Embryoscope yes or no with few embryos?

[Chattycat78]

Hi guys,

Am hoping someone might have been in a similar situation- we re looking at egg collection for IVF at the end of the week and are meant to be having the embryoscope.unfortunately it's looking like we will only have 2 or absolute max 3 eggs so we've now been given the decision as to whether to spend 700 quid on the embryoscope or not. I can't help but feel that there is probably no point with so few embryos, as the purpose of it is to select they best ones, but then again, I believe that one of its benefits is that the embryologists don't have to take the embryos out to check them, so their environment is not compromised and they are more likely to survive.

Anyone got any thoughts on this? It s a mega tough call and the clinic have refused to give us any direction at all.

Hello,

I could have written your OP!! I called the clinic yesterday & explained that it was unlikely I'd get many eggs having had a poor response but the nurse said wait and see what happens after egg collection.

We have already paid for it, but if we don't use it, we get refunded!!

I was told that embryologist would have a chat with us after collection & advice on the best options..... Do you have to decide now?

Hello Walter- yes we just had to decide and I must be mad but we re going Ahead. If we don't use it we get a refund but I guess the problem is if you only get one embryo it's a bit like is there any point? At my clinic you ll be counted as having used it if you only get one embryo so it's not like we can decide after ec not to bother.

I've decided that we need to give it our all though so that's that and have just paid for it. Can you decide after ec at your clinic then if you want to use it or not? That sounds better!

You'd have always wondered what if, if you hadn't booked it. It's hard one to call.

One of our nurses said if you only get two embryos then you'll obviously just put them both back in regardless........... But I'm undecided.

I'm hoping for a miracle and things go better than expected, then I can justify using it.

I'm going to ask for the embryo glue... Is this something you've looked into?

There's also embryogen but I need to research this!!

I'm under the impression we decide on the day in case there are no eggs at all...............

I see. I guess it's an easy decision if there are none but I think it gets hard if there are say two. No one has mentioned embryo glue. What does it do?

Yes I'm also hoping for a miracle- and the longer goes on the more of a miracle I seem to be hoping for:( is this your first IVF? And why are you doings IVF? We're doing it because I have low ovarian reserve, although it's becoming apparent that IVF is not really going to help that!

I get the impression that the embryoglue helps the embryo to stick to the lining. I'm willing to give anything a go if they think it'll help.

Yes, my first IVF, is it yours?

We're doing IVF as 3 years TTC and nothing happened, but they think I have diminished ovarian reserve :O(

It's certainly a rollercoaster ride. What day are you off for EC?

Hi chatty,

We are doing embryoscope too, I think even if you don't have lots of eggs it's always worth a shot-maybe even more so because you want to ensure that the few you do have are kept in the best conditions. I think your probably making the right choice in going ahead because if the ivf didn't work would you always wonder and wish that you had gone ahead with it!

With regards to the embryo glue, I did ask about this as we are also having the endo scratch and I basically wanted to do everything I could. It's not offered at my clinic as there aren't any proven evidence to say it helps and recent studies have shown that sometimes it can actually damage the embryo as the glue can make it stick to the catheter. Don't know much else about it but thought I would share the info I had been told.

Good luck for your egg collection this week, that's the bit I'm most nervous about! I have my fingers crossed for you x

Hi guys,

Walter, yes it's my first IVF although we didn't have high expectations for it because of my low egg reserve, and that seems to be playing out unfortunately! I'm off to ec on Friday, which yes I'm dreading, but we've got this far now so might as well see what happens. What about you?

Happily- thanks for your input, is this your first IVF too? And yes I did wonder if it was best to give whatever embryos I have ( if any!) the best possible chance, which is why I've said we ll do it. When are you hoping to get to egg collection?

Yes, first ivf for me too. Only just starting out on been down regging since Sunday which has been fine so-fingers crossed it stays that way. Shouldn't have egg collection until about 25th may so a whole yet but I've got endo scratch booked in and some rounds of Accupuncture so it will fly.

I'm really hoping it works, it takes over you life so much and I can't imagine going through endless rounds! X

Hi happily- I've been on the short protocol so no down regging. How come you are doing IVF if you don't mind me asking?

I know what you mean about it taking over your life- I feel like I have thought about nothing but ttc for over a year now! It can't be healthy. As for endless rounds, it's also the financial cost- four grand a time is a lot of money for most people. In my particular case IVF is likely not to work that well anyway due to low egg numbers so it's very hard to know what to do for the best. Anyway I'm trying to concentrate on this cycle for now.

Btw I've done a lot of acupuncture myself over the last six months. Very relaxing but it's very difficult to pinpoint if it's made any actual difference. Certainly worth a try during IVF though.

Course I don't mind you asking, we have been ttc for three years now and have unexplained fertility. We have had three iui attempts, the first did actually work but ended in miscarriage :(

They can't find anything wrong and have given us good odds for ivf working especially as we have had a successful iui. I don't want to be too positive because it will then be heartbreaking if it doesn't work but then I really do think being positive helps your state of mind and copying with the everyday emotional roller coaster that ivf brings! X

Good luck today Chatty xx

Thanks- it wasn't that bad apart from only having 2 eggs retrieved:(

Fingers crossed that they fertilize. To be honest it's all about luck, I've had iuis with 3 follies that result in bfn and an iui with one small follie and a low sperm count that resulted in bfp. You have done all you can, try and relax and stay positive. I have everything crossed for you!

Had endo scratch today, blimey that hurt!!! Hopefully it will do some good :)

Keep us posted chatty xx

The EmbryoScope uses a noninvasive method to frequently image an embryo's development in IVF process. It creates a unique time-lapse video and help physicians to select best embryo, which can likely to give birth. You can see its specification and detail at ilexmedical.com. There has been constant search going on in the ways to improve pregnancy success rates and it is the phenomenal tool to achieve success in IVF.

But my Assisted Conception clinic don't even tell clients of the option as there is no definitive evidence that it works. If it's so successful why is it optional? Surely it should just all be part of the FP package so that couples don't have to make the decision. I'd rather pay an extra £700 up front than have to make the decision with such little clear medical advice. It seems the fertility business is just that. A business to make profit.

Hi guys, I actually started this post last year! I did use the embryoscope, and the result of the ivf round is 7 months old and asleep in his cot!

I don't know whether it helped or not but my view was that if we were doing ivf we should throw everything at it as it were. My clinic offered the embryoscope as an optional extra, and there werent enough spaces for everyone to use it anyway.