Question regarding frozen embryos

alelle · July 2011

Hi everyone. Three years ago, DH and I went through 2 IUIs and 2.5 cycles of IVF. In our first full IVF cycle, we had 8 embryos; the lab froze two embryos on Day 2 and allowed the remaining 6 to go to Day 3. Of those 6, two were graded A and we transferred those with no success. Our second IVF cycle was a success and we now have 2-year old twins.

I have finally convinced my husband to try again with the two frozen embryos. Can anybody please help me with these questions:

(1) It has been a while since I was on this board, but I do not recall ever hearing about anyone having a successful transfer with an embryo that was frozen on Day 2. Is there anyone out there?

(2) My RE says he prefers a "natural cycle" for the FET, i.e. I do not need to take any of the injections that I took in connection with the previous IVF cycles... the embryos will simply be transferred on the appropriate day in my cycle. Is this standard? Would you insist on the injections (for instance, I remember there was something that thickens the uterine lining)?

(3) My RE says intramuscular PIO shots are not necessary... he just does a transvaginal cream for the progesterone. Again, is this standard/recommended?

Thanks in advance for your help. I feel very very emotional about these two frozen embryos... strangely I think I am going to be more devastated if they don't transfer successfully, than I was when our "fresh" embryos did not transfer successfully during our first IVF cycle.

sweetky_06 · July 2011

Here's my experience:

1. My clinic(s) only freeze on day 5, so I don't have an experience with embryos frozen earlier.

2. My RE gave me the choice of a natural or medicated FET. I went medicated, but just had to take oral estradiol and vaginal suppositories of prometrium. I've never had issues with my uterine lining, but I just felt more comfortable "controlling" it more.

3. This is where the prometrium can come in, or even other options. PIO shots appear to be preference of the clinic.

Good luck!

Swede25 · July 2011

I'll try and answer your questions from the best of my understanding. I've never done a FET, but had discussed it with my RE when we began discussing IVF. Not sure about #1, but perhaps they feel putting them back in a natural environment sooner would be more beneficial? For #2, I know my RE would follow a protocal based on my tests, reaction to meds, etc. #3-I did not have intramuscular PIO shots but did the suppositories. I don't think one is better than the other (could be wrong) aside fromt he fact that the shots are painful and the suppositories can be a tad messy. Both work equally the same.

Good luck!

Echloe · July 2011

alelle:

(1) It has been a while since I was on this board, but I do not recall ever hearing about anyone having a successful transfer with an embryo that was frozen on Day 2. Is there anyone out there? My understanding is that with at 2 day freeze they will thaw the embryos and let them get to blast or at least day 3 before transfer day. However, I have not done this. My embryos were transferred on day 6.
(2) My RE says he prefers a "natural cycle" for the FET, i.e. I do not need to take any of the injections that I took in connection with the previous IVF cycles... the embryos will simply be transferred on the appropriate day in my cycle. Is this standard? Would you insist on the injections (for instance, I remember there was something that thickens the uterine lining)? Lots of women have successful natural FETs. My RE likes to control everything though and I was happy to do it with meds so that we could control transfer dates and such. So I had to do lupron and bcps, then estrace, PIO and crinone (the progesterone gel).
(3) My RE says intramuscular PIO shots are not necessary... he just does a transvaginal cream for the progesterone. Again, is this standard/recommended? I think it depends on the RE.

patchen30 · July 2011

FWIW, I've heard the success rates for natural vs. medicated FETs is the same.

kthappy76 · July 2011

I don't think I've ever heard of eggs being frozen so early. Mine were frozen on day 5, which I think is pretty standard. Do you know if they thaw and watch them for a few days, or just transfer them on day 2? Many day 2's don't survive in or out, which I'm sure you already know.

I did a medicated FET, so I can't speak first hand about unmedicated FET's. I do know the timing can be trickier given that things are a more subject to the whims of your cycle and are not controlled w/meds.

I have low P4 and had an unexplained m/c from my fresh cycle while on Crinone supps, so my RE kept me on PIO for my FET since it's measurable, but that's my experience. Many people successfully use other forms of P4 support to cycle.

Best of luck.

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