IVF- Too young?

[Ashan]

My Husband and I have been going to Melbourne IVF for over a year now, we have tried 3 IUI cycles all unsuccessful we are now in our first IVF cycle and are now 5 days away from ovum pick up. I have just found out today from a Nurse that because of my age (22yrs 5mths) they will not transfer 2 embryos and they gave us no choice no discussion with a doctor nothing we were just told too young and so I asked when is the age that you have a choice and the nurse ummm and decided on the age of 30!!
So here is my desperate question to anyone under the age of 30 or had a IVF cycle under the age of 30. Did you have 2 embryos transferred or where you given the right to make this decision yourself?
Please Help
Ashan

[briggsy's girl]

the protocol, australia wide, is for single embryo transfers unless you are over 30 or have a history of recurrent miscarriage or multiple failed IVF attempts. at 27 (fortnight short of 28) i was able to transfer 2 embryo's due to the number of miscarriages and failed attempts we'd had - prior to that, it wasn't an option at all

[Ashan]

Thanks Briggsy's girl
I will have a look into those protocols!!!!

[butterfly_warrior]

It also depends on the clinic and the doctor.

The doctor I used will not under any circumstances ever transfer more than 2 embryos, even when age and history in other places would make it a feasible option. At the age of 33 with a history of miscarriages behind us, it wasn't an option at all. A friend with the same doctor is in her 40s and has a long history of unsuccessful cycles behind her and is still only allowed to do single embryo transfers.

Transferring two embryos isn't a magic key to IVF success.

BW

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Transferring two embryos isn't a magic key to IVF success.

I have baby sisters 2 months older than my DS who were conceived on mum and stepdad's 5th cycle of IVF. The very first time that only one embryo was transferred and not only did she fall pregnant but ended up with identical twins.

Hang in there, and good luck

[Ashan]

Thanks butterfly_warrior & cookiemonster

Yesterday when I wrote this post I was quiet upset and didn't really express myself properly, what I am concerned about is the lack of communication from the doctors to myself! They have not taken the time to discuss this with me and unawares to myself as to how many embryos are usually replaced (although I do understand that here in Australia is different to America) I felt like they are not treating me like I have the right to be informed or take part in a discussion about my treatment that ultimately will affect my life and that of my husbands not to mention everything they have written in their information pack that they gave me they are now doing the opposite too. Thank you for helping me understand on the embryo side of things.
and best of luck to u all
Cheers
Ashan

[Caramello]

Ashan,

Must be hard to feel like you are wandering around in the dark - as I said, I can't believe the lack of information that you have been given.

This is a brilliant place for support - and I'm sure that many people here are going through Melbourne IVF - so please make sure you keep asking questions and hopefully someone will have an answer!

[Bengal]

"they will not transfer 2 embryos and they gave us no choice no discussion with a doctor nothing we were just told too young and so I asked when is the age that you have a choice and the nurse ummm and decided on the age of 30!!

Please Help
Ashan

Ashan
I am with MIVF, am 41 ( so, I dont fit the under 30 part of your post) I just wanted to advise I had to push initially to have two embryo's transfered. FS was dead against it.

You have every right, to see, phone or email your doctor (fs) and talk to them about your wishes. I am not saying they will agree, I just want you to know that I have found them very open to discussions and emails etc from me, regarding different questions and protocols I would like to try, during and before my cycles.

What colour team are you in ?

There is another thread about MIVF and ET, I will link it for you in a min

[Loula]

After my first failed attempt at the age of 23 years for me and 30 for DH we have only tf two embies at a time ever since. that was even befor our multipule failure and losses At the time i was with Monash, i guess since i moved to MIVF they just continued with what had been happening with Monash.

You need open communication with you FS and discuss this with them, if you are not finding that you are getting this then IMO i woul dbe changing either FS, or clinic or both.

[diva det]

i went through MIVF and the choice of how many i had tranferred was always left up to me. I had my first tranfer at 28 and had two tranferred just after turning 29 and had b/g twins. So i was under 30 and had 2 put back. However this was nearly 7 years ago, so perhaps things have changed.

I went back to IVF and was doing cycles up to 18 months ago and was allowed to tranfer two again if i wanted- but i was over 30 by them. I chose then to only have one back at a time lol

i guess it depends on your FS
good luck!!!!

[sazzafrazz]

I have had my treatment in Adelaide so different clinic.

I have always had 2 embryos transferred, when 2 were available, with my first transfer at the age of 23. this was over 11 years ago now though. Recently I had two transferred at age 34 and some staff seemed surprised.

Perhaps the hesitation is in relation to the embryo quality/size. What I mean is if you are having a day 5 blastocycst transfer they may be more hesitant than if you are having day 3 embryos transferred as there is a significant difference in viability.

I think the important thing is that you have your questions answered and feel informed, not just swept along with protocol without explanation.

Good luck with it all.

[drbeee]

I think that it is important to remember the reasons behind clinics NOT wanting to transfer two embryos are very valid, and are based on mother and child safety.

Unscrupulous clinics in the US often transfer multiple embryos because it makes their pregnancy stats look good.

Women like us are vulnerable. We want a child desperately and we are prepared to take 'risks' to make that happen (ie the risk of twins). Clinics do need to be the 'voice of reason' when it hard for US to be reasonable due to our baby-desire.

I was 39 and I had two fresh embryos transferred twice. I got lucky in that I only conceived one baby. B/C of my age I ran the risk (and my FS supported me) of the small risk of twins. I look back now and wonder whether I was right to do that.

When we try with our frozen embryos, one will be going back in at a time (unless there is an error at the clinic and they thaw two...no way could I leave one to succumb).

I have empathy for your feelings, especially for what you feel is a lack of communication, but try and remember that they DO want you to have a baby, but that they want you and the baby to be healthy!

[juniper76]

I had my first IVF late last year at the age of 32 and wasn't asked about how many to transfer until I was sitting on the table about to have it done. I remember thinking surely we should have discussed this earlier in the process!

Whilst I had a choice, I was strongly encouraged to transfer only 1 (which we did, in spite of DH wanting 2). We transferred 2 for IVF#2 and will transfer 2 again this time.