how many embryos should you transfer? 1 vs 2

[Mumof8]

Dusty-Go for two,i am. I believe two chances is better then one and if you end up with twins im sure you wont be dissapointed. All the best of luck to you and hubby

[{sarah}]

I had the same question a few weeks ago!! We've since decided to transfer 2 in a few weeks time. For us, the results are getting worse each time so it looks as though we don't have much time up our sleeves. We've always wanted a large family, so the decision was fairly easy - big family with not a lot of time to get it, so we decided on transferring two.

Really it's your personal circumstances that will make the decision for you....

Good luck hun, it's a tough choice.

[dusty]

Thanks gals for your support and advice, both are helpful to me. It is a very personal decision and one that I just don't want to take too lightly. I suppose this whole IVF thing doesn't feel completely real at times but having viable embies ready to go is soooo full of possibility, the closest we may ever be to having the chance to be parents (although I do believe we will be parents sooner or later).

I am really interested to also hear from any Long Term TTCers that have faced this dillema before and what they considered when making their decision.

It is a bit of a bugger that this is happening on a quiet BB day - pressure is on for us tomorrow.

dusty

[visitor10]

Dusty,

I am not in your particular situation at the moment but I totally agree with Mumof5 & Sarah. Go for 2 girlie! As mumof5 said I am very sure that you won't be disappointed if you ended up having twins. All this pain and anguish and you get 2 for the price of 1...winners all round I say! I actually became quite aqainted with the idea after my spec suggested that it was a possibility when even going on clomid...even though I had never entertained the possibility!

But as has been acknowledged only u & DH can make this decision. Do whatever you feel is right for the both of you!

Thinking of u hun xxoo

[{sarah}]

Here is the thread I posted a few weeks ago.... Might help a bit more

[Lenny]

It is a very personal decision and one that I just don't want to take too lightly.

I think you have answered your own question Dusty. You have to feel like the choice you made was the right one, no matter what the eventual outcome is. It is one of the bigger decisions you will make, and you need to be OK with whatever happens as a result. I hate to say it but this could be a bad result, and good result, or a perfect result...whatever that is for you guys.

Seeing as you asked i will tell you how i decided on 1 embryo. I know two beautiful sets of girl twins, and in each case one twin has a very severe physical disability, a direct link to being a twin. I decided that i wanted, as best i could, to avoid more possible birth complications.
Twins would be fabulous - and I think that i'd love to have twins, but i couldn't justify the risks to myself.

In the end my FS recommended that due to my poor egg/embryo quality that he put back two last time...so after all my deliberating, i ended up taking his advice and putting 2 back!!!! I am now nearly 7 weeks pg with a singleton.

That is purely my opinion and was right for me. Everyone is different, and i am only saying because you asked how other LTTTCers had come to their decision.

Good Luck and i wish you all the very best tomorrow!!
Jo

PS...they always made me decide well before the trf...they felt that just before the trf was too much pressure and they liked to give you more time to think about it.

[dusty]

Thanks gals

Sarah you are a gem linking me to the same question you asked of BB last month. What amazing women there are on BB with all their thoughtful and honest responses, given with such sensitivity and respect.

Jo, your story is quite remarkable. Congrats on your pg! Yeah it is stressful to have to make this decision so late in the piece. I suppose because I haven't responded well to stims before and the quality of my eggs not being great, there was a low probability that I would be in the situation of having two viable embies!

My DH and I have read through all the thoughts and we still have much to discuss ourselves.

Am happy for any more thoughts if anyone is up to it.

dusty (12 hours to go....!)

[Mumof8]

All i can say now for you Dusty is i wish you the best of luck today and i will be thinking of you.
Take care
Em

[visitor10]

I'm thinking of u 2day Dusty! Let us know how u go beautiful!

xxoo

[nic]

Hope all went well today Dusty and that you managed to get some sleep last night

Nic

[dusty]

phew what a 24 hours! really made me realise the magnitude of the decisions we sometimes have to make in our life. but whatever happens now happens for a reason...stick to mummy little embies...

we decided to transfer the 2. to be honest it wasn't the optimum option but it was the best of the options we had on offer and we are happy with it regardless. i also rang and spoke to an IVF specialist friend of the family and he gave me some stats and perspective which also helped our decision.

thanks all for everything. to everyone!

dusty

[anney]

congrats on getting this far Dusty. I think when you get 2, then you should transfer 2. I think it is sort of like fate and I think putting one in the freezer is not really worth it. We got 2 and transferred them both and had a single pregnancy but miscarried at 10 weeks. Just anecdotally, I think putting back 2 and getting 1 baby is more common than putting back 2 and getting 2.
wishing you loads of luck and sticky vibes.

[Mumof8]

Awesome news dusty im glad it all went well. What did your IVF Specialist friend have to say if you dont mind me asking??? We have decided IF we get 2 good embryo we want 2 put back.

[{sarah}]

Great news dusty. Fingers crossed those little embies stick tight

[Mon]

Hi Dusty

I hope everything goes well! I look forward to hearing a BFP in 2 weeks time, whether it be twins or a singleton! You & your DH deserve it!!!!!

Mon

[dusty]

thanks gals, i am feeling good about this!

anney i am so sorry for your loss.

Mumof5 i caught the IVF specialist on the wknd away from his rooms but off the top of his head this is a summary of what he said (and hope it makes sense!) feel free to PM me or post further if you need clarification.

20% of ET of 2 embryos result in twins
of those that are twins, 20% do badly (his words he didn't elaborate)

1 in 4 (25%) sets of twins have one twin naturally miscarry by week 6-7 (ie no longer show on a scan)
of the remaining 3 in 4 (75%) sets of twins 1 in 5 (20%) do badly (again his words) and may be born up to 28 weeks early
of the remaining 4 in 5 (80%) sets of twins that go past 28 weeks they do reasonably well.

he also mentioned that twins are much harder than individual babies, there is also a greater risk of marriage/relationship breakdown, depression etc.

i asked him to be completely upfront with me in outlining these stats. in the end he said it was difficult choice but he would probably go for transferring both of them for me.

i hope this is of help

dusty

[Lenny]

Dusty,
Great to hear how it went. I know it's all done and dusted now, but i totally agree with anney...if you have two, then transfer two.
I wish you all the best in the TWW and i hope you get a wonderful BFP soon.
Take care

[Baby~amore`]

congratulations on your two embryos and best of luck for your pregnancy. Whatever happens you can only take each day as it comes and enjoy it to fullest !

I have twins from 2 embies transferred on 2nd cycle but 3rd transfer.
So first two unsuccessful BFN
Then we transferred blasts.
They were born 35wks 4days not because of being twins but because of me developing obstetric cholestasis - a liver problem any one can get.
None of the twins in our group of 10 or more from our playgroup were born as early as 28wks- none less than 35weeks though yes there are twins born extremely premmie. I think identical twins have more risks too. It also depends on mother's past obstetric history , health , age
and level of care. IVF twins do just as well as naturally conceived.

In my experience twins are wonderful and but how would clinic know the stats on marriage breakdown ... it seems most of the people in our twin club are still together. Sure some days are harder but most days are twice the fun. They rang us once to find out the pregnancy outcome never to ask anything else.

IVF /assisted conception twins are on the increase - and even identical twins from one embryo.

I think given that 1/3 marriages/relationships breakdown Anyway
- they should say more families with single babies are likely to breakdown - stats can be skewed anyway.

Goodluck !