Viewing Embryos prior to ET

Lynn · Post by **Lynn** » Tue Oct 22, 2002 9:07 pm

Could anyone who has experienced ET before, please post me any information regarding viewing the embryos prior to transfer. Did you get offered the option from your Clinic? and did you take up the offer? Need to know to keep my sanity!!! Thanks

luce · Post by **luce** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 6:51 am

Hi Lynn My clinic offered us the option to see the embryos before they put them back in. We took them up on the offer, and it was a very moving experience - I mean I know they're only a collection of cells at that point, but it was incredible to think that they were 'us'. We only managed to get 3 fertilised and dividing, so they put all 3 back in - we named them Mary Mungo and Midge after seeing them under the microscope! Anyway, good luck. Can't tell from your email if you want to see them or not, but I recommend you do. It's a wonder of science! Love and hugs Lucy

tshepher · Post by **tshepher** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 7:24 am

Hi Lynn and Lucy I didn't even know this could be an option but what a fantastic experience !! Thanks for posting Lynn and I'm definitely going to ask if we can see ours before transfer next week. What stage are you both at ? LOL Terri xx

Lynn · Post by **Lynn** » Wed Oct 23, 2002 6:29 pm

Dear Lucy and Terri Thank you so much for responding to my message. It's my first time on the forum so still not picked up the jargon yet!! With regards viewing embryos prior to ET. The reason I ask is because I have had two cycles of icsi, the 1st in 2000 and the 2nd last year, unfortunately both unsuccessful. I attended two different clinics, the first was some travelling distance away from home (I used this clinic due to a recommendation)and decided that the strain was enough without a 2 hour car journey to contend with. I decided therefore to obtain information from local clinics and was quite shocked to read in their documentation that prior to ET, the choice of viewing embryos is given. I felt quite disappointed and let down that I had not received this option at my first clinic, and felt somewhat cheated that this had not been offered. My dh and I decided therefore to try one of the local clinics and made an appointment to visit. At the initial consultation we expressed our concern at not seeing embryos prior to ET and was told that this option was given to all their patients, together with a photograph of the embryos, which they suggested if the treatment was unsuccessful to have placed on your personal file as opposed to taking home. Any how to cut a long story short, at the day of ET, lying in the "prone position" we asked to see the embryos and were told that this was not possible as the microscope was not attached to the monitor. To put it mildly, we were DEVASTATED, and once again felt cheated. To add insult to injury, I met up with a lady who had coincidentally had ET the same week as myself at the same clinic and was shown the embryos prior to ET. We have since written to the clinic who have confirmed that we should have seen the embryos prior to transfer, but no explanation as to why this did not happen. Sorry to go on, but as you will appreciate, this causes a mental scare which is difficult to heal. Thanks for taking time to read this. Luv Lynn