Second egg collection

[Lauren80]

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing okay. I am going to be going through my second round of IVF egg collection the end of the month with the NHS.

I just had my treatment plan and we asked to speak to the embryologist for the reasons below.

On my first round I had 4 embryos which made it to day 5, 3 frozen and one implanted. I later found out that 2 more embryos made it to day 5 and were graded a 4CC and therefore the embryologist didn’t think they were good enough quality to freeze.

Today we asked that if this happens again can we have those implanted on the fresh transfer. The embryologist went on to say there may be tell tail signs under the microscope as to why we wouldn’t want to implant and she said ultimately it is their decision on whether we transfer or discard a lower grading embryos is this correct? Or even allowed? My husband and I were under the impression, they are our embryos so our decision?

I know I’m not an embryologist but after being on all these fertility forums for years I know that grading really doesn’t mean anything.

Thanks in advance everyone

Xx

[Rubylou01]

Sorry Lauren as I can't help answer whether the clinic can refuse to transfer a 4CC (any small print on signed forms?) but even a basic Google search (which I realise may not be the most reliable source) says that the clinical pregnancy rate is 30% so it seems a bit wild that they decide those are no good at all. I am sure there will be a lady on here who has had success with a 4CC who will hopefully answer. I understood different embryologists might grade something slightly differently so it's all v subjective anyway? Perhaps the clinic has zero success with anything 4CC? Might be a question to ask them? And if they are in anyway unsure you'd rather keep them and use? Hopefully someone with more experience can answer about legalities and success xx

[Lauren80 in reply to Rubylou01]

Thank you Rubylou01 i think these are really good questions I can ask my clinic. My thoughts exactly I’ve seen a lot of posts with 4CC embryos implanted which makes me feel so sad that my two were discarded and not given any chance. Thank you for your reply, I really appreciate it.

Xx

[emmiettc]

Hi Lauren. I know how you feel on clinics caring so much about grading and discarding ones they don't deem suitable. When "low" graded embryos go on to become babies and top quality blastocysts can fail to implant it almost feels pointless looking at grading! Surely, the best thing to do would be to put them back (not all at the same time) just in case they develop in to babies! Just discarding them ensures they don't become babies! It's the main reason I now push for day 3 transfers. At least then I know one of my embryos gets put back. I would hate to get to day 5/6 and they've all been discarded because they're not "good enough" quality and I have nothing to transfer. I can't seem to get clinics to freeze at day 3, though, or freeze "lower quality" embryos at day 5, so I don't know what to suggest for that!

[Lauren80 in reply to emmiettc]

Thank you so much for your reply. I totally agree with you and feel ultimately so long as there is no abnormalities which they wouldn’t know unless genetically testing then they should try and implant/ try to freeze. It’s so horrible knowing they are just discarded. Thank you for your reply xx

[emmiettc]

And clinics seem to have their own rules on what they deem good quality grades, so you're at the mercy of your clinic!