Frozen donor eggs - how many embryos?

[Purple276]

Hi all,

Been a long journey and sadly we've still not got our miracle.

After 4 own egg embryo transfers and losing our natural pregnancy in November, I've given up on my eggs and now have access to a UK donor egg bank and in the process of selecting a donor. I've found one that feels like a good match but is a standard size so guaranteed 6 eggs max 8.

Anyone used frozen eggs and how many embryos did you get from how many eggs. I've heard the attrition rate is terrible so likely to only get 1 and not sure if better to find a donor with large batch so guaranteed 9 eggs and if this would make a big difference?

Would be good to hear from anyone else who used frozen eggs or trying to make the same decision and if theres anything else I should be aware of for my first donor round as this is going to be our last try and then have to accept a life without our own children.

Thanks all x

[Emma672]

Hi Purple. I know you want frozen egg info but if it helps you make a choice at all, we’ve just done a fresh DE cycle. Our donor was 21, we got 10 eggs, 9 fertilised and 5 made it to blastocyst/ good enough to be frozen stage. Our clinic ‘guaranteed’ us 9 eggs, by which I mean they refund some money if there are fewer and you get to carry on the cycle with the ones you got. I know it’s a hard choice, and it’s so blooming expensive, but as this was our last round too we chose fresh over frozen for the slightly better success rates (although I fully appreciate that not everyone will be able to do it financially speaking). I’m currently 8 weeks pregnant with 4 in the freezer, having had 2 failed cycles with my own eggs so it was worth it for us. Good luck 🍀❤️

[Purple276 in reply to Emma672]

Hi Emma,Thanks for your reply and congratulations! So glad that this cycle worked for you and reassuring!

We are also on the fresh donor list but it's been 4 months and with a good frozen donor I'm tempted to move forward but also don't want to waste our final chance!

Sadly our clinic says if you get more than a certain number of eggs you don't get to keep them all, but I agree think quality over quantity as I don't think I can cope with too many more rounds.

I really appreciate your reply and good luck with your pregnancy 😊 xx

[Hidden]

I am sorry about your past experiences. Life is rough. I was told that actually the methods of freezing are actually heaps better now and from 6 you could probably expect about 4 reasonably to be ok.

We went with a fresh donor and she produced 6 eggs which I won’t deny I was gutted about as I was expecting about 20 as she was young. Of the six four fertilised and we have three in the freezer and hope to do an FET second half of this year after some surgery. Like you this is a case of family or childless so the pressure is on. The thing I’ve realised is they tend to go for quality not quantity with DE so actually a large batch may end up being a false economy. Good luck xx

[Purple276 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for your reply Daisy.I do hope that the odds are much better than I imagine and would love to get 2 embryos to try.

Having 3 in the freezer is amazing and can imagine being disappointed to start with that number but totally all about quality.

Hope the surgery goes okay and everything goes well with your FET next year. 😊 xx