Transfer 1 or 2 blasts at 41?

[Lepatz]

Hi!

I'm 41yo and two weeks into my first FET cycle.

I had a fresh single embryo (5BB) transfer a couple of months ago (bfn), and have two more 5BBs in the freezer. I have one more transfer left on the nhs.

I've been convinced from the start that single transfer is the way to go, despite the doctors recommendation of two. The idea of twins is really scary. But I'm not so sure now! It's been such a journey, and I keep hearing horrible stats like only 1 in 10 is viable at my age.

I'm healthy, high amh and good follicle count for my age. Can afford another couple of cycles financially, but not so sure emotionally. Also already had one cycle cancelled due to covid, and nervous for this and future cycles...

So I thought I'd do some totally unscientific polling to see what others have seen and heard about single vs double transfers over 40 :).

Thanks!!

I've done 4 transfers. 2 single and 2 double. Both the single transfers were BFN and both double transfers were BFP although the first ended in a ruptured ectopic and I lost my last tube having already lost one the year before to an ectopic. I'm now 24 weeks with twins from the second transfer.

Not going to lie twin pregnancy is bloody hard - I'm 37 - I've pretty much been on sofa rest since 18 weeks. For the last 6 weeks I can barely walk 200 yards without the rest of the day the bump/hips/pelvis hurting. If I couldn't work from home id be stuffed. And yes financially the cost of twins is scary.

This was my 4th transfer and to be honest emotionally I was done. My clinic understood as we are paying privately and already spent £35k over 5 egg collections that there was no money in the pot to transfer our remaining embryos as single transfers. And I wanted to move in with my life

Twin pregnancy is medically high risk for the mother and the babies I'm sure you are aware. I was fit and healthy going into this and I'm struggling. My resting heart rate is pushing 90 now. If I had any pre existing health concerns I wouldn't have done a double transfer.

I have a history of miscarriages too. But I did read somewhere that actually the % loss of pregnancy for twins per baby is less than that of a singleton.

For me I feel like after 5 miscarriages twins were meant to be and I needed both in there to have a viable pregnancy (no scientific reasoning for that of course just a feeling)

Thank you so much for sharing your story @ivfbeenbusy. Sorry to hear your journey was so tough, huge congratulations on your pregnancy.

I just did some googling after reading it - I hadn't heard about the % loss for twins thing - but yes, found similar studies. Which makes it harder to decide somehow - if two together is higher chance that one by one...

Although in saying that, hearing about your experience of twin pregnancy, and knowing the risks for everyone, I'm probably skewing to SET.

Thanks again, and best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy :)

Hi @Lepatz - think you’re on the other thread for Nov IVF/ FET too!
The transfer we have scheduled for Friday will be 2 embryos. We had a transfer just over 3 years ago - single/ own egg - and it didn’t take. Was a medium quality, I don’t recall the grading now.

I’ve always had a feeling that if we could manage to transfer 2, then we would have some sort of positive outcome (🙏🤞). This time, we have an amazing donor as my own eggs are rubbish and just don’t have the energy to keep going. We opted to move to a donor after 4 rounds incl 3 egg collections and a cancelled FET. Long journey!!

Anyway! We now have 3 frozen embryos, and they clinic have agreed to transfer 2 as a) I’m 42 and b) we’ve been trying to get to this point for 3 years. Am aware that it will be harder on my body if we have a twin pregnancy but I’m fit and healthy and really, we just want to be able to get on with things so hope that one or both will take. Then we’ve one left if not.

I would say go with your gut instinct on this one and if you feel one is the way to go, knowing you’ve another (and are able to do another FET if needed), then go with that. You need to feel comfortable with whatever happens and have no regrets. Good luck and see you on the other thread too!!

Hey @TheGlitterFairy Thanks for sharing. Wow, what a journey, sorry to hear you had to go through so much to get here - but good luck for Friday! It's great to have the option to transfer two :)

I'm veering towards single transfer. I feel like I have it in me to fight the long fight a little further. And fingers crossed this it the one that sticks!

I vote double -l had double on the verge of 40, at 39 years and 9 months. But l am from a family full of twins so before my fertility issues then l had thought it might be a thing for me anyway