1 or 2 embryos dilemma? Please advise if you can.

[SimsB]

Hello! Thank you for reading. I had my 1st round IVF egg collection yesterday. I’m 40 this month, no children and late miscarried in Feb this year. I really hope the 7 eggs retrieved do well! 🙏🏽

If they do, I’m in a dilemma about whether to use 1 or 2 embryos. There seems to be pros and cons to both. The clinic suggest 2. Does anyone have any opinion/facts on which I should do please? I know ultimately it’s down to be but I’m really unsure. Also I know this question may be premature, as I don’t know about my embryos yet... xx

[Tiddly1984]

I had two transferred on 12th August and one stuck. I’m glad I did 2 as I don’t know which one of those eggs has now led to my pregnancy. We did consider the possibility of twins but it was a risk we were willing and happy to take. I also wanted to increase my chances as I wanted to avoid another cycle and possible delay given my age. It really is a personal choice though because the same outcome may have occurred had I opted to the transfer one egg (the one that stuck) and subsequently been pregnant now anyway, but equally had I opted for one egg and used the egg that didn’t take I would have possibly faced more heartache. Similarly if I opted for the one egg and become pregnant as I am now, I would have then come back for the transfer of the last egg which didn’t take and if that was destined to have happened I would have been upset later on too. With the transfer of two eggs I avoided (somewhat) feeling the loss of the one and essentially cut to the chase. Obviously there are other variables that may have changed the outcome if I’d transferred them separately but I can only go with what I know now. I also recognise that 2 transfers don’t always result in pregnancies for everyone, but we can only hope. Good luck.x

[SimsB in reply to Tiddly1984]

Thank you and good luck with everything. Congratulations on your pregnancy! Such a tricky decision, especially as I have several quite large fibroids, but I am erring towards 2 atm x

[HowManyMiles]

Hi SimsB, well done on the 7 eggs - hope all goes well with them. I’m 41 and have my first egg collection tomorrow. If I manage to get two fertilised eggs I’ve decided to have them both implanted-mostly on the recommendation for my age and that my OH and I are open to prospect of twins if that were to happen. Entirely your decision so just letting you know for comparison sake. It sounds like you are listening to your own intuition and will make the decision you are most comfortable with. So many good wishes with it all.

[SimsB in reply to HowManyMiles]

Thank you and best of luck with your egg collection! I have multiple fibroids so that makes my decision even more tricky as I just don’t know if I could carry twins and my clinic haven’t really discussed that with me. I will contact them today with some more questions about it! x

[destiny121]

From my own experience... I had two transferred and one stuck... apart 6 months old now. Who knows whether he would be here if I’d only transferred the one... I just thought better transfer 2 because then it gives me 2 chances...and we were open to twins too... totally up to you... it’s a massive decision but one I was happy to take... good luck for your transfer 😊

[SimsB in reply to destiny121]

Thank you and huge congratulations! x

[Jenny_]

In all my precious cycles, I always opted to transfer one and freeze the rest. Doctor suggests that option. However, I have never managed to have anything frozen.

I heard that transferring one good quality with one poor quality may not be a good idea. If one failed to implant, it may give your body a signal that the cycle is done and the environment may not continue to support for the good one.

Unfortunately, I don't think there are a lot of research around these. I think it's safer to freeze one and transfer one if you have two good quality embryos. If there are two poorer quality ones, it's better to transfer both because they may not survive the freezing and thawing process.

These are just my personal opinion. I hope your cycle is successful.

Are you going to do day 3 or day 5 transfer?

[SimsB in reply to Jenny_]

Thank you. Yes there isn’t a right or wrong answer I guess but you make a useful point about seeing the quality before deciding.

I am hoping for a 5 day transfer but it may be 3 days I will find out tomorrow morning (day 3) x

[Elynn]

If the clinic are suggesting 2 go for it.

[SimsB in reply to Elynn]

Thank you x

[E_05]

I know they normally suggest transferring 2 as it gives you the best chance but the 3/5 cycles I transferred 1 I got BFP sadly 2 resulted in mmc and the 2 cycles I transferred 2 I got BFN.

[SimsB in reply to E_05]

Thank you for your reply. I’m sorry but I don’t know what the acronyms stand for. I will ask my clinic x

[Kitcat12]

I went with 2, both top quality and I'm young-ish (30 at time of transfer) and only one has stuck. I'd go with 2, if I were you. Good luck xx

[SimsB in reply to Kitcat12]

Thank you x

[SimsB in reply to Kitcat12]

And congrats!!

[Hidden]

Hi,

After 3 ectopic and one miscarriage we had two embryos transferred on our last FET. Both stuck

I'm 16 weeks pregnant. I've had a few episodes of bleeding and spotting but the twins are doing fine. It seems one of the placentas is low lying - one of the risks of multiple pregnancy.

We decided to put 2 to increase our chances of sucess!

Whatever you choose, good luck! Xx

[SimsB in reply to Hidden]

Thank you and best of luck xx

[Baypony]

I only got 3 blastocycsts so we only transferred 1 and got lucky first time and froze the other two. We thought 3 single transfers = 3 precious chances of a baby. If we had gone for 2 then 1 or 1 then 2 we would only have two chances of pregnancy. I did not want to chance a multiple pregnancy at 40! With the associated risks and probable caesarian. I was just content with trying to have one healthy baby and give it the best chance of success. Good luck.

[SimsB in reply to Baypony]

Thank you! And congratulations. It’s such a tricky decision! Success stories both ways. I guess i need to find out how my embryos are going first before making my final decision in terms of the number and quality x

[Countrymouse56]

I’m 34 I had 2 good quality embryos put back and only one stuck. I’m now 19+5 with my little boy. Good luck 🤞🏻xx

[SimsB in reply to Countrymouse56]

Thank you for your reply! And congratulations xx

[Anya80]

Hi,

I can only let you know what we did while on ivf/FET treatments with baby number 2recently:

#fet 1- one embryo transferred -BFP but mmc at 7+1wks

#fet 2 - one embryo transferred -bfn

#fet 3 - two embryos transferred -BFP with single baby -healthy baby son just born over two weeks ago and I’m 39year old with unexplained fertility issues.

It’s a very personal decision but for us it was reasonable that since FET have lower success chances and having no success with two first rounds bearing my age too we needed to go for third round with transfer of two!

Good luck to you xxx

[SimsB in reply to Anya80]

Thank you! I’m erring towards 2. Congratulations on your beautiful baby boy amazing news! x

[jenny34]

Hi, I had that dilemma too..the latest studies show it is not always for the best.

google.co.uk/url?sa=i&sourc...

Hope that link works. I put 2 back (fets) and did conceive (1 baby who is now 4 years old). I was 37 at the time. When I was 39 we put one back (fet) and had a daughter who is now 2.

Who knows! Good luck whatever you decide

Xxx