Double FET

[Lebe14]

Hi all!

I had a consultation today following my EC where I got x2 day 6 blasts which are 'average' quality and currently in the freezer.

My consultant has given me the option of a double transfer due to their quality and the chance of them working being less than if they were good quality and day 5 blasts. Combined with that, I'm on a multi cycle package which lasts 1 year and we're taking a few months break between EC and transfer. Therefore - she also doesn't want us to run out of time with the multi cycle package i.e. it will take longer to transfer if we do them as single transfers.

Does anyone have any experience with transferring 2 average quality embryos? What was the outcome?

What is the normal waiting period between transfers? Can you do back to back transfers or do you have to wait a month in between?

I don't have to make a rushed decision but there are so many pros and cons to both options. I really don't feel in a position to have twins.... although I appreciate that could happen even with one embryo or natural conception, the chances are less. On the other hand, my consultant isn't holding much hope for either (they are same grading) so if they're unlikely to stick, do I take the risk to allow me to do another EC sooner?? Such a tough decision!!!

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@Lebe14 Hi there,

We had a double transfer back in February with top grade embryos (A's). Apparently transferring 2 doesn't increase your chances of twins but the chance of having a pregnancy. It failed. Regardless of grades, there's no guarantee of a pregnancy.

Between each transfer the wait time has been 2/3 months apart from the last which was 4 months as I waited 8 weeks for blood results to come back. My clinic like to have a bleed between transfers but this might vary between clinics.

Only you know what's right for you. From personal experience, if I had 2 embryos over I wouldn't transfer both again. Not from fear of twins but the fear that my body wasn't ready for that particular round and I would lose both in one transfer (which I did). Each round is trial and error so can vary hugely. I've now been given additional meds and my body appears to have reacted better this transfer, I got my BFP this week :)

Good luck :)

Thanks for your response @SH998 and firstly, massive congrats on your BFP!!

There's so much conflicting info online about double transfers. Some say it increases chance of pregnancy if they're the same grading, as you're transferring two, whilst others say it doesn't. Then some say it does increase the risk of multiple births, which is what my consultant said too. It's all very confusing 😂

Do you mind me asking the reason your consultant transferred 2 top quality embryos? Good to get an idea of when it's recommended.

Completely get what you're saying about transferring singles so that you can change the protocol for the next if needed. This will be my first transfer so I also feel the same. First will be a trial really as I don't know how my body will react.

I think it's more that my consultant wouldn't have recommended if she didn't think it were a good option and I'm also worried that I'll run out of time in my multi cycle. She did say it was completely my choice though. If I can do the transfers back to back - without a month in between, I think that would be my ideal..... but not sure if that's possible. Will need to have a chat with the clinic.

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@Lebe14 thank you, it’s been a long, brutal process but hopefully this will be our time 🤞🏼. It is a really difficult decision to make, I would have loved twins, my partner not so much lol 😆. We were still debating a double transfer minutes before we were due to have the procedure. The embryologist left the room while we argued it out ha ha.

Im nearly 40 and that was my third transfer so they offered me the choice of 2, to be honest they have given me the option of 2 each time purely due to my age, I was nearly 39 starting my first transfer. I opted for the double in February as at the time we had 3 in the freezer, I’m not sure if I would have chosen a double if I had less embryos as my chances would have been reduced for future transfers if it failed.

We are NHS so the cost wasnt an issue to us but I know how expensive private IVF is. The doctors are the experts so if you’re unsure ask for further advice. A better quality doesn’t always mean it will be more successful, we transferred 2 A’s and both failed, this embryo is a 5BB.

With it being your first transfer all the information thrown at you will be daunting, I learnt more about IVF the longer we continued (let’s hope that wouldn’t be the case for you and it happens soon).

@SH998 it is so difficult, especially when it's up to us to make the decision 😂 Sorry you've had a tough time, but so pleased that you've got your BFP.

I've heard lots of stories about grading not necessarily being everything - so that's interesting that your BFP is from a BB. Mine are both BC so not great, but good enough to freeze which is the important part. I think I'm swaying towards single transfers..... we are unlikely to be able to complete our whole multi cycle in the year but we've just got to cross our fingers tightly that we don't actually need the 3 egg collections (wishful thinking!!). I think we'll need to forfeit that to give each embryo their own go. I always thought it'd be lovely to have twins, but then the reality hit today in terms of trying to do normal everyday things with 2 babies and a dog 😂

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@Lebe14 dont feel rushed into anything. I know you have a timescale but these things really are important and you will kick yourself if you don’t give it 100%.

The timescales can be long. We started meds last May, first collection was in June and another in November (miscarriage between which was why so long). Another collection and transfer in February and this transfer was this month. It feels like it’s dragging but that’s quite a lot for a body to deal with in just a year. If I had to fit another collection in that time I would be extremely harsh to deal with mentally I think.

I have heard of people on plan do a collection all first then the transfer comes after all 3 egg collections have been completed. Not sure if that’s possible on your plan but worth an ask.

Another thing I will say is don’t put life on hold, I’ve literally done nothing much in the last 2 years as always planning around IVF. That makes the time passing even harder.

A BC is not bad quality I don’t think? Try to stay positive as shit as you feel sometimes and good things will come to you.

Thanks again for the well wishes, I’ve literally just done another test as I can’t believe it’s positive lol x

Thanks so much for your response @SH998 - you're right in that we can't rush these things and defo can't put life on hold, it just needs to form part of it. We can't make our whole life around IVF over the next year (or of course, longer). Our package unfortunately doesn't allow us to do another EC until all embryos have been transferred, which is annoying. Otherwise we would do another egg collection now to build up some more.

We've got a nice break now until transfer. I think I'm set on transferring separately after thinking overnight and if we don't have time to do all 3 cycles within a year, so be it.... I shouldn't be making the decision based on £ and my only reason for doing a double FET in my case would be because of that. I also want to give both an equal opportunity.

Eeek so pleased for you - must be amazing seeing that positive result!!! X

@Lebe14 im glad you’ve made the right decision for you. I’m pretty sure you would fit at least another transfer in but let’s stay on a positive note and hope you wouldn’t have too 😃.
It is absolutely amazing seeing 2 lines, we have been trying for 7 years, IVF 1 year but on the list longer due to covid hitting. I honestly some times felt I’d never see this day come so now it’s here it’s a bit surreal. Now onto the next milestone which will be my viability scan, all little steps for me lol x

@SH998 I can't imagine how surreal it must feel for you after 7 years 💛 hope all goes well with your scan and thank you for helping me over these past couple of days. So good to hear from others who've gone through similar x

@Lebe14 thank you, it’s an amazing feeling 💙♥️. Good luck on your journey and feel free to ask for any advice if you need to. These forums have been great for me and helped me learn so much x

I transferred 2 average ones (one being a day 6) - leaving 2 top quality in the freezer as I wanted to work backwards leaving best for last after several previous failed transfers....both mine stuck and I have twins 😍. My advice is always only transfer 2 if you are prepared medically physically emotionally and financially for twins (or triplets - I know just as Many triplet mums from a double transfer as I do twins). Most IVF twin mums I know transferred 2 low to average quality embryos because no clinics offer a transfer of 2 top quality AA ones....so that suggests that transferring 2 does increase the chance of twins

Thank you for sharing @onlylovecanhurtlikethis and for your honest views. I totally agree - although the chance of the embryos working isn't high, we have to plan for the scenario that they do both work.

We've therefore decided to transfer them separately. And I can't worry about what 'could have been' if we don't get a good outcome.

Really pleased to hear your lower graded embryos worked too - I'm hearing lots of stories so I don't see why they wouldn't have a chance on their own.

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