Hi everyone. I had my breast lump examined yesterday and was relieved to get the all-clear. 🎉It's a cyst, from the IVF drugs (which had already shrunk massively since stopping meds) - they drained it (delightful) so all good to press on with a FET! I have no idea how my clinic does FETs, e.g. if they'll recommend natural or medicated, so am emailing tomorrow. Question though: for those 40 and above, if you have 3 x frozen day 5 embies, does anyone know if the overall chance of pregnancy is better with 3 single ETs or with a double and single (that's assuming all 3 thawed ok...). Research I've found seems contradictory (like everything I've ever researched on IVF, frankly! 😂 ).
I've had 2 ETs previously, and one of those was with 2 embies together but of differing quality, which these frosties would be too - and this study is always in the back of my mind a bit theguardian.com/science/201... . If anyone has any wise words or personal stories, they'd be gratefully received 😘 xx
Written by
AuroraXen
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Woohoo 🎉 I’m so pleased to hear you got the all clear 🙌🏼🥂🍾I’m 38 (nearly 39) so can’t answer from a 40+ point of view, but I had 5 double transfers that failed and the only single worked… 🤷🏼♀️
Aw thank you. Wow! That's really striking. I know there were other things you changed for your BFP but that's still very interesting. Thank you for sharing xx
Hi AuroraXen not sure if this helps but I had a single transfer that failed and a double transfer that worked. Mine was a day 3 transfer though.
I vaguely remember reading somewhere that a poorer quality embryo can affect the chances of a better quality one. I don’t know how true that is though.
The thing I do know is that the odds the doctors give you increases when you go for a double transfer so my consultant told me that a double transfer increased my odds from 10% to 15%.. I am currently pregnant with those odds.
Thank you for sharing. It's that 'poor quality embryo can affect chances of a better one implanting' bit that concerns me... that was the conclusion of one study, the one the Guardian picked up in my link above. I did put two back in on my first ever transfer, but they were of quite different quality, and neither stuck. So I'm a bit nervous about doing that again. Wish we had a crystal ball! 😂😂 Hope you're doing well with your precious pregnancy Lovely x
Totally understand. Sometimes in the world of IVF, there is really no right or wrong answer. There are always dilemmas such as fresh or frozen, day 3 or day 5 transfer, to PGS test or not etc.
You just have to trust your gut and go with what you believe!
I am amazed to have gotten this far with my pregnancy and things continue to go well. I thank God.
My experience is mixed. From IVF at 39 a double was successful, three singles have resulted in mmc, chemical and BFN. Trying another double next week with the frosties we just got and hoping that will do the trick for us. Glad to hear the breast lump was nothing sinister and you're ready to go ahead with the transfer. Best of luck xxx
Hi. Really pleased the breast lump was a cyst. I had a similar thing last year ( prior to IVF ) and the nerves were awful. I have had two double transfers as embryos were more average quality and was 39/40. The last cycle worked and currently pregnant with twins which I was absolutely not expecting so something to bear in mind if you transfer two. Again these embryos were only graded 5CC and 4CC ( clinic uses A-D ) so as I am sure you know grading isn’t everything. Good luck whatever you decide x
It's so stressful isn't it? I was pretty sure it was a cyst, related to the drugs, as the timing was so suspicious (day after trigger shot). But you still panic a bit... was a relief to have the full checks, mammograms and ultrasounds, the lot - really reassured me. It's such a good service 😍 Thank you for sharing your story and congrats on your pregnancy xx
Hello, I'm in a similar situation I think, 42 and planning FETs for my frozen embryos (made at 40/41). For me I've decided I won't have any further egg collections, so want to give each embryo the best possible chance (rather than maybe prioritizing increasing my chances of getting pregnant sooner, or transferring quickly before having another collection).
From the research I've found it looks like a double embryo transfer does not double my chances of a pregnancy, so I think my best overall chance is to transfer the embryos one by one (which of course has a cost implication, as always with IVF!). I think for example a single embryo transfer might give me a 10% chance, a double a 15%, and two singles a 20% chance (possibly slightly higher for each, but I wanted to make the maths easy!).
The specialist Dr I saw about implantation failure also suggested that single embryo transfers give the best overall chance - as I understand it because so much of the success is determined by the uterine environment/receptivity, and this can fluctuate each month (I think essentially, and he put it in a much nicer way than this, his view is that if I transfer two embryos at once and it happens to be a month when the uterine environment isn't quite right/or the transfer timing is slightly out, I could risk 'wasting' two embryos at once due to that). It kind of made sense to me, since even PGTA perfect embryos don't implant/continue I think as much as 30-40% of the time, so the uterine environment is clearly such a big part of it all.
Sorry long message, I may have been thinking too much about this recently 😂 Of course this is very much just my thoughts, and I know there are loads of people who have had wonderful outcomes with double transfers.
Interesting, never saw it, in this view, where if endometrial receptivity isn't there in the given month, then we have wasted 2 embryos which are so precious. Thanks for sharing.
I could have written this 😂 This is very much my current thinking, to be honest. I worry there may be a reason my embryos don't implant, in IVF or naturally, and somehow feel that throwing 2 in together might be just such a risk, in the sense I'd be 'wasting' two if things weren't great that month for some reason. Really good to hear your implantation specialist felt that way too. 'A double embryo transfer does not double my chances of a pregnancy' - this is a key point for me too... seems like MAYBE the incremental success rates of doing three separately might be better?? I wish we had a crystal ball to help guide these decisions 😂 I just asked my consultant and he recommended we try with one first, and if no luck maybe put the other two back together. But I'm going to ask them explicitly for their take on the research I referred to in the original post above, as they must surely be familiar with all the research and all the contradictory studies. For once, the cost isn't a concern for me as we got these embryos through the second of our 2-cycle deal with one of those funding companies, and FETs are included (except for meds). But I do feel this will be our last try... so really want to do whatever will give us the best odds (obviously 😂 who doesn't right?!) xx
I was told single has the best chance. The reason to do two is often the cost. Also I’ve heard that different quality can affect either bedding in- like a top quality with lower wouldn’t work but two lower might. More than one carries greater risk but that’s up to you.
Thank you! The 'different quality might result in no implantation at all' argument is what's concerning me most, to be honest. I've never asked me clinic about that research explicitly, but will definitely do so before making the final decision xx
Hello there, my understanding is that if they are of the same quality you get better chances implanting more than 1. But if they are of different quality they can work against each other and lower your chances. Good luck! Xx
Thanks Jols.... that's what the research the Guardian piece I linked above concluded, and it's definitely playing on my mind. Our embryos are a bit of a mix - 4BB, 5BC, 3AC. xx
Although I’ve been happy to do a double transfer - my clinic has always done single ones
My last transfer was a single embryo but an incredibly lively one! We are not almost 36 weeks - so like everyone else I would suggest a single transfer
I was always told multiple due to age. Now pregnant with twins at 43 😅😅😅Also had a twin pregnancy in 2019 that ended in a singleton.
My advice would be if you have 2 be prepared to have twins and also be prepared that there could be problems also. Twins carry more risks. Good luck with your decision xx
Sorry no wise words on the 1 versus 2 debate but just wanted to say I’m so pleased that all was well with your investigations (that must have been a huge relief!) and so glad that you are good to go with your FET! Wishing you all the luck in the world with whichever option you decide! xx
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Should I go for 1 or 2 embryo transfer?
Chemical pregnancy first experience - any recovery tips?
Natural FET vs FET with prostrap? 
Anxiety about not doing pgta testing
