4BC blastocyst - success stories

[KG1244]

Hello lovely people.
After my EC in March, I was able to get 4 blastocysts. 2 x 5 day embryos - 4BB 4BC and 2 x 6 day embryos - 3BC 4BC

We did a freeze all and transferred the 4BB last month which sadly failed. If my period behaves, we should be doing another FET next month with my 5 day 4BC. I’m not feeling very optimistic. My clinic never suggested PGT testing and I don’t want to do it now they have already been frozen. Having searched google for hours, the stats for live birth with a 4BC don’t fill me with much hope. Are there any success stories out there?

There certainly are some success stories out there - some posters on here for sure.

I have a 5BC and a 4BC in the freezer (and a 5CC actually). My clinic said they don't go to the time, effort and cost of freezing something that doesn't have a chance. Best of luck

I can't offer a success story I'm afraid but I'm in the same situation - x2 day 6 BCs. I've seen posts of some positive outcomes albeit the chances are slimmer I believe. Like @Decaffe says, our clinics wouldn't bother freezing if they didn't have a chance - that's what I'm taking from it. Like you, would be interested to hear what the outcomes were for anyone else with BCs.

My clinic don’t grade it exactly the same but I’m currently 18 weeks with a 2:3 which is the equivalent of a BC but it would have been be a 3BC (day 5). I had 2 failed transfers of an almost perfect expanded 1:2 and a 2:2 before this one stuck.

@decaffe @Lebe14 thanks both, my clinic said the same thing 😂 you just can’t help but worry.

@NorthernDuckling thank you for sharing your success and congratulations! Definitely gives me hope ❤️

@KG1244 I feel exactly the same - I know there's statistically less chance of a BC sticking however, there IS still a chance - it's not 0%. There are plenty of others who have had successes with BCs so it's good to have some hope - whilst being realistic at the same time.

@NorthernDuckling congrats on your sticky BC!! X

TBH I think a lot of it is luck, theoretically if the embryo is genetically normal it should be ok. I was diagnosed with APS between transfer 2 and 3 so was on heparin and aspirin for the third which worked. I was initially diagnosed with “unexplained infertility” but I wasn’t too happy with this because I felt there must be a reason so pushed for extra tests. It turns out I could have transferred 20 embryos but without the right support none of them would have stuck.
Professor Robert Winston has an amazing website called genesis where you can ask questions - he pioneered genetic testing and said it was never meant to be used as it is being used now it was to test for genetic disorders and a lot of OK embryos are written off. He also says that a lot of clinics don’t do enough exploratory tests to find the reason for the infertility. I found it really informative and definitely worth reading, he’s also pretty scathing about extra supplements! He’s about the only medical expert I’ve found that is honest about the outcomes/treatment (probably because he is a researcher not a clinic).

@NorthernDuckling thank you so much. I will definitely look at his site. Can I ask, what is APS?

@Lebe14 yes definitely! What’s the next stage in your treatment?

I would try not to get too hung up on grading. The embryologist described it well for me in that the point they freeze is arbitrary and no indication what they will do next. We've found out through our cycles we have slow growers - our day 5 morula transferred in our first fresh cycle became our daughter. This fresh cycle they grew a second embryo to day 7 and it was a 4BB at that point when they froze. I was told there is no reason it should be any less successful than one that reached 4BB by day 5. Good luck!

That’s interesting @SErunner as the ones I have in the freezer are day 6s.

Have your clinic said anything about what day they would transfer? Would they transfer on day 7 or just the standard day 5?

(I’m waiting for surgery for severe endometriosis but will be getting back on the IVF bus soon!)

@NorthernDuckling Robert Winston's website is amazing - thanks so much for sharing!! He is literally the godfather of IVF so really value his views. This is really interesting:

genesisresearchtrust.com/askrobert-questions-and-answers/failed-implantations-with-high-grade-embryos/

@KG1244 next step is a nurse appointment to talk through FET process and meds etc. then when we're ready in a few months we'll start everything. What are the next steps for you? When are you planning the FET for? X

@NorthernDuckling thank you so much for sharing. I had no idea about this website. And yes the advice on good or average embryos is very helpful and quite comforting ❤️

@Lebe14 If AF behaves, then I’m due to start medicated FET next month.

@Lebe14 and thank you so much for sharing that link ❤️

@KG1244 APS is anti phospholipid syndrome, it is a blood clotting disorder, only about 1 in 1,000 people have it but it essentially causes miscarriage and implantation failure (among other things). The heparin is needed to prevent clots forming.

@Lebe14 glad you found the link helpful, I got a lot of comfort from watching his A&A videos after my failed transfers and it pushed me to get further testing to try to discover the root cause of the problem. I agree with him that embryo quality can’t really be assessed easily - some grow quicker/slower than others.

good luck everyone with your transfers.

@NorthernDuckling thank you ❤️ I wish you well with your pregnancy x

Hi @KG1244, please don't get too hung up with the embryo grading. My first Emby transfer which failed was a 4AA, my next was a 4AB who is an active 2.5 year old boy. I'm currently pregnant with a super active girl who's was a 4AC embryo; I'm now 21 weeks gone and I'm praying for the best! A friend also had a successful 4AC Emby pregnancy and her baby is the most gorgeous baby in the world.
I wish you all the best for the future

Dear OP, my doctor said that grade don't really matter as far as genetically embryo is healthy. I only had two 6 days blastocysts, grading 3CC each🙈. Doctor suggested transfering both at the same time which we did. And one of them somehow sticked. I am still pregnant, hope everything will be ok🙏🏻 But low grading embryos definitely might give you pregnancy so please try to not worry and to believe in your small beans😍Wish you all the best!

Sorry @Decaffe missed this reply. They have just transferred it as per a day 5. I have been reading online this can help slow growers as implantation is timed better with the endometrial lining

@Mamash @Maya34 thank you so much! I’ve got my FET later this month so have been trying to find lots of success stories with lower grades. You both give me hope ❤️

Good luck for later this month @KG1244 - let us know how you get on x

@Lebe14 thank you, will do xx

I’m currently in my second trimester with a hatching 6BC blastocyst.

Our first round didn’t work (4BC blastocyst) and we have nothing in the freezer - so feel very thankful that so far the second go is progressing well.

@GreenPalmTree congratulations! That’s amazing, thank you so much for sharing. Off for a scan today and really needed to hear something good!

Hope all the prep is going well @KG1244. I've just had my medication prescription through for my FET meds. Seems like a huge amount of medication haha but nowhere near the price of stims luckily x

Congrats @GreenPalmTree!! X

@Lebe14 thank you ❤️ I got the rest of mine today. They’ve put me on lubion. Have you been on it before? This will be my first time, last round was just pessaries