Embryo quality question - okay to transfer but not PGT-A?

[Smithfield23]

hi all,

We have just had our egg collection for our first IVF cycle - 11 collected, 8 fertilised. We planned on having PGT-A done on our embryos (hopefully there are some!) and then a FET once results are in. Background - We had a TFMR at 14 weeks last year due to Downs Syndrome, natural conception. I’m 34yo now.

The embryologist on collection day said sometimes embryos are good enough quality to transfer, but not to survive biopsy and freezing. Does anyone have experience with this? They’re trying to encourage me to have a fresh transfer and I’ll only find out on Saturday morning, when the blasts are day 5 and have been graded. I can’t make sense of how a blast is good enough to transfer but not biopsy/freeze. If anyone has experienced this, I’d be so grateful for your wisdom. Thank you 🙏🏼

[Twiglet2]

I believe it’s because they give them a chance back in the natural environment and people have had success this way. It’s a lot of work for the embryo to do in the early stages and some may be strong enough t to develop but not strong enough to be frozen and then thawed. It doesn’t mean that they can’t be one a healthy baby though.

I have put 2 back this way that would have otherwise been discarded as not good enough for freezing but we’re still developing. You dont have to have a fresh transfer though if you only want to put back tested embryos but I think they are warning you that they might potentially have to discard some that they could have transferred fresh xx

[Smithfield23 in reply to Twiglet2]

hi Twiglet, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. Please could you share if the 2 embryos you had transferred that were not okay to be tested were successful? Trying to weigh out options - it’s never ending isn’t it 🫠☺️

[Twiglet2 in reply to Smithfield23]

it was actually both double transfers (one would have been suitable for testing and one not) I didn’t do testing at all as we only got a couple and figured better to ‘test’ then by transferring . Neither worked though one early miscarriage one BFN. A singleton untested is only one that’s ever worked for us to term xx

[Smithfield23 in reply to Twiglet2]

thank you for letting me know and so happy that you have had a success! X

[Lamagarden]

I don’t have any answers I’m afraid but just to let you know I’ve recently had 2 embryos that were good enough to freeze but not to test. I’ve also had embryos in the past that were not good enough to freeze and had a fresh transfer with them (BFN). Have you spoken directly with the embryologist? They may be able to shed some light. Best of luck x

[Smithfield23 in reply to Lamagarden]

thanks so much for sharing your experience. Xx

[Lamagarden in reply to Smithfield23]

Also, just an update, spoke with my consultant yesterday ahead of FET next month. I was a bit pessimistic saying that I thought as the embryos were not good enough to test then the likely hood of a BFP was low, he corrected me and said there are a lot of factors at play and the fact that they are blastocysts is promising and even if they were top quality and tested there is still a 30% chance of BFN. He said sometimes embryos that don’t look ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ pull through to success birth, so you never know, he said no one knows. Lifted my spirits, best of luck xx

[Smithfield23]

I suppose it’s a personal decision and until you’ve been in that position, please do not judge others choices. I say that in peace, just trying to be clear that I don’t wish to discuss/justify my life choices here.

[Lily_82]

This is a support forum and you are doing the opposite. If you cannot positively help with the question, it would be appreciated if you keep your comments for yourself or create your own post to spread awareness.

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The purpose of PGT-A testing is about maximising your chance of achieving a positive pregnancy outcome i.e an embryo that’s more likely to attach, and to support a healthy pregnancy.

It’s about minimising the the chance of miscarriage as the embryos that are found more likely to end up in that devastating situation are ruled out.

I understand this is a sensitive subject that you may find triggering due to your nephew who you clearly adore, but please understand we ladies and gents come on here to seek supportive advice and not judgement.