Anyone had PGS- genetic screening?

[RichmondLady1981]

Hi. I’m 39 and just gone through my first round of IVF. Just had three blasts sent off. Now In the lovely 2 week wait for results. Have been reading so many stories about ladies who’ve been through the process. I understand the odds are against me.

Is anyone willing to kindly share their stories and outcomes?

Thanks so much in advance.

I’m waiting for PGT-A results for 6 embryos as well, I had 9 initially- one unsuccessful fresh transfer and one unsuccessful frozen. So I decided to test before doing any more transfers, one then didn’t survive the thaw for the biopsy hence why I’m now down to 6. I’m 35, so I’m hoping for some euploid ones, but at the same time there must be a reason why we’ve had no luck to date. From what I’ve seen the results can be quite variable as the amount of embryos obtained are a small sample size. Fingers crossed for both of us!

Age 36 I only got 2 blastocysts- sent them
Both for PGS but neither came back normally. One was complex abnormal so legally Not allowed to transfer In the U.K. and the other was a low level mosaic which was allowed to transfer but was a BFN

I decided not to test again. Next egg collection also got 2 blastocysts transferred both and now have twins.

So honestly it's very much luck of the draw x

Thank you both so much for sharing! I have read so many posts where people have had ZERO normal ones back. Heartbreaking!

@Gardenlady543 sorry you’ve been through so much. When are your results due back? Mine only got sent off yesterday and they said it’s a two week wait.

@ivfbeenbusy HUGE congratulations on your twins. So did you just decide to pick your best looking embryos and put two back? We’re they your only two? What’s your thinking? Could it be an inaccurate test do you think? What did you consultants say about it when you fell pregnant with your next two embryos with twins? Don’t tell me... that it was good luck? I’m starting to develop some scepticism about the whole process.

@Gardenlady543 I think I remember seeing you in the Jan/Feb IVF forum if I’m correct? 6 is a great number and at 35, I’m sure you’ll have positive news. 💕

Thanks! I decided to do embryo banking on a 3 cycle package after our rubbish PGS results but specifically decided to change protocol to natural modified IVF which had a huge effect of massively improving my egg quality. I didn't even choose the best two to put back - we knew these would be our last blastocysts (had 4 from the 3 cycle package) so worked backwards as wanted to leave the best two to last! 🤣

I don't think PGS is that accurate if I'm honest. I joined lots of online groups when I had mine tested and lots of women in USA have healthy babies from transferring abnormal embryos there.

My friend also retested 4 Of her "no result" blastocysts and all came back normal

@RichmondLady1981 yep that was me, I had my fresh cycle in November, everything seemed to be going well but I’ve had no luck with the two transfers (Fresh in November and frozen in January). I’m hoping that through a combination of PGT-A and considering a scratch, I might have better luck. Mine were sent off last Thursday, I’m told it can be 2-3 weeks, but they sometimes come back within a week. They won’t let me speak about other plans with the specialist until the results are back, so it’s just a waiting game now!

@ivfbeenbusy thank you again. It’s so interesting to hear these stories.

I’ve heard a few people saying that they switched to natural modified IVF. Is this a lower dose? I have low AMH and only 6 follicles last cycle to play with. Sorry if this Is a silly question but is your comment about your eggs being low quality initially due to the PGS results or were they graded low level? Or did you have a high drop of rate from fertilisation to day 5 blast? I find this so confusing. Some people say they have 5AA blasts sent off but they all come back as genetically abnormal. So confusing.

I only had 3 eggs retrieved and luckily all three made it to blast. 5BB, 5BB and a 5BA. Thinking I need a protocol that produces more eggs as some people say not to bother with PGS unless you have 5 or more blasts.

I was on a reasonably high does for stims ovaleap 300 and menapur 75.

Sorry I’ll stop waffling now. :) I think the best thing is wait patiently for my results and then have a consultation for next steps. Two weeks is sooooo long.

@Gardenlady543 sorry you’ve had two failed ETs. Can’t begin to imagine. Is the scratch the same as the ERA test? I’m definitely going to have the ERA if I get as far as transfer stage. I def think it’s worth it. I think they need to do a mock cycle with this so will obviously delay the transfer but its worth it. Keep me posted on your results when they come through. I’ll do the same. Everything crossed for you. X x

Natural modified IVF is really low dose - to just work with the follicles you have rather than force body to make more

My egg quality was judged to be low quality as even with ICSI less than 30% fertilised even with ICSI on our first 2 short protocol cycles. It was only when I changed to natural modified that my fertilisation rate jumped to 100%

I know a few people whose top quality AA blastocysts were abnormal and their lowest quality ones were actually normal

PGS only looks at 5 cells from a possible 100 though so honestly It isn't an exact science x

@RichmondLady1981 I’m umming and ahing about the ERA, it can help identify the time you need to be on progesterone I’m medicated FET, but I’ve just been diagnosed with progesterone hypersensitive (I’m basically allergic to progesterone) and paired with vomiting on estradiol I think the best option moving forward for me is natural FET (so no medication, following the natural cycle and putting the embryo back when the body is naturally ready for it). I know that endometrial biopsies can also be taken for EMMA and ALICE but I’m not convinced that would make much different. I might be wrong though. I just really want to get things right next time. I’m don’t want to do trial and error and have the emotional impact of further unsuccessful cycles.

So my results are now back, but they’ve raised more questions than they’ve answered. The results were very good, 5 out of 6 are euploid. My specialist said she suspects the 2 transferred were normal and agrees with me that it’s likely implantation failure. As I’ve been diagnosed with progesterone hypersensitivity she is worried about an immune issue so the first step is autoantibodies and a thombophilia, I discussed an ERA as well and I’m waiting to hear back about the price.

@Gardenlady543 oh wow! Those results are unbelievable!! I think probably the best in terms of percentage normal I’ve seen for 35+.

It’s great that you now have a plan of action for implantation. Keep me posted on your journey! It’s looking very positive indeed! 💫

Thanks @RichmondLady1981 I’m more worried now to be honest, my specialist has completely changed her tune and told me she is really worried. She was pinning the h successful transfers on the embryos but said she can’t do that now with such high rates of euploid embryos. She also told me, my initial investigatory ultrasound scan which was 9dpo showed a lining of 5.4mm, so natural FET isn’t an option. So I’m now set on the ERA, hopefully in the next cycle. Lots of things to get sorted for me before we try another transfer.

These results came back within 8 days, really hope yours come back soon!

But there are ways to sort the lining. And you can begin a whole new approach to your investigations and perhaps even get a second opinion. There are some consultants who specialise in the endometrium who will know what tests to do and how to sort it.

Another positive is you know you have a bank of ‘normal’ embryos on ice that are ready to go as soon as you’re ready. That must be very reassuring. I have a really good feeling about this- so exciting.

How many days did it take for the results to come back in the end?

(Not that I’m counting down the seconds or anything?) 😂

Sorry! Just seen 8 days! Thank you. I only have three so who knows- possibly sooner.

Ah bless you, thanks @RichmondLady1981 yeah at least I can now focus on the issue, rather than lose more embryos, after all, each embryo is a potential life.

I hope yours come back as quick as well