What is the record number of IVF's before a BFP?

[Shellster52]

I have read somewhere that after 3 attempts, it kinda shows that it isn't going to work for you and time to move on. Here I am about to embark on IVF number 6. I don't know how this is helpful but for some reason, I just wanted to see how many IVF's others out there have been through before you got your BFP.

[raydown]

I'm interested in this too. I've had two rounds so far and a double transfer each time so 4 embryos in total. I'm about to have a FET. I wonder when it's sensible to give up. My clinic advises 4 rounds, but I'm never clear how many embryos they mean.

[HeyBungalowBill]

I think the waltons who had sextuplets had 12 rounds

[raydown]

Is that true? I thought they conceived using clomid not ivf?

[HeyBungalowBill]

My apologies I got mixed up! It says she got pregnant on their 13th round of fertility drugs.

Sorry!

[raydown]

I thought 12 rounds sounded a lot! I think you'd have to a be a billionaire to afford that many rounds. I think 3 will be our limit.

[whereisthewitch]

I know someone who has done it at least 20 times. In that time she has got pregnant twice however lost one.

I'm not kidding, in fact it's possibly more. She's thankfully pregnant now in her early 40's.

[Shellster52]

raydown, that's so frustrating to have 4 embryos transferred and not a single one implant! What day transfer were they? Did they think they were poor quality?

Wow, 20 rounds! Sounds crazy but that kinda gives me some hope. I read else where that after 3, it's not likely to happen for you. But she's proof that this isn't true.

[raydown]

20 is an incredible number. Do you know if that was 20 full rounds or 20 transfers (for example, maybe there were 5 embryos each round) ?

They were day 2 transfers, so they couldn't say much about the quality but we suspect they were poor. So not holding out much hope for the frozen transfer. I think we will try a third fresh round but I'm not sure I can cope with more than that. You do read about people who are successful after many rounds and I think for some it is just a numbers game. I know someone in RL who got pregnant on her second round but with the sixth embryo that was transferred. And then she got pregnant naturally when her first was two years old. How many transfers have you had shellster?

[HowsTheSerenity]

An Australian TV star had 20 rounds before a bfp.

[naty1]

Its difficult, when trying naturally they say try for 2 years so 24 embryos.
And you only have lower fertility if you have tried over a year.
I think the number of rounds is because they think there is little they can change after a point (maybe they dont want to ruin their stats)
I dont think you can compare as people only getting 3 or so embryos/ eggs is so different to getting lots to choose from.

[resipsa]

I met someone at a baby group a couple of years ago whose DD was born after her 13th embryo transfer.

[whereisthewitch]

ray I think 20 rounds, she went to several different clinics, and did a hell of a lot of research into different theories regarding why IVF can be unsuccessful. ...I don't know the ins amd outs of itlall but I think she's on aspirin now and a few other types of medication to help maintain the pregnancy. It's a twin pregnancy too :)

[Shroomboom]

5th round for us, was probably the 10th/11th embryo transfer but I lost count along the way. There is still hope for you OP

[Shellster52]

Of the 5 IVF's, I've only made it to transfer two times.
IVF 1 - embryo disintegrates before transfer
IVF 2 - Scattered follicle growth. Cancel cycle
IVF 3 - Transfer two 'not bad' (2 cells) embryo's nat day 2
IVF 4 - Transfer one 'excellent' embryo.
IVF 5 - Only 3 follicles growing. Decide not to continue and spend big bucks on ER for statistically reduced chance of success.
IVF 6 - Cycles going haywire and wating for body to co-operate so I can try again.

If it's any help to you raydown, I was told (and from my own research) that a good embryo should be 4 cells at day 2. But I understand that embryo's are frozen once they make it to day 5, so your FET will be a day 5 embryo?

Thank you to everyone for your responses. It is reassuring that it does seem to be a numbers game and I have to keep plodding along. My only fear is that I am nearly 37 with a low AMH so IVF needs to work before my body calls it quits. And I know our eggs have increased DNA errors as we age, so time is against me.

[KnackeredCow]

I think to some extent it is a numbers game. Here are my stats:

Cycle 1 (fresh IVF): 1 v good blastocyst transferred and 1 v good blastocyst put on ice = biochemical pg

Cycle 2 (frozen ER): cancelled day of transfer as blastocyst died on thawing

Cycle 3 (fresh IVF): 2 good blastocysts transferred =BFN

Cycle 4 (fresh IVF): 2 excellent blastocysts transferred, 2 good blastocysts put on ice = BFP (twins) now aged 15 months.

So at the time of my final cycle it was blastocysts 5 & 6 that resulted in babies. I think you make a very good point about the number of embryos as opposed to the number of cycles being a really important factor.

Best of luck with your next round!

[NeopreneMermaid]

I know of one woman (through neonatal nurse friend) who had 22 cycles over the course of 16 years. She has a boy now.

Don't know how many embryos that was though.

[MrsMaturin]

I wish the OP much luck and clearly she is not at this point but I'm shocked to read of 20 rounds going on. Given the hormonal manipulation involved surely that's reckless mistreatment of women's bodies? is there any research to show that much IVF is safe?

[whereisthewitch]

Mrsmat I'm convinced my friend would have kept going til she was bankrupt or dead! It definitely became a bit of an unhealthy obsession IMO but I don't like to judge who knows what I'd do in her place if I had the money and the issues she has had.

I just hope and pray these little twins of hers come out healthy along with her.

[Shellster52]

Wow Mermaid. I think 22 IVF's must be the record! At 36, not quite sure that I have 16 years to try, so hopefully my next one works!

I think for me, that's the part that puts the gut wrenching fear in me - the fact that time is not on my side and knowing that there is no guarantee it will work before my body gets to an age where the eggs are no good and I have to say goodbye to my dream.

[purplemeggie]

I have a friend/work colleague who finally caught her BFP after 11 rounds (not sure how many embryos or over how many years this took place - I met her at the end of her maternity leave) - she was 42 when she finally had her ds.

[LittlePeasMummy1]

I had seven sets of embryo transfers.. Three from fresh cycles and four frozen. For the first six, there was no hint of me getting pregnant, even though we seemed to be getting very high quality embryos. Then on the very last try (FET) I finally got pregnant. 'Little Pea' is now 18 months old. She was either embryo number 12 or 13. Because I knew it was my last go I threw everything at it and as well as strictly no alcohol for a couple of months and high strength vit D for a few weeks before, had a bit of hypnotherapy to try and sort out my very negative mind set ( I just didn't believe it would ever work). Perhaps more pertinently, I had intralipid and prednisolone too. I'll never know which, if any of those things made the difference. I was really devastated knowing that my previous failures meant my odds were so poor but it can happen. Good luck to everyone out there going through this, I truly feel your pain xxx

[LittlePeasMummy1]

Ps, I was 37 when it worked and the embryo was from a 36yr old egg!

[Shellster52]

Thanks for sharing LittlePeas. Can totally understand the negative mindset after 6 failures as I am currently on 6th IVF - all fresh cycles because I don't make many eggs and never have any to freeze. I have vaguely heard of intralipid but not quite sure what it is? Something about injecting with egg yolk or soy? Was it something your IVF clinic offered or did you get the treatment elsewhere? Had you ever been pregnant naturally before or was this your first pregnancy? Sorry for the questions. Just curious as I have been trying new things for each IVF (changing protocols, changing diets, adding supplements inc vit D etc) and if this IVF doesn't work (currently day 4 of cycle) I feel like I am out of options so this could be something to look into.

[LittlePeasMummy1]

Hello, i had never been pregnant before, naturally or otherwise. I organised the intralipid myself ( it is an IV infusion of soya bean oil and egg yolk fatty acids). My IVF consultant knew about it and was supportive but my clinic couldn't offer it. He prescribed it to me and a doctor friend of mine did the drips for me which was great because the other option is to get a nurse from healthcare at home to come and do it, and I think they charge about £350 per session. Intralipid is supposed to modulate the immune system. In my case, I have a chronic inflammatory condition that I suspect was causing implantation failure so the theory is that it can help with that sort of thing by lowering the levels of inflammatory chemicals in the body. There is no research yet to say whether intralipid actually improves pregnancy rates, apart fromfrom one very small study, but there are lots of anecdotal stories. At my clinic, they have started to suggest that women who have had a number of previous failures might want to try it ( they still don't actually do it themselves, they send them to a local private hospital) and it has helped some people but not everyone. I'd say it's def worth a go, it is a harmless substance ( it's main use is as a calorie source for people who have been unconscious for long periods) and the cost is low compared to another IVF cycle. Hope that helped, good luck xx

[Shellster52]

Thank you so so much for taking the time to reply Peas. Ah, I thought it was to do with egg or soy, as I mentioned in my previous post. I got it right! I have actually been eating eggs (I was previously a vegetarian who didn't eat eggs) and also soy after hearing something about this technique. I haven't even throught to ask if it is offered here and no Dr has mentioned it, so I figured eating eggs and soy was the next best thing!?!? Also, I figured it makes sense that if an egg contains all the nutrients for a chicken embryo to form, it must be good nutritition for my eggs too!

But I will defnitely ask about this if my current IVF fails. Although I don't have any chronic condition that I know of. Did you get diagnosed with this through a blood test? I have heard of those natural killer cells tests. I have done all sorts of tests looking for reasons why we can't conceive. But once we got the abnormal sperm diagnosis, I stopped searching since I thought we found our issue and never had those blood tests performed since I hadn't heard of them at that point.

Unlike you, I don't have a history of several trasfers of excellent embryos that don't implant. I just don't make many eggs, so although this is my 6th go at IVF, it will only be my 3rd transfer. But I think if this IVF fails, I will get those blood tests and look further into this. No harm to give it a go when as you say, it is a harmless substance and I am spending $$$$ on IVF. Thank you again for taking the time to reply.