Embryo Results - Do another cycle of egg collection or FET?

[WanderingWonder]

Hi All, I hope you’ve had a tolerable day!

I would really appreciate the benefit of your experience on whether to try for a FET next or do another round of egg collection.

We got our embryo report from our first round of egg collection today.

8 eggs collected, semen 28million density, 64%motility and 4% normal morphology. 8 eggs fertilised,

Day 3 they froze: one 8 cells Grade 1

Day 5 they froze: 4AA, 4CB, 4CB, 3AB, 3BB

Day 6 they froze: 4CC

One didn’t make it.

We were originally advised to opt for a three cycle package due to low AMH and semen morphology issues (this seems to have improved after a few months of hard work from both of us re diet etc). I have an AMH of 6.2, I’m turning 35 in December.

I would prefer not to do another round of egg collection, aside for the way it made me feel, the stims gave me a ‘bumpy womb’ - my natural womb lining is thick and the stims took it to over 21mm before I’d completed the cycle of meds. So I will have some work to do to get my womb into the right condition for a transfer.

What would you advise?

Thank you very much in advance! Xxx

[Greenleaves1]

That's a great result - I think it all depends on how many kids you are wanting to try for in the long run. How come they froze one at 3 days but let the others go to day 5 and 6?

[WanderingWonder in reply to Greenleaves1]

Hi Greenleaves 1

Thank you so much for your response!

The clinic said because at the time I had 8 high grade embryos and I was doing a freeze all cycle, they preferred to freeze a ‘good quality’ one on day three, to make it more likely I have an embryo to transfer. I did ask why they were doing this and not waiting to day 5 so we know more about the embryo, and they just said this gives us the best chance of having something to transfer, I didn’t question it much more than that tbh.

We are very lucky to have a 4.5 yo, conceived naturally. We now have unexplained infertility after TTC for almost three years. Our daughter is desperate for a sibling and we would be over the moon and beyond content to complete our family with another child.

Thank you and wishing you all the best for your journey! xXx

[fidgetmcgee]

wow that’s amazing to get 7 frozen embryos from 8 eggs!

I would go for the FET personally, you’ve got really good odds there and the clinics are money motivated so always recommended more treatment

[WanderingWonder in reply to fidgetmcgee]

Hi Fidgetmcgee

Thanks very much for your reply.

This has been a huge process of working through my cynicism and trust issues literally putting my eggs in the basket of a for profit health care business!

For example, the clinic pushed so hard for us to use ICSI, they said our chances would otherwise be quite low. We did A LOT of research and saw an independent andrologist, who explained that we should be fine with standard IVF. We insisted on not using ICSI on the day and all 8 of the eggs collected fertilised. Not all our embryos are great quality but I doubt it would have been much different if ICSI was used.

I feel pretty confident that when I call the clinic tomorrow they will encourage another egg collection. So I just wanted some advice from people who have been through this before I’m told how low the chances of our embryos resulting in a live birth will be!

Thank you again and hoping your journey isn’t too traumatising! Xxx

[Endofitall in reply to WanderingWonder]

Great result! Also super glad you held your own on the ICSI vs IVF decision. I would go for FETs now too and see what happens, unless you were planning more than one sibling, you might find this research paper helpful

fertstert.org/article/s0015...

It has a table suggesting how many blastocyst you might need based on age to find a euploid one. Your odds are really good with the number you have at your age 🤞🏼❤️

[WanderingWonder in reply to Endofitall]

Good morning Endofitall

thank you for your reply and link to that very reassuring research. You’ve soothed my anxiety before and I’m very grateful!

I will call the clinic today and tell them we would like to proceed with a transfer next.

Thank you so much and hope you are well and keeping everything crossed for you for your recent transfer xxx

[Pugs079]

Firstly, getting 7 embryos out of 8 eggs is amazing! You should be very happy! Secondly, did you ask the clinic for any advice?

Similar to you, I was continually recommended to do ICSI, even at egg collection. After doing our own research, we opted to not do it too. So, at egg collection I had to remind them of that.

If you want to do another collection, it’s completely your call, but if it was me I’d go for the embryos I have. You have a great selection and all the meds prior to collection made me super bloated.

Good luck on your journey!! Xx

[WanderingWonder in reply to Pugs079]

Hi Pugs079

Thank you so much for your reply. I’ve called the clinic today, obviously they want to sort out the money first! 🙄 and have said that if I don’t want to do the 3 cycle package I will need to pay up front for the treatment so far (we’ve been paying monthly) to proceed further.

Thank you again for your advice, I don’t want to do another round unnecessarily. I’m going to push to do the transfer and hope it takes!

Hoping all goes smoothly with your pregnancy! Xxx

[Twiglet2]

amazing results!! I would get on with your FETs as soon as possible loads of amazing chances there to be your wee miracle ✨ xx

[WanderingWonder in reply to Twiglet2]

Thank you so much for your reply and positive energy! I’m feeling boosted by you all to fight for a transfer!

Wishing you the smoothest pregnancy from now on! Xxx

[HelzBelzUK]

We were in a similar position a few months ago. We only got 4 blasts from 16 eggs. Transferred the two better ones (4AB and 3BB) which ended in a chemical pregnancy.

I really wanted to do another egg collection because the other two weren’t the best (day 5 4BC and day 6 4BC)

Our consultant urged me to do the transfer first.. his rationale was just because the grades were poorer doesn’t mean they’re genetically abnormal. We transferred them anyway and even though we sadly had a miscarriage at 7 weeks it’s the furthest we’ve ever got out of 5 miserable cycles.

So I would definitely encourage you to transfer first before putting your self mentally and physically through another egg collection. If the embryos are not pgta tested grading means absolutely nothing. You could be putting yourself through another full cycle for nothing xx Good luck xx

[WanderingWonder in reply to HelzBelzUK]

Hi HelzBelz

Thank you so much for your reply. Your advice is much appreciated and I plan to take it!

I’m so sorry for your loss, it’s such a mind bending process and fills you with so much doubt.

Wishing you all the best with your clinic in Athens! 🩷 xxx

[HelzBelzUK in reply to WanderingWonder]

Thank you so much xx It really is.. you give so so much for nothing at the end xx

Wishing you all the best moving forward xx

[Nakijo in reply to HelzBelzUK]

Sorry about your miscarriages. It can be heart breaking i went through 4 miscarriages myself. Currently I am 7 weeks pregnant at 41 and just keeping my figures crossed. How old were you when you did the cycles?

[HelzBelzUK in reply to Nakijo]

Thank you so much xx

Congratulations on your pregnancy that’s amazing news xx I was 39 at my last egg collection. Just turned 40 and starting another cycle end of the month xx We’re your embryos pgta tested? xx

[Nakijo in reply to HelzBelzUK]

No, my embryo wasn't PGTA tested

[HelzBelzUK in reply to Nakijo]

Ahh that’s amazing xx We’re doing pgta this time so fingers crossed for at least one euploid xx

[Purplecarrot]

Holy moly, congratulations that's an amazing result!! I'd say go with your gut. You'll know in your gut what you want to do. If you decide to go ahead with FET you've an excellent chance there!

[WanderingWonder in reply to Purplecarrot]

Thank you so much Purplecarrot!

I think I’m going to try to get my womb in good shape and then try a transfer!

Wishing you all the best! Xxx

[Nabsal]

it’s brilliant result tbh! Go for fet and hope for best. Don’t go again for egg retrieval. 🤞

[WanderingWonder in reply to Nabsal]

Thank you very much Nabsal!

I’m going to take your advice!

Wishing you all the best! Xxx

[Londonlady2024]

Hi, it's great that your clinic froze one good quality 8 cell embryo at day 3. It's difficult to tell how many you will get at day 5 but the only guarantee is that there is a drop off at day 5. So they definitely made the right decision.

I had a frozen transfer at day 3 and I have a 4 month little boy at 44. All my fresh transfers failed prior to my frozen transfer ( I had 4).

You have a few good quality embryos and your chances are quite high, even with the lower quality ones.

Glad you opted for IVF and not ICSI.

All the best, definitely go for FET.

[WanderingWonder in reply to Londonlady2024]

Thank you very much for the advice Londonlady2024 and Congratulations on your little boy! Wishing you all the best xxx

[StarsAllAround]

If your just planning on one more child I would go for FET as 4AA is a top quality grade. If you want more than one more I would do another round of egg collection as if you are successful with one transfer then want a another baby say 2 years later and the other embryos don't work doing another egg collection then your eggs will be 2 years older and less likely to get the good results you have now. Good luck whatever you decide x

[WanderingWonder in reply to StarsAllAround]

Thank you very much StarsAllAround!

We would be very much content with one sibling for your daughter, so I think we will go for a transfer now and if there are issues after that, have another think.

Wishing you all the best xxx