Can someone talk to me about freezing embryos?

[Dexy007]

Have deliberately avoided putting this in conception / fertility as my husband and I do not (as far as we know) have fertility issues - we have never tried to get pregnant. But nor are we ready to be parents.

Embryo freezing is an option we are starting to think about because of our ages (early 30s). I know we do not have limitless time on our side.

Assuming we have good egg and sperm quality (TBC, but looking into how to go about getting the relevant tests), would anyone be willing to give me a dummy's guide to freezing embryos? I have looked at countless clinic's webpages but they are not generally very helpful because they all want you to call up and discuss bespoke tailored solutions. I have also tried searching mumsnet by am seeing lots of jargon and acronyms like 12WW and blastocysts etc and would be grateful to anyone who can explain the process in plain English.

What does it cost?

Do you need to have IVF, or not necessarily? (I have seen conflicting information about this as most clinics are starting from the assumption you are struggling to get pregnant, not wanting to keep options option for later down the line).

Thanks in advance

5zeds do you mind if I ask why frozen was worse than IVF?

How late.... don't know. This graph suggests 50% chance at age 41 (naturally) but 90% chance at age 35.
It doesn't discuss frozen embryos (as with all the literature i am coming across everything understandably starts from the perspective of someone wanting
a baby asap and wanting to transfer an embryo during the cycle), but i read it to mean 90% chance of successful IVF with genetic material from mum and dad age 35.
Which seems like a very significant boost?

www.britishfertilitysociety.org.uk/fei/when-should-you-start-trying-to-get-pregnant/

I did not quote from the graph well but hopefully the point is made!

Thank you Tea appreciate that and so glad it worked out for you!

but i read it to mean 90% chance of successful IVF with genetic material from mum and dad age 35. I think it was about 20% for a frozen cycle when I did it so I must be massively out of date.

To be fair it doesn't say frozen - that's my assumption - but I have elsewhere read there's no difference nowadays between frozen or fresh. It comes up so much on clinic's COVID 19 plans - and they always reassure ppl if they have to shield or isolate etc please don't worry there is zero difference in prospects.

That graph isn't about your chance of success with IVF.....🤷‍♀️ i

IVF success rates for under 35 is around 33% that's why on average clinics say to factor in 3 rounds to have the best chance of success

Over 43 it's 2%

That’s a very weird chart. It basically says that IVF gives you an extra 3 years in terms of statistical probability that you’ll be able to have the number of kids you want, which makes sense as ivf only works on a minority of cases (wonder how they factor in male factor causes into that chart for women!). It seems singularly unhelpful to me actually,

I honestly don’t think you’re reading that right.

...90% success rate for IVF is not what that chart says at all. Overall success rates for IVF per cycle are a lot lower than that. The chart is bundling in all the naturally getting pregnant that can be expected at that age plus the margin of 1-2 years extra in each category which can be added through IVF. Also you can try for a baby the natural way for as long as you like for free, which is not true of IVF. Most of the having the number of children women want in that chart was coming from unassisted conception.

IVF isn't a back up OP - it's a last resort. Freeze 4 embryos - the likelihood is that none of them will take. Then what?

It's a bit like buying a lottery ticket for the draw on your 65th birthday, then sitting back and not being too worried about whether you make any pension contributions.

I think you're all right - I'm misreading it. Will do more research on IVF success rates excl natural conception

You will never be able to get a good comparison of IVF success rates vs natural!!

1. IVF rates include everyone who has IVF. This includes people with no fertility issues who just had bad luck for a year trying naturally & didn't wait long enough before doing IVF. That might be say 20%. It includes people who will NEVER get pregnant in any way - who might do 8 cycles but never get pg. That could be another 20% but of a clinic's yearly stats you have no idea how many implantation failures fell into that group.

1. OTOH. most people trying IVF will have some fertility problems- so you could reasonably infer you might have better than average success rate. But how much better? Nobody knows.

1. IVF cycles that fail are all lumped together in the stats. Remember that most clinics report live births. Loads can happen eg recurring m/c between implantation and birth. Again, makes it really hard to create a meaningful statistical picture to apply to yourself.

1. Natural cycle trying has a lot of "noise" in the system. You aren't scanned, you don't know precise ovulation time usually, you have no idea if your year of sex actually represents 12 perfect attempts or 0 perfect attempts.

I spent 12 years analysing IVF stats, OP, to try and come up with evidence-based decisions on whether to go another cycle. We had 6 cycles and the problem was implantation failure not any problem with the embryo.

I was on your side initially but I'm changing my mind on reading other posters. I think you are being a bit selfish. Either have them or don't have them but don't burn the world's resources creating embryos-I'm pro choice on abortion of course but ffs this is still LIFE - when you don't know if you want them.

Rent a house to live in. Sounds like you can work & have money coming in? Fine, just have a kid. Your Grenfell flat money will turn up some time, buy a house then?!

And who needs their mum to live with them? Just look after the baby it's not that hard!

Thanks you have raised some really valid and helpful points.

Embryo freezing is a legitimate fertility preservation option offered to couples who can pay for it privately. I understand why it would not be for everyone and I'm not here to admonish people for whom it would not feel right or to invalidate their opinions.

Now is not the time for us to have children. That's a personal decision for our family and I'm happy with it.

The problem is that capitalism doesn't have your best interests at heart - the chances of success are so low and those of us who've been through it are just trying to show that.

Thanks for replying with grace & politeness.

Thanks same to you. Waiting for period to come so can do bloods and start investigations. Will no doubt have more questions later down the line. Take care

Hi sorry I'm not sure what the etiquette is on resurrecting your own thread. I'm the OP and have just popped back in to say I'm currently halfway through my first cycle of IVF to see if we can get some embryos to freeze for the future. We will be doing one/two freeze all cycles to start with.

I know my circumstances are a bit unusual but I couldn't find anything on MN when I wrote my original post about my situation so thought I'd offer to PM with anyone who has the same dilemma.

So far no regrets at all and the drugs have been completely fine so far.

I think it’s nice when posters come back to update their old threads. I hope your treatment goes well for you.

Definitely think about this.

Most clinics have open days/evenings - I'd suggest you find one or two of those and go along. You'll be able to ask loads of questions and may get a discount on fertility testing packages. It's fine to shop around.

Whataretheodds - our clinic made us sign consent forms about this. If we are both alive, we both have to consent to use of the embryos. If one of us dies, we agreed the other could use the embryos (my husband would obviously need a surrogate!)

Me too. I’ve been through IVF and I can’t understand why you’d want to do this.
invest the time and resources in yourselves and finding out what you want from life. This is madness.

Sorry didn’t read your update. Your choice. All the best.

haha I read the thread and thought yeah, no, this OP ain't gonna listen to any good advice. So not surprised to hear you're going ahead. Of course you don't regret it (yet)! Update us in 5-10 years when you can asses the full cost and benefit.

It's costing about £600 including medication per cycle (which I appreciate is a lot less than the UK).

Not sure how/why I'd regret it tbh!

As others have said above, if you rely on it as a solution & it doesn't work, that's all. But I understand your thinking on it.

Yes you need to be alive to the success rates, but what's the alternative? I'm not going to be in a worse position in 5 years. I don't want a baby now (I'm interviewing for a new job and our landlord just gave us notice to leave, yay...)

So the choices are so nothing and hope for the best, or do something and hope it's enough!