more questions from me - this time re: over 40 and number of embryos transferred

[briggsy's girl]

well, i just googled it, and found at least one in Au that will transfer more than 2, but only under strict circumstances. IVF Australia have a comment in their ivf risks page here about the risk of higher order multiples for transferring more than one embie

i'm guessing others would have similar processes, but it would vary from state to state. i know vic has some of the tightest ART legislation in australia

[buliej]

I just found this article (although I have no idea about the reliability of the study) which may interest others "over 40"

Fertility Neighborhood : Is There Still Hope After 40?

I'm definitely going to push my FS to transfer 3 (if I get 3 again) and am very sorry that I didn't push for 3 the first time when I had 3 high grade embryos...although I doubt she would have been willing to try my first cycle.

This article as well as the others I read is very clear that over 40's have a much lower risk of multiples as it is much harder to get pregnant generally!

[JBM]

i do know of someone who had 2 and ended up with 3 bubs as one egg split so she had triplets, they were prem by 8 weeks and one had a slight heart defect but all ok.

i wouldn't want to have triplets though.

[buliej]

I definitely don't want triplets either! and if I was under 38, I'd be much more conservative about the number of embryos. I really do believe that as you approach 40 ...and beyond (I will be 42 in Dec), things are quite different than they are for younger women struggling with this issue. and the clock is really ticking for over 40's...

I find everyone's opinion and input quite interesting! thanks for all the replies.

[briggsy's girl]

buliej not sure what clinic you're with in Melbourne, but just so you know, i went looking on google a bit more last night, and found an article (didn't copy the link dammit!) - but it said that Monash will not, under any circumstances, transfer more than two embryo's...

[buliej]

Thanks for that info. I'm at Melbourne IVF - and I looked to see if they cover this on their website - it says "As a responsible measure, to avoid the dangers associated with multiple pregnancies, at Melbourne IVF our policy is to transfer no more than two embryos, except in rare cases when three may be transferred. For this reason our multiple birth rate (13%) is lower than most other clinics. Almost all of these are twin pregnancies, with triplet pregnancies a rarity."

So it seems like 3 is a possibility, but they have a strong preference not to do 3. I'm sure it's up to the particular FS who would have the best sense of the patient's circumstances. I haven't bothered to call my FS because I'll be seeing her for my scan on Thurs and will ask then ... also, it may end up being irrelevant.

[briggsy's girl]

this is true! at least you know they're not dead set against it...