How many to transfer? Need advice ASAP

[Mazy++]

Hi All,
I need advice, I'm so nervous about this! I had the Egg Retrival yesterday and they got 10 eggs, 4 have fertilized. I really wanted to have some left over to freeze, in the hope of a second child one day but they want to transfer in all 4, due to my age (41). I'm wondering how many your docs recommend transfering? I would like to transfer 2 and freeze 2. I just don't know what to do. They want to the transfer on Tuesday (3 day) so I have to hurry up and figure out what to do. My doctor doesn't really give me any straight foward answers.
Thanks SO MUCH for your advice.
Mazy

Me: 41 DH 43
No previous pregnancies
3 IUI previously
1st IVF

[zirly]

I can only tell you that of the two woman I know who had IVF done that are your age...BOTH had four embyros put back in. One got pregnant with twins, and the other...we are waiting to hear (she is preggo and waiting for the u/s).

Best of luck to you!

[wannababy1229]

I had read in a magazine (created for 40+ women) that 5 embryos is the magic number.

[AuntyPebbles]

Hi Mazy,
wow what a thing to drop on you at this stage... i wish you luck with whatever you choose to do i think you should do whatever makes you feel comfortable its your body and your embies... i talked this over with my dr at the start of my cycle we decided to put all our healthy embies back (4) sadley it didnt work at all for me but i did it with the understanding that i could potentialy have gotten pregnant with 4
have you spoken to your embrologist? what did he/she say

lots of luck

Debz

[JESS FITZ2]

Hi Just wanted to share my 2nd IVF transfer with you.
I am 31 years old and the Dr. wanted us to transfer 3 only 4 fertilized at good quality and I was to scared and only wanted to put back 2 but, We went with the Dr. and put 3 back we were very nervous for triplets but, only 1 took and now im so happy we listened to what the dr. wanted because I think to myself if we didnt put 3 back and only did 2 then maybe the 1 that took would of been the one that wasnt put back and now im 11 weeks preg with that lucky 1 out of 3!!!!!

So good luck to you and I hope whatever you choose is successful!!!!

JESS XXX

[Mazy++]

Thank you all for your replies. It is so helpful to have this message board and all of you amazing women to turn to when we need answers!

Has anyone considered going for another round of stimulation, and "banking" all that fertilize, then transferring in a minimal amount and keeping some frozen? Maybe that's a good idea but I don't know about how many survive the freeze thaw process. I always thought that was all right thing to do but I'm learning it's not always so great.

[sue e]

Most clinics say to work on a 50% success rate for thawing, sometimes the rate is higher sometimes less, but at least it gives you a rough guide.

sue x

[31single]

I've thought about that Mazy ... but even more extreme. I have exactly one vial of my ideal donor. I bought the last vial that this donor had with the bank. (my IVF appt is September 18 ...).

Even if I manage to get more than one transfer's worth of embryos out of one stimulation, what if none of them take ... But if I do two stimulations (short term freezing of the eggs from the first batch) ... then I can use one vial on two stimulations of eggs ...

In your case ... I think I've read through more statistics than I ever thought possible. And between age 38 and 42, the annual decline in egg quality is dramatic, but the ability to carry an otherwise healthy embryo to term doesn't change as dramatically. I think If I were in your shoes, I'd at least talk to the doctor about getting out some eggs while they're still good, even if that means postponing transfer for a few months more ...

But be careful about docs who are looking too much after their own statitistics. An egg stimulation that goes straight into freeze might count as a cancelled cycle or something (I don't know ...) which isn't good for their stats ...

GOOD LUCK

Has anyone considered going for another round of stimulation, and "banking" all that fertilize, then transferring in a minimal amount and keeping some frozen? Maybe that's a good idea but I don't know about how many survive the freeze thaw process. I always thought that was all right thing to do but I'm learning it's not always so great.