Over 40: FET embryo dilemma-transfer 1 or 2?

[Kitkat369]

I’m starting fet end of this month and had seen dr yesterday to discuss. Given I’m 41 my thinking was to put my only two frozen embryos back inside me to improve my chances of pregnancy BUT now I’m freaked out given risk of twin pregnancy obviously there is no guarantee. Plus not sure if I try 2 separate single ETs so no doubles.

Any ladies who were in my shoes? What else should I factor in?

I was 36 and chose a double FET - my quality wasn't great and to be honest wanted to use up this batch rather than pay for two separate transfers as I knew we d most likely need to do another egg collection

I would have been perfectly happy for twins though and financially we could afford it

Also your clinic should have said that transferring 2 doesn't increase chance of success just chance of multiples - if they are different grades of blastocyst the body can do this weird thing of putting all its effort into the weaker one and ignoring the good one so you could end up with a failed round which might otherwise have worked - my clinic will only transfer 2 if they are the same grade

In your case I would do two separate single transfers to increase your chances. The small increase in chance of success from putting back 2 isn't as much as the combined chance of success if you do 2 separate transfers

It's a very individual choice, dependent on your own circumstances.

I was early forties and decided on one because I felt I wouldn't be able to look after twins properly, and the need of any eventual child to be parented to the best of my ability outweighed the enhanced risk of not getting pregnant.

I did email the clinic today and they mentioned embryologist will call to give me idea as to their quality.

Itwaslovely-funnily enough I read an article on guardian about this too, where putting two embiesback in might fail if one is poorer quality

I like the idea of twins but in reality do wonder how we would manage. Ideally I’m hoping for two children but not really same time plus the added health risks. I shall see what clinic say then take from there though as Mostunexpected suggested do two single transfers

With embryos that are already frozen and not going anywhere, I'd do one at a time. Your cumulative odds are better, you minimise the health risks associated with multiples, and if there's any quality differential between the embryos you don't run the risk of the weaker one tanking the stronger one's chances.