We have 1 embryo and as long as nothing goes wrong, we will not be transferring the embryo. I am Catholic and wrote quite a nasty letter to my diocese and to the Pope himself when he publically came out against IVF, on Mother's day no less. I got a letter back from my diocese talking about using all the embryos and how each life begins at conception. But another issue they have with IVF is the selection of the strongest embryos to transfer, leaving the weaker ones behind. It's all rubbish in my opinion. God gave these amazing doctors the ability to give me a family. That seems like an amazing act of God that they should embrace.

The problem I have with this and many other topics that "they" (not just picking on the Catholics here, though there are many examples from them since they are so upfront about their opinions on so many topics) choose to speak out on is that I feel they're really being very presumptuous. They are presuming to know exactly how God works, thinks, and feels about countless issues that were NOT discussed in the Bible -- either because they didn't exist at the time or the writers' knowledge of such issues was too limited to communicate them to a modern audience. (A simple and obvious example is the dinosaurs... There is no explicit mention of these enormous beasts before the presence of man on earth, yet there is clear evidence of them. We can't presume to understand His methods or process.)

To me, the notion that an infertile couple should just sit back and ignore the advances of medicine that could help them is akin to a cancer patient ignoring their doctor's suggested treatments, instead waiting around for God to heal them. While He certainly CAN do that, should He choose to do so, why would we presume that He WANTS to work in that way? I don't see why God would expect anyone to ignore the treatments that we are blessed to have available today. He is still capable of executing His will no matter what we choose to do. But there is no reason to think that this (ART, chemo, etc.) isn't the WAY that He chooses to go about it.

The idea that life should be respected is in the Bible. Now, we can argue about when exactly life begins but for most Catholics they believe it begins at conception and the Church teaches that. Many teachings of the Church don't come directly tron the Bible, but Catholics also have the Pope who is God's representative on Earth.

For me, my embryo is a little life that I cant discard or donate to science. Despite five children never really having been our plan, we will do a fet and give our embryo every chance.

preheatedoven

I voted 5-6 since we have 5 from two cycles. We plan to have at least one more child and will do an sFET. We haven't decided what we will do if we are done with our family and have any left.

AlissaCell701

4.. They are still in fla.. I plan on using them in like 3/4 yrs..i am sort of done w kids now but would love just one more in like 3/4 yrs.. I will be 35 then! 

debdebtx

I had 26 retrieved, 19 made it to day 3, 11 to day five, two transferred, NONE made it to freeze.  Lab said they were arresting or not of good quality.  I have one miracle. 

BunnyintheYard

We have 5.  I think we will do SETs for a third baby.

emmyloustu

From 3 fresh cycles, yielding about 36 eggs retrieved in total, , I had 6  frosties to work with. I had one baby as a result of thawing all 6 growing out to blast & transferring the best two. 

oooCarrieB

We have 1 frozen embie and plan to do a FET next year. I am DOR so I was never going to get tons of embryos. 

togo

I had six frozen and have been doing sFET and now I'm down to one. After this last transfer I don't think I'm doing any more treatments. 

BeccaLandes

i have 9- 7 frozen on day 2 at 2 cells and 2 frozen on day 6 as blasts.

assuming that this pregnancy is successful, we plan to donate all 9 of them to another couple.

previously, we had thought we would do single embryo transfers to try for a 3rd. 

etoyama

JenCW:

Our family is complete, and we have made the decision to donate our remaining frosties to another couple.

I think most people, in general, are misinformed about IF - from diagnosis to treatment to success and everything in between.  In regards to religious points of view, I am Christian, and there was never an issue in my church community around seeking treatment for IF or our need to do IVF. 

I think you are so amazing for donating your embryos to another couple!

Mrs.Babbsy

We have 2 and I have no idea what we will do:( I want to say we will transfer, but I don't really know. 

sherryberry2

We have one. We plan on doing a FET in January. RE gives us less than 20% chance of being successful. 

njdcgirl

3 fresh cycles, 39 eggs retrieved, 6 transfered (2 at a time) and none made it to freeze. 

AimeeL85

We don't have any now, but only had 2 after our first cycle. The fresh cycle failed, so we use both frosties to get DS.

MBandBud

We limited fert to 5 eggs b/c we did not want any leftover embryos. We have 16 frozen eggs. I did not see the article - I need to get in the fb group - but I have read that there are currently over 400,000 frozen embryos. I don't think patients are informed enough about the what ifs - I see a lot of posts on here about those having a hard time deciding what to do. Yes they signed consent forms but I think a lot of people are told that you are unlikely to have any to freeze. I have seen numerous posts of people having over 10 to freeze.

mel72

We didn't have any make it to freeze in our 3 IVF's.  Honestly, I'm not sure what we would have done w/ them.

skoorbnibor

Catholic here, with no embryos to freeze. 2 cycles, 10 embryos total, one live baby

desabean

We have 7 after 5 ivf's. We actually only had 3 until our last ivf got us 4 more....so I guess my fertility is improving with time ; ). Unfortunately, I think we are done having kids. Of course, I'm only 8had days into having two so we aren't making finale decisions just yet but....I'm pretty sure I'm done. I feel terrible about not using the embies but I'm just pretty sure I don't have the emotional strength to go through the number of fet's necessary to use all of them anyway.

DeputiesWife

We did 2 fresh cycles. First one we didnt have any frozen. Second one we had 5.

Im not sure what our future plans are. 

njohnson1972

4 fresh IVF cycles, 17 total eggs retrieved, 1 baby, nothing to freeze.