IVF add-ons - embryo glue

[Jo99999]

I have been researching on the IVF add-ons for FET. I had two previous failed transfers - one fresh and one FET but blastocysts were of lower to fair quality( 1-2BB,2-3 BB). Doctors tend to think it is embryo quality and did not suggest anything additional for this round. I have better hope for this round as embryo grading is better 4AA but so many things can impact it. uterine lining thickness is always good. I had a natural birth before but after some years developed tube problems and now age is not on my side so it is still a question on the genetic quality of embryos. This may be my best shot among the frozen embryos but again some people had success with lower grading embryo vs higher grading ones so it is really hard to say.

The add-ons I have been researching about are:

1. endometrial scratch, it is too late for me this round now. In addition since 2019 the research has been saying there is no added benefit.
2. I have ruled out ERA, PGS and immune treatment for personal reasons. The last two of these are red light on HFEA site.
3. Embryo glue is amber on HFEE site and I have not found much risks. However my clinic's view states that "Embryoglue forms part of the ‘IVF add-ons’ i.e. is an expensive adjunct to treatment with little real evidence for any positive effect. For this reason, this product is not offered as part of your treatment plan". I called them and they said they could offer it at 350 extra cost.

What are you experiences on the add-ons especially embryo glue?

Hi, I had embryoglue in 2017 with a FET as part of a research study to test its efficiency (I didn't know at the time whether it was embryoglue or the standard medium). The transfer was successful and I have a beautiful daughter. I'm now wanting another cycle to try for a sibling, and the study showed no clinical benefit of embryoglue vs standard, so will stick with the standard this time round. That being said, it's a personal decision, and the clinic continue to offer it as an option. Good luck

@Jo99999 - I have had 2 transfers so far, 1st time around I had the endometrial scratch and the glue with Grade A 5 day balsto emby, unfortunately it resulted in a chemical pregnancy 😞

2nd time around (2019) I just decided to get the glue as a "safety blanket" more than anything. All my levels / lining were optimal at the time so I'm not sure if it was the glue per say but our Grade A 5 day blasto embryo stuck and we had our DS 9 months later. I would definitely use the glue again. In our case, the other add ons weren't deemed necessary / relevant.

It's such a tricky thing isn't it. Personally I've PGS tested and I'm doing an ERA/EMMA/ALICE ahead of transfer, which also entails an endometrial scratch. If a PGS tested embryo has about a 60% chance of success, then I've heard it said the endometrial tests can push this up to about 75% and then the other 25% chance of it not working is likely to be down to genetic issues not picked up by PGS plus unknowns. I stopped putting too much store in the HFEA traffic lights as they don't account for individual circumstances, and to be honest I don't agree with HFEA's logic as to why it doesn't support PGS. I get why not everyone would want to do it or even be an appropriate candidate for it, given the risk of a false result, but in some circumstances I think it's likely to be a quicker route to having a baby. Anyway, appreciate you've ruled out PGS and ERA, so apologies if this isn't a helpful post.

Hi OP I've had 4 transfers, 2 fresh and 2 frozen. My clinic uses embryo glue as standard at no extra charge so it's been used with each transfer.

First transfer (fresh) - 2 embryos 4AB and 4AC. No endo scratch- BFN
Second transfer (fresh) - 2 embryos, both 5AA. Had endo scratch and fertility acupuncture - BFP and healthy twins born.
Third transfer (FET) - 1 embryo 5AA. Had endo scratch and fertility acupuncture again - BFN.
Fourth transfer (FET) - 1 embryo 5AB. Didn't have the scratch or the acupuncture as had no real hope that it would work given it was a lower quality embryo - BFP and currently almost 15 weeks pregnant.

What I have decided from all of this is that it really is all down to the embryo, and that visual quality isn't necessarily an indicator of an embryo's potential to develop. Lastly all the add-ons had a 50/50 success rate for us. I would recommend assisted hatching however, especially if age isn't on your side as the eggs tend to have thicker shells. Both of my day 6 FET embryos started hatching almost immediately after the assisted hatching procedure.

Good luck xxx

thanks all for the input!