The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

After my water sono today, I met with my IVF nurse to go over all the consent forms. Tonight, DH and I need to have a serious talk about the number of embryos to transfer when the time comes. I know that no one here can make this decision for me, but I was hoping to see what your thought process/rationale for your decision was. A little info....

I see Dr. Kenigsberg at LIIVF. His recommendation was a single embryo transfer, but said that if DH and I wanted to do 2, we can.

I am 29 -- we are dealing with MFI (low count and motility). We've done 4 IUI's -- all BFN. We are doing IVF with ICSI.

Ready, set, discuss! Thanks, ladies!

Message edited 7/7/2014 6:48:45 PM.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I am jaded over a single, so I would transfer two. I transferred 1 in Jan which resulted in a MC. I then transferred two in May and had a bfn. I just think u have a better chance of having a successful pregnancy with at least one baby if u transfer two. Obviously I don't know your circumstances though.....could u deal with twins?
Eta: i agree about the embryo quality. Even then, I had great quality embryos both times and it still didn't work.

Ivf#1: in 2009! Transferred two and had twins.
Ivf#2, Jan 2014, transferred two, 1 bfp, mc
IVF#3, May 2014, transferred two, bfn

Message edited 7/7/2014 7:40:36 PM.

The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I think it a all depends on the quality of your embryos.

IVF/ICSI #1 - 2 poor day 5 embryos - BFN
#2 - 3 poor day 3 embryos - BFN
#3 - 2 excellent day 5 embryos (4AA and 3BA) - BFP resulting in DS

Message edited 7/7/2014 7:19:35 PM.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

First ivf? I would transfer one. I am a cautionary tale, but I transferred two...and wound up with three. Yes, it's rare, but icsi, hatching etc, anything that manipulates the embryo increased your chance of identical twinning. If you are at li ivf, they offer incentives for SET - cheaper or free storage and FETs.

Life with triplets has been great, but I'm just sayin' :). Of course it's your call and two is not crazy. Good luck!

Eta - this was from a day 2 transfer with "bad" embryos

Message edited 7/7/2014 7:50:47 PM.

The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I am 32 and did 4 transfers. I have always elected to transfer 2. My thoughts were I had a better chance transferring 2.

IVF 1- 2 early blasts- BFN
IVF 2- 2BBs- Chemical
FET- 1BB and 1AC-chemical
IVF 3 (NEW RE and Protocol)- 1 early blast grade 1 and 1 expanded blast grade 2- BFP Preg with 1

So even though I transferred 2 each time it took me until transfer 4 to get preg with 1.

It all depends if you are comfortable with twins. DH and I were okay with twins. It also depends on your insurance coverage. If you are paying OOP I would say 2. If you have lots of insurance for IVF you might wanna just do 1. Also you have to see the quality. I never had any really great embryos.

GL!!!

The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I did two Ivfs and transferred 2 both times. First one bfn. Second one resulted in dd. I was 32 first Ivf and literally did the second one on my 33rd birthday. We were unexplained.

I don't think I would go through all of that and only transfer 1. Your odds are better with 2 and if it resulted in twins then that's a huge blessing.

The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I have done 3 transfers and I would always opt for 2

IVF#1 - Transfer 1- 5AA - BFN
FET #1 - Transfer 2- 4AA - BFP with singleton
FET #2 - Transfer 2 - 3BB's - BFP with singleton

We were prepared to handle twins if that was the outcome and thus why we transferred 2. For our next baby we will transfer 2 again since we want to up our odds of having 1 baby.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I would increase my chances with two, but it's all up to you and your DH.

Good Luck!

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

This is your first cycle? My advice (especially since this is MFI and you won't have any idea how the sperm affected the embryo until after day 3) is to grow to blast and transfer one as long as you end up with a high quality embryo. If you have slower growing blasts, you can consider transferring two.

Good luck!!

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I would do 2, to up my chances. Especially for the first.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

It's completely up to you and how you would feel about having multiples. I was 28 and did my first IVF after the failed IUIs, transferred 2 (we did 1/2 ICSI and 1/2 natural fertilization and transferred one of each- I have unexplained infertility)- blasto BA and early blast that couldn't be rated yet. We had 5 other embryos but they all seized the next day so we didn't think our chances were that great.

We are currently 8 months pregnant with twins.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

Posted by MrsM84

After my water sono today, I met with my IVF nurse to go over all the consent forms. Tonight, DH and I need to have a serious talk about the number of embryos to transfer when the time comes. I know that no one here can make this decision for me, but I was hoping to see what your thought process/rationale for your decision was. A little info....

I see Dr. Kenigsberg at LIIVF. His recommendation was a single embryo transfer, but said that if DH and I wanted to do 2, we can.

I am 29 -- we are dealing with MFI (low count and motility). We've done 4 IUI's -- all BFN. We are doing IVF with ICSI.

Ready, set, discuss! Thanks, ladies!

The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I have told this story several times, but here is what we did:

5 IUIs two unmedicated three with Clomid, all BFN
2 IVFs the first we transferred 2 early blastocysts (only two made it) BFN
The second IVF was a fresh cycle converted to FET we transferred the only three embryos that made it through the thaw. One AA, one AC, and one BC.

I was 38 at the time, we were OOP for IVF. This was quite literally our last chance at having any children. My DH and I had several frank discussions about multiples, selective reduction, genetic abnormalities, etc. At my age the chance for HOM was super slim, so we were OK with 3.

I am currently 37w4d pregnant with twins with a c section scheduled for Friday. It hasn't been easy, but it's worth it.

Message edited 7/8/2014 4:47:50 PM.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

For DS we got PG on 5th iui. We tried for next one and got PG on 5th iui again but MC. We finally decided to move to IVF- paying out of pocket. We discussed and were ok if twins and figured to go through the process we should increase our chances - we transferred 2 good embryos and are currently PG with twins. I would 2 if you're ok with multiples.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

DH and I agreed that since we will only have one shot at IVF, then we will transfer the best 2 embryos.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

Here is my take - just be totally prepared to have 2 babies if you transfer 2 embies!!

Are you trying for your first child? I think that might make a difference to a lot of people as well. Also, the issues when dealing with a twin pregnancy can be much different than with a singleton - you will probably stop working a lot earlier (so check your short term disability coverage and your employer's policies, etc.).

I am currently pregnant with twins and we have a 3 year old DD. We were totally, completely, utterly shocked when we found out it was twins, even though we transferred two. The first appt the Dr thought he saw 3 heartbeats and that was insane.

As long as everyone is healthy we are totally happy and we know we are so lucky to be in this position, but it's a lot of extra logistical planning

We did two fresh cycles to conceive our DD, transferred two embies each time and wound up with 1 baby. Then to try for Baby #2 we did a fresh cycle and transfered 1 embie, that was a negative. We decided to give it one more shot and we did a FET and on our docs advice we transferred two and are now having twins You really never know, and I totally understand the cost-benefit analysis that we IFers have to deal with, it's just reality.

Good luck with whatever decision you make - sending you lots of

The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

Hi, everyone. Thank you so so much for all your words of wisdom/personal thoughts/stories. After much thought, DH and I have decided to transfer one embryo for our first round of IVF, mostly because we aren't 100% certain on how we feel about multiples. Fortunately, we have really great insurance and will have multiple tries at IVF with full coverage. If attempt #1 doesn't result in BFP, we'll reconsider transferring more than 1 to increase our odds. Again, thanks for everything ladies!

Message edited 7/9/2014 4:42:07 PM.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

That decision makes lots of sense While going through infertility, I always transferred two (once, three!) embryos.... But looking at it now with a clear head, I definitely think a single embryo transfer is the way to go.

Message edited 7/9/2014 5:53:37 PM.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I have twins from IUI. This time, my first fresh IVF i transferred two- one AA hatching blast and one early blast. I am 10 weeks pregnant with twins again.

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

Tough one.
For the first, I transferred 2. Got pregnant with one.
Got pregnant "naturally" with DD
Have a good friend who had an issue with her twins (full term).
Now, I would only transfer one at a time (have discussed).

Re: The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

First IVF, 29, with low motility being your problem. I am surprised they are even giving you the option. First time out for me they told me at 34, first IVF, with no diagnosed issues they go by the National Recommendation which is to do one. They didn't give me a choice.

This time, being a second time with 6 frozen embryos I got a choice and being the problem I have seems to be holding on, were going 2.

But your problem is him, so I would go for 1.

The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I would say from experience going thru & hearing everyones stories............dont worry about it until you hear quality of embryos.

The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

For me
IVF #1 - transferred 2 day 3-BFN
FET#1- transferred 2 day 5-BFN
FeT#2-transferred 2 day 5-BFN
FET#3-transferred 2 1 day 3 1 day 5-BFN
Switched RE
IVF#2-transferred 2 day 5-BFN
FET#1 @new RE transferred 2 day 5-BFP; DD is 11 months yesterday!!

If we do another FET cycle late this year or early next year (leaning towards it) I would definitely transfer 2.

Message edited 7/31/2014 6:10:41 AM.

The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I am 37 and transferred two 5 day blastocysts with icsi. We did PGD so we know we transferred a boy and a girl. I am currently pregnant with identical twin boys and for 2 weeks it was a triplet pregnancy but we lost one. My dr said it was very rare to end up with triplets but it can happen.

The age old question -- single vs. multiple embryo transfer!?!?

I am 37 and transferred two 5 day blastocysts with icsi. We did PGD so we know we transferred a boy and a girl. I am currently pregnant with identical twin boys and for 2 weeks it was a triplet pregnancy but we lost one. My dr said it was very rare to end up with triplets but it can happen.