Infertility
Transferring one or two embryos
tombliboos · 21/01/2012 16:27
Apologies if this isn't the right place to post this.
We have two frozen embryos from some precautionary treatment I had last year pre-chemo. We'd now like to use them.
I was wondering if the odds of getting pregnant are higher if you only transfer one rather than two. Would we be better transferring one at a time (in the hope of getting two singletons) rather than transferring two together? Or is it the case that if am embryo is going to stick, it will do whether it's transferred alone or with another?
I'm 30. My fertility has come back after my chemo as far as we are able to tell, but we'd like to use our embryos before trying naturally. I already have a DD and fell pregnant with her very easily, so we're hopeful that the transfer(s) will be a success.
Thanks.
freelancescientist · 22/01/2012 11:56
You need to take some advice from the clinic treating you as it depends a bit on what stage your embryos are frozen and the quality of them.
Success rates can be a little bit lower with frozen embryos than fresh so your clinic may recommend a two embryo transfer to give you a better chance of pregnancy in that attempt.
You are right in thinking that if one embryo is going to stick it makes no difference whether it is alone or with another - they don't help or hinder each other.
The fact you have a child already makes it more likely they'll recommend just thawing and putting one back, but there is a chance that only one will survive the thawing process anyway.
Lots to think about but I'd recommend a chat with an embryologist at your clinic as some have strict criteria about putting one or two back.
lozster · 22/01/2012 20:03
hello - glad the chemo was successful. Sounds like you've had a lot to cope with. I have two embryo's frozen too after an unsuccessful round of IVF in December. It's a comfort to me to think of them there. So much so that I'm considering leaving them and doing a further round of full IVF. As freelance says, the thing to do is talk to your clinic and see what they recommend. I'll be doing this next as there may be something insane that I'm missing about my cunning plan to keep my embryo's as a 'b' team!
The basics as I remember them from the info sheet I was given are that there is a 70% success rate for de-frosting. Regardless of how many you have, the clinic I am at defrosts them all, picks the best and then refreezes what is left. I think the success rate with frozen embryo's is lower than with fresh. Stats (including 1 vs 2) are available from lots of clinics - look at the Liverpool Women's Hospital website for example.
MalibuStacy · 23/01/2012 05:14
I had Embryo Transfer last Thursday. We put back two. Am now waiting to see if it has worked...
bumasbigasbump · 03/02/2012 18:55
Yes I had the one vs two debate last Monday . This is my first ivf cycle. We were advised just to replace one and freeze the other. Now got one more week to wait. Have been feeling sick the last couple of days so being hopeful
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