8th roll of the dice - what would you do?

[Missl73]

We are on the quest for a sibling, we have had 3 fresh cycles and 4 FETs so far which brought us on MMC and our beautiful son. We have a final 4CC embryo in the freezer and are trying to decide whether to do a FET or go for a new fresh cycle. I'm 34. Realistically, we have only a 30% chance of success with that embryo (if it survives the thaw, about a 60% chance) but we'd do a natural FET so minimal drugs and only 2 scans needed. If we go for a fresh it's about 50% and we will probably do PGS testing too. We're fortunately it's not a financial decision since my husband's work is covering the costs of any treatment we do so it's more about the emotional toll. Having been through so many cycles, I'm leaning towards going for a fresh and giving ourselves the best chance of success and being able to finally close the door on the IVF chapter of our lives. What would others do in this situation? Would you do the FET first?

[Ladypii]

Hello! I’ve been following you for a while, back when me and my husband were in the queue for ivf (male factor).

We have been fortunate now to have a successful round and my daughter is 10 months old. Like you I am also 34 and have a 3BB in the freezer. My husbands view is to do another fresh round (get some more eggs out of me at this age and see if we can bank embryos) rather than risk using the frozen (even tho it’s an ok grade) and potentially have a loss. I think I agree with him as we can only afford to do one last round and so I think I’d rather try another round now at this age and see if I can bank another frozen (would be great to have more but need to be realistic) and then can try FET after FET if needs be… as I did a natural one last time and it worked, so less drugs in my system etc.

good luck whatever you decide and congratulations on your son xxx

[Missl73 in reply to Ladypii]

Congratulations on your daughter ❤️ I totally understand that logic, that’s pretty much what we’ve been thinking too. It might be good to get your AMH retested to help decide. I was pleasantly surprised to find out mine had declined less than expected and I’ve gone from being between the 10th-25th centile for my age to the 50th. It made me feel a little less pressure. I’m still leaning towards a fresh cycle though I think. If I’m going to put myself through the heartache again I think I want it to be with the best possible chance!

[sun-and-rain]

Hi! I can't tell you what you should do, but I can tell you what I did, and what I would've done if I was in your shoes. When I was still in my first try to get a baby after 5 failed attempts, I had one sole egg left that was a 4 day egg, probably something similar to what you have left. That egg hadn't developed 100% as expected from the start, so they wanted to see it one more day instead of freezing it together with the other ones that they put in the freezer after 3 days. And as it was still "alive and kicking" the 4th day, they decided to freeze that egg too, and they couldn't wait to the 5th day because I had my EC on a Monday and the clinic is closed during the weekends. So when I had FET with that egg about a year after collection, that was my 6th ET, my 6th attempt… That FET was a natural cycle boosted with a medicine called Letrozol before FET because they were suspecting that my earlier failed attempts were due to my own hormones not working well enough to prepare the the walls of the uterus properly, and after FET I got progesteron supply (new standard with natural cycles that autumn). And as I said, that was successful with much less messing with my body with the stimulation hormones and stuff than it would've been with a full fresh cycle!

If I was in your shoes, I wouldn't doubt a minute to use that 4CC you have in the freezer before going through another stimulation egg collection and fresh transfer. If I'd had any egg in the freezer now that we are going for baby2, I would've been so happy, cause you never know how your cycles will be. OK. So there's a risk of failure? So it is with a full fresh cycle as well. You don't know. And you're still young ❤ You'd probably have a 2-3 months delay maximum trying a FET before starting over again for a new EC. To me, with my experience, I know for sure what to choose! Good luck with the choice ❤

[Jane8412]

Hello- I’m in a similar situation but a few years older. I have one 5BB in the freezer from the first round I did when I was about to turn 36. I had a son from my second fresh round I did the month after the first. I want to try for a sibling but by the end of the year when my son will be one I will be almost 38. I think I am going to do a 3 cycle package and bank some embryos. I only got 4 and 2 eggs on my previous rounds so I am concerned if I’ll get any at all now I am older but hopefully there are still some in there. I am worried if I use the one in the freezer it may not thaw and I will have wasted some time. I also like having it there as a back-up. Takes some of the pressure off mentally if that makes sense?!But that’s just me. I hope you have success whatever you decide xx

[Missl73 in reply to Jane8412]

Sounds like we think about it in a similar way. If my first cycles taught me anything it was to have an insurance policy of thinking ahead a few steps in case things don’t go to plan. I’ve decided to do the fresh cycle. Feeling a bit scared of having huge swollen ovaries and being up and down off the floor and constantly picking up my heavy toddler but it’s on for a while. I’m just waiting for my bleed which will be any day now and then I’ll start jabbing again. I think we’re going to do PGS testing this time too.

[Jane8412 in reply to Missl73]

That’s a big decision but sounds like the right one for you. I hope it all goes well!xx

[Poppyhb]

Hi Missl73 sounds like you have a plan and good approach. We did PGS on our recent EC & it was definitely worth it. We had 11 blasts all grade 5AA-5BB and 5 came back as euploid so it was good to know we would be putting back one with the best chance and not putting back the 6 that would either likely fail or miscarry. You mentioned wanting to do a fresh cycle, not sure if you are referring to a fresh transfer but with PGS all the embryos have to be frozen as it can take 2-6 weeks for the results. Just something for you to factor in. Good luck with it. X

[Missl73 in reply to Poppyhb]

Thanks Poppyhb. Yes I knew they had to be frozen, we’d probably transfer the best looking one fresh and then depending how many blasts we get decide whether to PGS test the remainder should that fail.

[Poppyhb in reply to Missl73]

Good idea. Our last PGS came back within 8 days so hopefully you don’t have to wait too long and in the meantime can hopefully have a BFP with your fresh one 😄