No double transfers at clinic due to Covid

[Gardenlady543]

I’d had a conversation with my specialist before I started IVF about a double transfer and was told it was my choice. I spent a long time reading the evidence and weighing up my decision and decided a double transfer was right for me. I had my egg collection on Saturday, I mentioned a double transfer to the doctor doing the procedure who said it should be no issue as I’m self funded, rather than NHS. When I mentioned it to the embryologist I was unexpectedly told that there is a policy in place for no double transfers to take place based on a recent HFEA statement.

The HFEA statement is quite generic and advises clinics to “minimize any possible further impact on the wider NHS, for example by doing all they can to minimise referrals to emergency care.” There is nothing about double transfers mentioned.

The clinic I’m under has decided to implement a policy where no double transfers can occur at all. Even for women where this is the advised option. They have no date to lift this policy. The whole thing seems absurd, I can’t help but think that this is to enable them to reduce their multiple birth statistics to ensure they meet the HFEA targets. As I’m under access fertility I have no choice but to go ahead with a single fresh transfer on Thursday and upsettingly if there is a poor quality blast that is not freezable but could result in a successful pregnancy, it won’t be able to be transferred and will be destroyed :(

Has anyone else’s clinic banned double transfers?

As part of clinics application to re open they had to show the HFEA how they planned to limit potential additional strain on the NHS, this included freeze all for those at risk of OHSS, cautious approach to stimulation and no DETs due to the increased risk of miscarriage, attendance to EPAU, additional monitoring in pregnancy and increase in pregnancy complications and pre term birth.

I had a double transfer during the last lockdown in June and am having twins and so I can honestly say yes it does place an additional burden on the NHS. I have scans sometimes fortnightly as opposed to 2 scans in the entire 9 months and will also be having a c section and both babies will require NICU care.

Obviously the clinic could be using this as an excuse to deny double transfers and keep their multiples levels low but women only tend to have it "advised" due to age - there is no clinical need to have a DET

Thanks @Lauren83, what clinic do you work at and does it have a blanket ban on all double transfers?

There's a 'blanket ban' across all clinics, if there's a little flexibility at the point of transfer depending on females age/treatment history and embryo quality is something to discuss with your clinic obviously.

I know it's really frustrating but at least with the security of Access your subsequent FERs are covered. Most clinics are way under the HFEA suggested multiple birth rate so I don't think that factors in their decision to further limit DETs, clinics and patients don't want another forced shut down and if it gets close to that point they will look at hospital admissions and multiple pregnancy rates.

Treatment this year just isn't what it has been in the past, all the comforts of partners attending for appointments, open days at the clinics, face to face appointments etc, it's a shame I know but it's good that clinics have remained open through this second lockdown

I had a single fresh embryo transferred, which has sadly failed, but my clinic has agreed to do a double FET on the next attempt, I’ll have just turned 43.

I don't think my clinic (Create) had a blanket ban per se it was very much case by case but it's generally pretty difficult to get a double transfer even in normal times - I was only granted one because I put forward a good case and this was my 4th transfer

Hi @Gardenlady543 - I recognise you from the November thread :)

My clinic actually recommended I have a double FET transfer, but I elected to go with single. I'm 41, with only two embys frozen from my August fresh cycle. (Well, one now - I had the SET yesterday) I know there's a high chance of abnormality, but the idea of twins is riskier for us than two singles. Hopefully we only need the one.

Good luck. It's horrible how powerless this process can make us feel.

Thanks everyone, feeling powerless is definitely a common theme that seems to come up in IVF. Unfortunately Covid Seems to have resulted in policies that have restricted things further.