How do you decide whether to have one or two embryos put back in? My wife is about to have my embryos implanted and we are unsure what to do

[Cheer2020]

Embryo

Same sex

IVF

[Fudge1980]

Hey! I think it’s different for everyone. When I started I was leaning towards putting two back but we was advised against it. Plus we only had two embryos make it. Different clinics will also advise differently so it’s hard call to make. Remember though they are your embryos and you can choose either way. Go with your gut and make sure your happy with what you both decide. Loads of luck 🤞🏼🍀💕 sorry I can’t add more xx

[Cheer2020 in reply to Fudge1980]

Thank you! It’s so hard! Our consultant said put two in, embryologist said put one in and nurse said it’s your choice. Helpful lol xx

[Fudge1980 in reply to Cheer2020]

Oh that was helpful 😂 go with your gut I’d say!xx

[Gingerluv2021]

This is such a personal decision. Are you ok with a multiple? Ask your doctor to confirm but (in my opinion) I don’t see the benefit of implanting two embryos. If one doesn’t work, you try the next one in another month. Again, might be missing something huge but this is my view. It’s an emotional decision … and again, up to you and your wife. Good luck with your decision - sending positive thoughts and some love ✨ 💕

[Cheer2020 in reply to Gingerluv2021]

I’ve already had two goes with my two most top quality embryos and we have 3 frozen embryos left. I can’t have another go it’s mentally hurt me too much at the moment but my wife is now having a go. The process has been awful at our clinic. We won’t be staying with them again. Our thoughts are if I have a 70% embryo as my best and then a 30% embryo why not put both in. As we know none of my embyros left are full top quality. But as you say it’s a decision we have to come to, it’s difficult as we don’t want risks to my wife or hopefully any babies. But we also know the heartbreak of it not working previously

[Nala_01 in reply to Cheer2020]

We were told if the embryos are equal grade you can put them in together but if one is good and one is say below average it can lower your chances.

Personally I’d put them in one at a time to start with, that way if it’s not successful you can learn/change things up for next time eg amount of progesterone - whether or not you have steroids/ blood thinners, natural/medicated cycle etc.

[Gingerluv2021 in reply to Cheer2020]

Sounds like you are getting towards a decision. Talk talk talk and then talk some more about it. Reach out to your clinic and bore them with your endless questions and what if’s - that’s what you are paying them for (even though I know some of them only begrudgingly answer questions! Who cares - ask them anyway). Grading is one measure of an embryo and not the only indication … there is hope and I wish you and your wife well ✨ 💕

[MissSaoPaulo]

If you're on the older side (35+ depressingly) I'd go for two. If younger I'd go for one.Ultimately I think it's up to your wife whether she wants to risk a twin pregnancy as it's her body and her health. And if as a couple you don't think you could handle double trouble if you got twins, for financial reasons or logistics for example, then don't transfer two. Good luck whatever you decide xxx

[Cheer2020 in reply to MissSaoPaulo]

Definitely I’ve said it’s her choice (we are on here together) but she says they are my embryos so it’s also my choice lol we would just be grateful a healthy baby whether that 1 or 10! thank you x

[MissSaoPaulo in reply to Cheer2020]

When my husband and I discuss it we've kind of agreed to a 'my uterus, my rules' basis for decision making hahaha we got lucky with a double transfer and got our little girl but we've done 3 single transfers since and had an MMC, chemical and BFN. We're trying a double again for our last roll of the dice, next week 😱

[Cheer2020 in reply to MissSaoPaulo]

I did say to her it’s her body so she decides and she says nope it’s your embryos we decide together. Good luck!! Xx

[VMJ007]

I'm 39 years old and the last 2 x transfers I have been doing 2 x embryo's. There's no right to wrong answer, best of luck.

[Ivfgotadream]

Only do it if you are prepared mentally emotionally physically medically and of course financially to raise multiples - I know just as many women who had triplets from a double transfer as I do twins x

[Mrsshoes]

I'm transferring two next month. This is our third round of IVF, and it'll be our 5th transfer. I was told, by my doctor, that the chance of success is improved by 5-10% by a double transfer at my age (38) and that, if I get a positive, the chance of twins is 30%. After so many failures we've decided to go for it. I'd be happy with one, two or even triplets after the pain of previous failures! And if we did get twins it'd be shop shut 🤣

[RecipIVF]

Hi 👋🏻 My wife and I have done reciprocal IVF with her eggs and the embryos transferred to me. We were very lucky to get 4 embryos. After two BFNs with top quality embryos, the clinic wouldn’t do any investigatory tests and I was so bloody miserable. The consultant said we could transfer our last two embryos grades B and C which after a good break made me excited and think maybe I’ve one more transfer in me before my wife tries. After a lot of thought, we decided to transfer one to me and keep one for my wife to try with. Emotionally we felt we needed a plan b and financially another fresh round of ICSI and donor sperm is too much for us right now. After some changes, I’m 5+5 weeks and feeling very lucky but also beyond terrified.

Personally, I would want 101 tests done to confirm everything was working correctly before transferring two as it weighs heavy on the mind that our chances to get a baby are extremely limited.

It’s a difficult decision to make but best of luck on whatever you decide 💕xx

[Cheer2020 in reply to RecipIVF]

Aww amazing congratulations!! That’s so good! That’s our thoughts we are so sad after two previously failed rounds of IVF with me. This is my wife’s first go but I have 3 embryos left but I’ve been told probably only 2/3 will thaw as one will possibly die, so if we used one, it would only leave one left and the probability of that thawing and surviving is slim & I have been told I have one good one and two not as good, so if the good one is implanted and we leave one not so good, we may never use that as the thought of going through all the meds and then the embryo thawing and dying seems really difficult to process

[RecipIVF in reply to Cheer2020]

Thank you very much, if I’m honest I didn’t think we’d ever get this far with me after the previous two failures. They say on average it takes 3 transfers to work so fingers crossed this is the time it’ll work! Totally understand, the mental torture of waiting on the call to see if the embaby has survived the thaw is hard enough even with others in the freezer. I really hope the embryologist has got it wrong and all 3 survive 🤞🏻Xx

[Positivechangeplease]

We were told single embryos have a higher chance singley. Obviously you increase the chance of a pregnancy with 2 but not as much as if you did two separately. They said the only reason to do more than one is the cost (which is a fair reason). I was up for twins my OH was not. The risks are lower with a single transfer so we were advised a single transfer.

[ChloeDE]

Hi

It's such a tough decision. We were advised to transfer one but I wanted two to increase chances. First time one stuck but miscarried. Second time, both stuck and we have twins.

You have to be prepared for having a difficult pregnancy. Premature births and pre eclampsia are much more common with multiples.

Also, childcare once they are born is ridiculous. I am only going back to work so I don't need to pay my maternity pay back.

That said, my babies are healthy and happy and are pretty easy going babies. If I had to make the decision again knowing everything I do, I would still go for it.