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One or two - advice please

Millbanks profile image
56 Replies

Hello warriors 💖

We’ve been lucky enough to get 2 good Frosties from our last round and due to start FET next week.

But we’re not sure whether to transfer 1 or 2. My gut feeling is that 2 gives us more chance of success, but if we do 1, we still have a backup in case...

Any thoughts/experience/advice? Xx

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Millbanks profile image
Millbanks
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56 Replies
KiboXX profile image
KiboXX

Hi Millbanks,

I know it’s a very personal decision and lots of people will have opinions on it based on their own experiences. I had three double embryo transfers which didn’t work and a single embryo transfer which did so I would always go for a single transfer now but that’s just me!

What I do know is that research shows double transfers don’t increase pregnancy rates so if you have two good quality embryos, then transferring them separately would give you the best overall odds in the long run.

Good luck with whatever you decide! ❤️ xxx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toKiboXX

Thank you! That’s really interesting to know. Hope you’re doing well and feeling good 💖 xx

Ivfgotadream profile image
Ivfgotadream in reply toMillbanks

I’m the opposite- I’ve done 4 transfers - 2 single transfers both BFN, 2 double transfers - both BFP (the first ended in an ectopic though) but I’m currently 7 weeks with twins

Hope4040 profile image
Hope4040 in reply toIvfgotadream

Yeh I had 2 single transfers before this one and neither made it. But the double did! Xx

LCharlton profile image
LCharlton

No experience as I've never had a "spare", but my gut feeling is if they're both ok it's better to do one at a time. What if they both implanted, but then one miscarried and that endangered the other pregnancy? I feel like each individually has a better shot if it's transferred on its own. But that's just me and I've never actually had to make the choice for real! Just an instinct xx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toLCharlton

I think you’re probably right. Thank you for replying. Hope you’re doing well! Xx

Jrss1 profile image
Jrss1

Hi Millbanks, I’m going to be in the same situation if all goes well with this stimulation. My doctor says if we get two embryos then she wants to implant the two but I’m not so sure either. I think having two chances separately would be better. My acupuncturist also agrees with me. But if the doctor at the clinic says I should do two, what do I do??

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toJrss1

It’s a tough decision isn’t it. My consultant said they would advise one due to my age (37) but we can do 2 if we prefer.. so I will just have to mull it over... ultimately it’s your decision hun x

Jrss1 profile image
Jrss1 in reply toMillbanks

Yea, it’s really tough and especially when time isn’t in my side. Please let me know what you decide. I wish you every bit of luck and I’ll keep everything crossed for you xx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toJrss1

Thank you. And you too! Will keep you posted xx

Nat246 profile image
Nat246

So pleased you have two Frosties!

My clinic pushed strongly for one, if they both Implanted with twins is so much higher risk and they recommend it’s better to have one healthy low risk pregnancy xx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toNat246

Thank you! It was such a relief after a nightmare egg collection... 1 seems to be the way to go.

Hope you’re doing well and enjoying your bubble 🥰

Nat246 profile image
Nat246 in reply toMillbanks

It is so tempting though as you feel two increases your chances, although I think someone else said it actually doesn’t.

Either way, you will be able to use both of them so you’re not losing out at all in that sense.

I’m fine thanks, you’ll be in the bubble soon. Do you have a transfer date? X

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toNat246

Not yet, we had to freeze all as my progesterone was too high. So hoping period starts soon xx

Nat246 profile image
Nat246 in reply toMillbanks

I’ve never had a frozen so not sure how they work. Period then start progesterone? X

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toNat246

Pretty much! Usually about 2 weeks then transfer x

Rach82 profile image
Rach82

I believe the chances overall are about the same, when you take into account a double or the two single tranfers. Clinics prefer single pregnancies because the risk of complication is lower.

Having said that I just opted for a double this morning !

It's all down to choice, I'm 37 and on my 2nd FET. Best of luck for your transfer xx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toRach82

Thanks Rach! Exciting times 😬 good luck!! Sounds like we’re in similar boats xxx

Ivfgotadream profile image
Ivfgotadream in reply toMillbanks

Clinics also have a vested interest in only transferring one as they are set targets by the HFEA to keep multiple births below the naturally occurring national average

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toIvfgotadream

Fortunately my clinic has said it’s completely up to me.

Faith103 profile image
Faith103

My specialist told me the baby wants as much room as possible and doesn’t want to share it’s home so best to give one embryo it’s own home 😃 here I am 7 weeks pregnant. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.xxxx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toFaith103

That makes sense! Eeeeek so exciting 😬💖 wishing a great pregnancy xx

Olivialinney profile image
Olivialinney

my personal experience

I had 2 very good blasts put in became pregnant with twins

I done this again and became pregnant with twins. I lost both these pregnancies at 20 weeks

I was informed of all the extra risks that putting back 2 held and I signed the papers and didn’t listen

I had 5 single transfers after and only one I became pregnant with

So I would always beat myself up thinking if I put in two maybe one would have stuck but it’s to big a risk for me to take

But then my friend put in two and has 2 year old twins. Although they where born very early they are perfectly healthy

I just personally think it’s safer to put bk one but understand the want to put back two

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toOlivialinney

Wow that is a lot to go through. It’s such a tough decision... thanks for sharing xx

jenny34 profile image
jenny34

Such a difficult decision. But the latest research shows no increase in success from transferring two now. So I would go with one at a time xxx ps I will try to find the link re this...

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply tojenny34

Thanks Jenny. I’m erring on the side of one now. It does seem like a slightly better option. Thanks for the link. Hope you’re well xx

jenny34 profile image
jenny34

theguardian.com/science/201...

Cook7786 profile image
Cook7786

I think one. If the first one doesn’t stick around you can find out why and tweak it for next time.

If it works, fingers crossed, then you have a frostie in the freezer!

It might be a big risk to put two back in If you were told your progesterone was too high last time. Just a guess though!

Good luck xx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toCook7786

Thank you 😬 that is what we’re thinking now 👍🏼

Hope your pregnancy is going well! Xx

Lucyhannah1 profile image
Lucyhannah1

Hey, I had 8 frozen blastocysts and transferred 2. They warned me of the risk of multiples especially as I’m 31, but one stuck and I’m now 25 weeks pregnant with a girl! Both frozen embryos were also top grade 5AA. Wishing you the best of luck!!!

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toLucyhannah1

Oh wow! That’s amazing 😬 congratulations! Hope all is going well!

treezuk profile image
treezuk

I always did them in pairs I had history of miscarriage so for me it was sort of double the chance to at least have one take , however it ment the embroyos went down quicker

We did two rounds

First round 4x 2AA and 2AB day 5 blastocysts and same 2nd round.

Now have 15m old twin boys - both took 🙌🏻

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply totreezuk

Ahhh lovely 💖 congratulations. I think as we have less frozen I’m inclined to eke them out as singles!

treezuk profile image
treezuk in reply toMillbanks

That makes totally sense we did two fresh didn’t work frozen did but then had a mc , new round fresh failed and the following FET is the twins.

Either way you give yourself one go or two

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply totreezuk

Exactly. I hear that frozen are marginally more successful so really hoping for this FET 🤞🏼

treezuk profile image
treezuk in reply toMillbanks

For me it was but I know

People that have got pregnant with fresh so it can happen - everything crossed for you x

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply totreezuk

Thank you!

DC5867 profile image
DC5867

The last time we did a cycle in 2018, my consultant told me the success rate was no greater with two than one, but the risk of not having a successful pregnancy is much greater with two. So I’d say one. But it all depends on your individual circumstances. I’d be guided by your consultant who knows all your history and circumstances. Good luck x

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toDC5867

Makes sense. We did a double last time and it failed. This time I’m on lubion and inhixa so am hoping that will support 1 embryo enough xx

Running79 profile image
Running79

Our first round we had two Frosties (couldn’t do a fresh transfer due to a polyp) we put them back singularly, one was a 5BB the other 3BB, the 5BB gave me a BFP but didn’t progress and died before the first scan, the 3BB was a BFN.

Just completed our second round had a fresh 5AB put back which has resulted in a BFN and we have 2 Frosties which we are awaiting the PGT-A results on. If they are both okay, I am tempted to put both back, I’m rapidly approaching 41yrs of age, so not sure how old treezuk was when she did a double transfer.

My friends wife was 39 I think when she had two single egg transfers that failed, they had to practically beg their clinic to do a double transfer, which the clinic didn’t want to do because of her age, she’s glad they did as her son is now in primary school

Laylaallen26 profile image
Laylaallen26

Hi I think it varies greatly from each lady but in my experience I had three transfers.

1st fresh single transfer (BFN)

2nd Frozen 1 embryo (chemical)

3rd double frozen transfer-which resulted in my now 6month old daughter.

In my last transfer we had 2 frozen left so the way I saw it was if it hadn't worked the first 2 transfers with a single embryo what have I got to loose and they where all top grade aswell. Good luck in whatever you decide x

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toLaylaallen26

Thank you. I think that is a sensible approach to be honest 👍🏼 congratulations on your daughter 🥰

Zabeen profile image
Zabeen

Hello millbanks,

You will need to ask your embryologist what is the grade of the embryo first then you can make a decision

I went threw a similar experience. We had 2 embryos so we decided to put both in. We contemplated on the idea of having another embryo present incase the one did not stick but our doctor advised us it would be best to use the 2. We were fortunate to get our big fat positive on our first try of ivf after only retrieving 3 follicles and having only 3 to work with and after waiting for our day 5 blastocyst we did pgs testing which left us with just 2 embryos.The one took but it split so we had a set of monozycotic twins which were sharing one sack which was such a worry but later on in the pregnancy it turned into a vanishing twin so we currently have 1 little bean in there.I'm currently 24weeks pregnant. This was after 2 natural miscarriages and 1 etopic pregnancy. So you need to do what feels right for you and just trust your gut instinct and go into it with no regrets and a positive mindset.

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply to

Thank you for sharing. It’s such a tough call as like you I felt having one on ice might be a good idea. But maybe 2 would be a better option 🤷🏼‍♀️

Congratulations on your pregnancy x

Kitty230515 profile image
Kitty230515

I’ve just had two embryos put back in.. it was such a difficult decision to make, we deliberated for ages as we knew financially this is our final chance.

We had the embryologist give us a call the morning of our egg transfer, and after that call we decided on one, as we had one really good embryo and one that a grade lower.

But when we got to the clinic we spoke to the consultant and the embryologist and the one that was a grade lower had caught up, but wasn’t good enough to freeze. So the consultant suggested putting them both in, to give it its best chance, which is what we did.

It just felt right at the time to do both, and not have left any behind.

The one thing I’ve learnt with IVF is to be constantly ready to change plans.

We wrote a long list fro pros and cons, but on the day the decision was made easy by the circumstances we were in.

So I’m now on my 2WW wait hoping at least one of them sticks around.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do, which ever decision you make will be the right one.

Xxx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toKitty230515

You do have to go with the flow sometimes don’t you. Our embryologist said just now that he would recommend both as they are the same grading...

wishing you all the luck in the world with your 2WW xxx

Kitty230515 profile image
Kitty230515 in reply toMillbanks

Thank you. We’re on day 6 now I feel like time has stopped 😂.

Fingers crossed for you keep us updated on what you decided. Xx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toKitty230515

Will do! Oh yes wishing the days away feels wrong but it’s needed xx

Hope4040 profile image
Hope4040

Are they similar graded? We had 2 transferred in March and we’re lucky that they both stuck and now 21 weeks pregnant with b/g twins.

We decided to transfer 2 at the time because of my age (40). Both were graded 4BB.

Xxx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toHope4040

Yes they are both 3BB 😬 so maybe both best 🤷🏼‍♀️

Congratulations xx

Rach82 profile image
Rach82 in reply toHope4040

Oh congrats! My embryos were 8c1- and 10c1- (3dt) so same grade, hoping they stick xx

Hope4040 profile image
Hope4040 in reply toRach82

Wishing you all the luck 🤞🏼 xxxx

Daughterofaking profile image
Daughterofaking

Well it depends on what you want. This is my first ivf and I had 5 good quality embryo I decided to put back two knowing we have three left. Though the clinic refused but we stood on what we wanted, so we are lucky to have the two embryo growing though I bled some days back but my scan showed I'm pregnant with twins today. So for you its normal to be afraid as you just have two embryos, for me I will say follow your heart and believe what will be will be. Fingers crossed for you and I wish you all the best in your decision. Good luck. xx

Millbanks profile image
Millbanks in reply toDaughterofaking

Yes that makes sense. If you have lots it is a very good idea! With only 2 it’s tricky to know what’s right. Ultimately we just want a baby!! Thanks for your wishes and huge congratulations on your twins xxx

Daughterofaking profile image
Daughterofaking

Thanks so much milibanks. Wish you God's blessings and all the luck in the world. x

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