IVF Question

mskeenan · November 2015

Hi ladies! Quick question I hope you can share some info with me on. How common do you think it is to have to do multiple egg retrieval rounds to get a BFP? Most of the time are doctors able to retrieve enough eggs for enough embryos to give you enough attempts at success? I ask because we only have the funds to do one round of IVF. My doctor said additional frozen transfers were 3000 a transfer, which is do-able. But I don't think I could do multiple rounds of medications that are SO expensive. I know this must depend on a wide variety of factors.... but any advice/info is very much appreciated.

luvssong012 · November 2015

As you said, it REALLY depends I think. I am in the same situation as you are. We only have funds to do 1 fresh IVF cycle and 1 FET... we are just hoping that it would work the first time. We are diagnosed with unexplained infertility and our chances look very good on a paper but you just don't know what will happen.

My co-worker had excellent numbers on a paper - it said they'd able to retrieve about 20 eggs- but she ended up with 5 eggs. Of the 5 eggs, only 2 survived through blastocyst stage. She told me the embryos weren't the best quality either. She asked RE to transfer both and she did, and it worked the first time! She told me she cried so much after ER and when she received phone calls from the lab. Well, now she has a beautiful son.

So.. there is really no good answer. You just need to consider your financial situation and choose the best option possible. Numbers don't mean much as there are so many factors that can affect the outcome. I'm sorry that I wasn't really big help here but hope you make the best decision.

ecb3588 · November 2015

There are soooo many factors. I am "young and healthy" and our issue is with DH, so I thought I would make plenty of eggs. They retrieved 8 which is still solid. They fertilized 7 with ICSI which is supposedly a higher success rate of fertilization, but only 2 of ours made it to embryos. Transferred one fresh and the other one made it to blast and was frozen. I'm like you though, I thought one egg retrieval would give me all the embryos I would need for this attempt and many more, but it didn't go that way. On the other hand, some couples get plenty that make it to freezing. It's all a gamble, unfortunately. Maybe you could look into financing? Good luck!

HBamama2B · November 2015

50% of women undergoing full IVF cycles have embryos to freeze. Individual factors influence which side of that 50% you will fall on.

mskeenan · November 2015

Thank you ladies for your answers ! Ah I am so nervous I just wish there were guarantees in this especially with all the money going into this !

HBamama2B · November 2015

Keep us updated. As always, I am 100% pulling for your happy ending. You're an incredible person offering support to all of us and I look forward to the day when I see your BFP post!

emsmama15 · November 2015

You hit the nail on the head @mskeenan - I also wish there was a guarantee this massive amount of money would result in something. BUT, I think I've finally come to terms (and peace) around it. I want to feel like I gave this my best shot, so I'm going for it and trying to think positively! It took me a while to come to this point though. Months actually! In that regard, doing the many IUIs helped because it gave me time to really think about IVF and if we wanted to go forward with it.

Does your RE do any shared risk programs where you pay more, get multiple cycles, and get money back if you don't have success?? I'm too old to qualify for those programs, but it seems like a lot of offices have those!! GOOD LUCK! I want you to get your BFP so badly!!

mskeenan · November 2015

Thank you @HBamama2B !! I will keep you posted !!

@emsmama15 I agree- I'm glad I did other cycles bc I needed to be ready for Ivf . Taking off a month from cycles is also going to help me to prepare mentally . I will def be checking into shared risk programs - thanks for that tip !!

I have another question - I need advice about whether or not to do a fresh transfer or frozen . My doc said that if we plan to do a fresh he is going to be more modest with my drug dosage . However that likely means less eggs . I almost want to just plan on doing a frozen so I can do a higher drug dose and get more eggs . I know that will put me at risk for hyperstimulation but it's a risk I'm
Willing to take to get more embryos to freeze . Any thoughts on this ? I appreciate you all !!

khochanadel · November 2015

My doctor was a little on the aggressive side and I did overstimulate. He warned me of the risk of ohss and not being able to do fresh transfer, but in the end I decided that the prospect of never having to do another fresh ivf cycle was worth it the risk.

We retrieved 19 eggs, 18 fertilized, and 16 made it to freeze. We transferred one at our first FET so we have 15 left. It will be more than enough

I'm 33 and DH is 36. You do what's right for you!

beckihall · November 2015

My story is similar to @khochanadel. I had 33 eggs retrieved, 19 were fertilized successfully and we had 11 make it to being frozen.

You never know how it'll turn out.

oxinfree · November 2015

Because I was considered "young" at 27 and "unexplained" when we did our first IVF they didn't put me on that high a dose of stims and therefore only had 7 eggs retrieved. Of the 7 only 4 fertilized. We transferred 2 at day 3 Fresh, and then the other 2 on a frozen cycle a few months later. Neither was successful so we find ourselves after a long break and time to save up, going again.

Its definitely something to discuss with your doctor. They do their best, but ultimately they can't really fully know how our bodies are going to react until on the meds and the cycle is already underway. My story isn't a happy example for you, but thought you might appreciate the truth from the other side as well to inform your process. I wish you the best of luck and a bfp on your first go!!!

kuposa17 · November 2015

@mskeenan Eggs are so unpredictable! We were supposed to get around 13, retreieved 6, 3 were mature and fertilized, and only 2 made it to blast. My friend who is 2 years older than me (40) produces tons of eggs but has recurrent miscarriages. It's such a roll of the dice!

Regarding the money, we got a ton of samples and donated meds from our RE and we applied for discounts and coupons (veterans discount in my case, but they have other categories) thru a specialty pharmacy (EncompassRx in Georgia, they are fantastic!). Doing all of that really cut down on the cost and surprisingly $ allowed us to try two attempts.

At this point, we are now applying for a loan and are going to do the shared risk program (donor egg, but the financing is the same as own eggs). Even though it's a lot of money, we are so relieved and relaxed going forward knowing that we'll get the money back *if* we're unsuccessful.....and if we're successful then the loan will be worth it.

mskeenan · November 2015

beckihall wow ! that is awesome... those are awesome numbers!! I hope to be as lucky as yall!! Thanks for sharing!!

oxinfree I really appreciate you sharing you story! I think the hard part is this is just all so unpredictable. I've heard so many stories about doctors being really reassuring that things will work but they just never know. I'm 28 and have responded well to meds in previous cycles but there are no guarantees. I'm sorry you have to go through it all again but I am really hoping that your next go at it is it!!! When are you starting?? I'll be thinking of you

kuposa17 It really is such a roll of the dice! I'm so sorry it didn't work out for you last round.. but that is awesome that you are working on being able to do it again . and awesome you got some discounted meds! It'll all be worth it in the end. I hope next time is successful for you!! Praying!!

NicWalker10 · December 2015

@mskeenan - I was thinking of you and wondering how your follow up went with your RE for you plan going forward! I am excited for you that you have a plan and are moving ahead into the journey. You've been through so much already and are a trooper so I think you will handle IVF like a pro!

We planned for a fresh transfer and as we were doing IVF for MFI, my dr. kept my stims pretty low and triggered after 8 days. Responded with 11 eggs, 8 mature, all 8 fertilized. 3 made it to blasts. On the 5th day my RE's office called and said that they wanted to give the embryos another day to develop and that would mean freezing them and converting to FET due to the need for synchronicity between embryo and uterine lining development. I was not prepared for that as I was mentally ready to transfer and keep this IVF ball rolling! However, my RE explained that they really like to make sure there is the right uterine environment for the embryo to develop. As a result, I understand my RE really ends up doing a lot more FETs than Fresh transfers.

He has advised that the IVF stim meds do take such a toll on your body that some literature advocates FET over fresh so that your body can calm down and then the uterine lining can be well developed and controlled with PIO.

With your age, I would really expect you to get lots of great mature good looking eggs!! So think I would lean to getting the volume of good eggs so you can freeze some embies for the future. It really is all so expensive and the cycles are draining that if you could get out with just one that would be awesome. I have a friend who did overstimulate and had a very tough time post retrieval, BUT, she ended up with 9 embies and is very grateful that she will not be stimming for her next one!

I hope this cycle is a winner for you! GL!!

If the schedule works out, I may be cycling with you!

oxinfree · December 2015

@mskeenan - I'm still doing a bunch of new testing, and am having a biopsy in late January hopefully, so we'll know more about when we'll cycle after those results but probably Feb or March.

Great that you respond well! I think based on your signature that you're doing your first round in January/Feb? (although the date says 2015, I think you mean 2016?) The fact that you know you respond well already and that the docs have something to go off of should really help. They're not shooting blind since you've at least done injections before, so should be able to make a very educated plan for you. Fingers crossed!!! Sending you thoughts and prayers!!!

I think @NicWalker10 has covered it nicely for you...

"my RE explained that they really like to make sure there is the right uterine environment for the embryo to develop. As a result, I understand my RE really ends up doing a lot more FETs than Fresh transfers."

I'm now learning that this ^ is a very important component, and part of why I'm having a biopsy done! Wishing both you ladies so much success! Keep us posted!!!

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