Number of embryos transferred for 1st IVF cycle?

Monica54321 · April 2016

The clinic we're getting ready to go to has a mandatory single embryo transfer protocol for patients who are less than age 38, have no history of failed IVF cycles at their program, and the development of at least one good quality blastocyst. I'm curious how this compares to other clinics. If you fit the above criteria, how many embryos did you have transferred your first cycle?

AandDM2014 · April 2016

I am 26 and have transferred 2 hatching blasts for each of my 3 transfers. My clinic has never required that I transfer just one, and has always left the decision to me and DH as to whether we want to transfer 1 or 2. I've heard of people transferring up to 4 at a time, though not usually on their first round.

chickyclg · April 2016

******Children/Pregnancy Mentioned *******
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We transferred 2 hatching blast, we were nervous about neither sticking but both did and we ended up with twins. If I knew what I know now I probably would have only transferred 1. Granted every pregnancy is different I spent a total of 20 weeks on bedrest including a lengthy scary hospital stay before they were born at 34 weeks.

Now that both kids are 90% healthy I can tell you how much I love their bond, but we are still dealing with twin/preemie issues with each baby.

Tulips29 · April 2016

My RE said he usually advises to transfer 1 if a woman is under 35, has good quality embryos and has never done IVF before. That said, he also said it's up to each person/couple to decide and he will just make a recommendation of what he thinks is best. He will not transfer more than 2 for someone like this.

Monica54321 · April 2016

We're still doing IUI, but I've started researching IVF some, just to understand what the possible future road could look like, and it the mandatory single embryo transfer policy struck me as odd, just because I hadn't heard of anyone else reporting similar protocols. There are only 2 IVF clinics in Iowa, so there aren't exactly a lot of options.

LeanneB82 · April 2016

Our clinic recommends 1 if it's a blast and you're under 35 however will let you put two in if you want. They won't do more than 2. By day 3, we only had 2/4 embryos still growing so they froze ours at that point rather than risk neither making it to a blast. Our RE recommended both go back since they were day 3.

ultratomato · April 2016

Our office recommends if you are under 35 only one but I will be 35 in September so I think two. I just had the ER today and I had 5 eggs

twomommiestobe · April 2016

We only did one and that is all we would ever do. Really take the time to compare the cost of doing a second transfer if the first fails vs. the pregnancy risks, nicu stays, preemie issues, and financial strain for twins. Like the previous poster said, every pregnancy is different but the risks are there with multiples.

PrincessSabert · April 2016

My clinic will do 2 max, but they're only doing one for me - my RE says I can't be as wide as I am tall lol. IVF is high-risk pregnancy anyway (at least some hospitals view it that way) so multiples would just increase risk. Good luck.

mskeenan · April 2016

Hi there ! My clinic advised that I transfer one due to my age and quality of my embryos . My husband and I did decide to transfer two . Our doc was ok with our decision just warned us of the risks . Only one of my babies stuck which is fine . I don't regret doing two . I would have been happy with one or two sticking !

FatPony · April 2016

*paif mentioned*

Our clinic treats it as a case by case basis. Since I was 29 and healthy, they put their foot down and only would transfer one (Day 5 embie). I wasn't happy but had no choice. Well thank goodness for that, bc the first one took. Twins seem like a good idea, but I am so thankful I had a full term, 9 lb singleton. There have been a few preemies in our family and it's rough for everyone.

Based on on my history, I doubt my clinic will ever let me transfer more than one Day 5 embie.

susykat77 · April 2016

First time was one, but only because that was all we had. We would have transferred two.

capps42613 · April 2016

*TW*
I'm under 35 so my clinic was hell bent on only transferring 1. However, after only retrieving 6 eggs @ ER and 2/6 fertilizing, he recommended to transfer both embryos to increase my odds. So thankful I did transfer both because only one stuck.

mtpbadger · April 2016

My doctor is recommending only transferring one since I am under 35 and otherwise healthy. Depending on how many are retrieved/fertilized and quality I will be discussing with her again before transfer as well.

LadyMillil · April 2016

My current clinic transfers 2, but if you are under 35 you can ask to only have 1 transferred. We are moving in a few months and the new clinic will only transfer one.

HBamama2B · April 2016

***TW****

My clinic has high success rates so really pushed only 1 5day blast since I was 34 and had great embryo quality. Their reasoning: If 1 is going to work, it is far more likely both will. We transferred the best one and I'm now 8mths pregnant. I was really set on two due to my age, but am now glad I listened to them and would be even if we'd ended up doing another FET round.

Just a side note: several in our IVF group (sept/oct) had single embryos split and still ended up with twins. I will only do one for our future attempts as well to avoid ending up with triplets or quadruplets.

Drove2u · April 2016

My doctor said two since I'm 35. But when ET day came the embryologist actually suggested just one since we had two perfect embryos. So we just did one and have four frozen. So if this doesn't work we will transfer two next time. She said since it's our first Ivf also to do just one. She said even if it was our second she would recommend two.

mclorn · April 2016

I am a big advocate of a single transfer for your first attempt. I was devastated when we went that route and got a BFN, but it was not meant to be.. for our FET, we did transfer 2 and I'm 8 month pregnant with twins. So go figure.

suchaglencoco · April 2016

*****tw, children and loss mentioned*****

Our first cycle was fresh, I was 28, unexplained infertility, 2 failed iuis, healthy, and we would use 5 day blasts. We were told we could do 2 but with them both being high quality, they suggested one. We told them twins would be a blessing.
They allowed us to transfer 2 and only one took, but split. Unfortunately, it didn't split correctly so we suffered a loss.
We then did a frozen transfer a few months later, we had them transfer 2 with no disagreement from them and both took. We now have 4 month old twins who are worth everything we went through and more.

MagicMikki · April 2016

****TW, children mentioned****

We have severe MFI and there does not appear to be any issues with me (I have two older children from a previous marriage and had no issues getting or staying pregnant). My clinic recommends 1-2 on the first attempt for women under 35, but ultimately lets the couple decide. Because we are paying OOP and are paying the fee for service (no package), we have decided to transfer 2. I am concerned about the risks as well as the emotional and financial toll of twins, but we are also mentally prepared for it (I guess as mentally prepared as one can be!).

caitiemae · April 2016

***tw*** The answer of 1 or 2 is definitely different for everyone. I did IVF due to MFI and was 27 with no known fertility or health issues. A lot of clinics would've had me just put in 1 embryo, my clinic, however,puts 2 in for almost all cycles. My RE barely mentioned having a single embryo transfer, and probably only did just for legal reasons. I'm happy I did 2 in the end since only one embryo stuck. I was also physicially/emotionally/ financially ready to have twins if both would've stuck. I'd say look at your clinic's success rates and if you're comfortable with where they're at with single transfers. Also, if you truly feel like you are ready to take on the challenge of a twin pregnancy, don't be afraid to talk to your RE about transferring two.

Angelic789 · May 2016

Hi, ladies! We've passed 3 IVF rounds with donor eggs. The 1st time we transferred 3 embies but, unfortunately, it didn't work out. Our next cycle we did with 2 embies (5-day blasts) which was also a failure. But our round#3 with the other 2 nice 5-day blasts was finally a success!! I suppose putting in more than 1 just gives us more hope and probably boosts the chances at least one manages to survive.
May god give lots of baby dust to all

dadezbombz · May 2016

I am 30 yrs old suffering from unexplained infertility. My uterine lining seems to be non compliant, w/ my last cycle cancelled due to my lining not thick enough for transfer. My dr. recommended that for FET we transfer 2. He said that we have very good embryo's , and they are very strong. He says knowing what we have gone through to get this far, he would not want to see us do 1, and it fail.

lilmissslp · May 2016

I am so on the fence about this issue. My doctor does not mandate it but he also feels one is the best choice. I'm OK with having twins because this may be our only try to have children and I would love to have more than one. But the complications of twins does make me nervous. My husband really only wants to do one. I am so torn.

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