Farmgirl - so interesting - I am with Julie Whitehead and just asked her yesterday about going to blasts. I've done a bit of research and given my age I think this is the best way to go. She did say that she would do so, but only if I got more than 3 fertilized embryos as if there are less, then she wouldn't want risk losing them all before transfer as I do think it's a bit harder for them to survive our of your body (but then again, if they wouldn't survive anyway, it probably doesn't matter). I think it's all a bit of a gamble, but I am a firm believer of doing your research and deciding what approach you are most comfortable with - with the proper amount of deference to the experts (i.e., your FS).
I also bugged her about the what if's - my DH laughed - but that's my way, I wanted to know what approach would be next if this cycle didn't work (I have my egg retrieval on Monday). If this cycle doesn't work, then I'm going to 1 - continue to push for blasts where possible and 2 - push for 3 embryos to be put back in. I know I harp on this, but I have 3 over 40 friends back in NY who all had happy & healthy single bubs via IVF (with their own eggs) all of whom used blasts and had 4 put back in.
Hi everyone,
Thanks for your responses. I think that I'll talk to our FS about blasts if/when we get to it...i think AF is on the way and we will have lost our two embies from our fresh transfer, leaving us with one or two more transfers (we are putting 2 back at a time)...but I dont hold out much hope of a BFP. I thought that this time we were doing better than last time - better diet, more water etc etc, but without a noticable impact compared to our first stim cycle
Buliej - that your pick up goes well and you get some blasts - I'll watch with interest how you go. It is good to know that Julie will consider them. Good luck.
Farmgirl - how is it going for you - hope you are hanging on to your sanity!
I thought I'd post this here as it belongs with this thread - as I mentioned in my other post, I only had 3 eggs picked up thus Julie was able to tell me when I spoke to her post-pick-up that I'd definitely have a 2 day transfer (assuming any at all). I don't know how many she'd want to see before agreeing to a blast, but 3 was not enough.
Hi Farmgirl - when I got 6 they let me go to blast so maybe 6 is the number as it wasn't many.....and buliej 3 is still a great number - you only need 1 !!!! Best of luck to you both
I thought 3 sounded good - but I just got a call from my FS - none made it. Just had a good cry about it. I do have 1 frozen & they are going to see how it defrosts overnight. I'm not sure I'd ever get 6...
Waiting 1 - how did things go with your blasts...how many made it and when do you get your test results?
buliej I am so sorry to hear that. It is such a pain - this numbers game.
When I got 6 eggs all of them fertilised and I went to blast and only 1 made it and BFN.
this last cycle which was successful I got 17 eggs and ended up with 4 blasts 1 fresh (whcih is hopefully in there growing like crazy now - I am almost 12 weeks) and 2 good enough to freeze.
In my first cycle i got 15 eggs and had a fresh 2 day BFN and 8 frozen 2 days that I got 6 that survived thaw and transferred at day 3 all BFN. it was frustrating because it took 7 months to work through them (one at a time).
If I had my time over, even if I got 3 eggs that fertilised I would still try to go to blast even though odds aren't as good.
It is very much a personal preference but I can't stand the wait if they are not viable past 3 days. Even though the FS don't like to do it (until they think you have sufficient numbers) you can insist. They are your embryos and eggs etc.
Of course first cycle - I relied on the specialists view - but I suggest you read SIVF's policies on it. They wont do 3 day transfers anymore.
It would be incredibly difficult to have nothing to transfer after going through the STIM process and egg collection adn drugs (and I was lucky enough not to be in that position) but for me personally - and this is just my opinion, the hope and wait and disappointment is worse. I rather have the month off and get back to it until I get the blast that will work.
It is NOT for everyone I am well aware of that and I am sure that anyone who has had a 2 or 3 day transfer that worked will have a different view but I just think for me and my body - I am best to get the stronger embryo's (those that can make it to day 5 outside the body) and then put it back at the time it would be in the uterus naturally. I just don't think my uterus was conducive to the embryo being there at day 3...... best of luck and you know what I have learnt. IVF works. It may be long and hard but it eventually seems to work for everyone so you will get there.
Love Waiting x
I totally understand what you are saying re: blasts and may end up insisting next time. I know that in NYC they only want to use blasts regardless of how many (I'm an expat who married an Aussie, thus I know way more about US practices from my friends over there than I do about this process here.
My latest "concern" (I worry about everything!), if you can call it that, is about the quality of the labs. My understanding is that the reason why blasts are sometimes not the first choice is that they have to be transferred to a new culture. Thus, it sounds to me that both the skill of the lab technicians and the quality of the lab are significant factors. Of course, the quality of the embryo is at least equally important, but I do wonder how much also comes down to the lab. and I do not know how to find out about this.
Buliej - , i'm so sorry that your embies did not make it, i cant blame you for having a cry! It just never seems fair. Do you have a plan for going forward?
I dont think my embies have made it - pretty sure AF has started - right on time so I'll be joining you for that cry.
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that your pick up goes well and you get some blasts - I'll watch with interest how you go. It is good to know that Julie will consider them. Good luck.
). I don't know how many she'd want to see before agreeing to a blast, but 3 was not enough.
, thus I know way more about US practices from my friends over there than I do about this process here.
, i'm so sorry that your embies did not make it, i cant blame you for having a cry! It just never seems fair. Do you have a plan for going forward?
so I'll be joining you for that cry.
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