Blastocyst verses Day 2 transfer

Hello.... I've recently started my first cycle of IVF (ICSI) and having read abit about different clinics success rates, I have discovered that alot of success is due to the transfer of a Blastocyst (I think a 5 day embie). My clinic doesn’t do a Blastocyst transfer unless they collect 20 + eggs... so my question now is if I have less than 20 eggs then should I transfer 2 embies to double my chance of falling??? (I know this is only my first round but no one wants to endure the side effects or the childless life, for longer than necessary....

Advice anyone? (Thanks in advance)

Hi joeyme, firstly goodluck with your first cycle! To me that sounds a bit strange that they don't do a blastocyts transfers unless they collect 20+ eggs because well firstly i dont think very many ppl get anywhere near that number. When i had my stim cycle i had 15 eggs collected and was told that was an excellent result as lots of women only get around 6!! and out of my 15 only 10 fertilised then only 4 made it to the blastocyts stage (1 transfered and 3 frozen). My FS told me that if they dont make it to the 5 day blastocyts stage their not viable to transfer or freeze. But some women on here have said they have had day 3 transfers so i guess other clinics are different? Your question about transfering 2 embies, my clinic only transfers 2 if your over 35 i think or if you have had 3 failed attempts then they upgrade you to having 2 transfered. Maybe consult your FS about this if you have concerns. I hope i havn't confused you iv just never heard of that because as far as i know they like them to get to the blastocyts stage because that indicates a good start to a healthy embryo that has all the right DNA??? But i could be wrong. Don't get too down if your first attemp dosn't work, some women are really lucky and the first one sticks but for most women it takes roughly 3 attempts for a sucessful transfer. Again goodluck and sending lots of baby dust to you xx

It's odd about hte 20+ eggs. That's a lot! You probably don't really want to get that many.
I don't see why they don't wait and see how many embryos you have at day 3 before deciding whether to try for balstocysts?
Anyway, personally, I would not transfer ttwo unless I'd had several failed cycles already. The risk of twins is quite high, with all the attendant risks to your preganncy and babies that comes with that. (that said, I do understand the appeal of getting two for one) And I think most clinics would not transfer two at once unless you've had several failed cycles and/or you're older.

Hi guys,

Thanks for your replies. I agree about wanting to get the embies to the Blastocyst stage because it's like survial of the fittest! I was reading the book they gave me yesterday and apparently if they have more than 6 embroyos at day 2 or 3 then they will try for a blastocyst, otherwise you get a 2 or 3 day embie... which is fair enough for now being my first cycle, I have a long way to go before I worry too much about these things.... I was just curious because the blastocyst stage makes so much more sense to me.. And I am over 35 so I do have the option to go 2 embies (which is what my DH would like) but I think the risk is too high... for now anyway... Thanks heaps for your replies.... I have an ultrasound tomorrow, it was brought forward because my blood tests came back with a high level of hormones, not a great thing I imagine but they said I'll either be cancelled, change in my stims or change my EPU to Friday... fingers crossed I dont get cancelled... Thanks again x

Hey joeyme, goodluck with your ultrasound. keep positive thats the best thing you can do. Keep in touch xx

Hi there - I just wanted to put a bit of a plug in for Day 2/3 transfers. My stimulated cycle unfortunately resulted in a BFN with one day 2 embie transferred. I then did an HRT FET and the first embryo defrosted did not survive so they defrosted another and I have a beautiful 16 month old daughter as a result. I too was over 35 and it can be very tempting to think of doing a transfer with 2.

Best of luck with your cycle.

Janie xxx

Hi

Just wanted to let you know that I also had day 3 embryo's transferred all my previous cycles (1 stim and 3 FET's) which resulted in my almost 10mth old DD. I was approaching 35 so my FS let me put back 2 embryo's for the FET's but he would only do 1 on my first stim cycle. I am now in the middle of another TWW after having 2 day 5's transferred last friday, my FS wanted me to only do 1 but due to my age now (37) he was happy for me to do 2 at a time because I was lucky enough to still have 8 frozen embryo's and I had no complications with my previous pregnancy.

Good luck and I hope everything goes well for you.

Hi Joeyme,
I wanted to wish you well for your first cycle :fingercrossed:. I too have had great results with day 2 embies. Out of three cycles I got PG twice, I miscarried one and now have a nearly one year old as result of the last transfer. Interestingly we transferred with our last cycle, only one stuck (which I am secretly relieved about - due to possible complications etc). We had to really fight to get 2 put in on our third go, we were young and had had a successful transfer already. What ever the outcome I wish you the best and you never know sometimes day 2's are just what the Dr ordered! Also, I agree with the other girls, 20+ eggs seems like too many to me. My 2 fresh cycles produced 12-14 eggs which was considered a very good yield.
Chat Soon Rach x

I know it can be overwhelming with all the talk about blastys etc. We only got 2 eggs with our first cycle, thankfully both fertilised but our fs said as we'd only got 2 we would be doing a day 3 transfer. I was devastated as everything I had read seemed to indicate that unless it was a blasty, it was a waste of time. Well- as you can see from my ticker, we were successful and still have one frozen. Good luck but please don't feel too badly about not having a blasty (if that is what happens)

Hi Joeyme,

I had the call on this (my 2nd) stim cycle after retrieving 4 eggs, that only one had fertilised normally. My clinic routinely sends them to blast but because I only had one, they did a Day 2 transfer. I was feeling quite disheartened at that stage and was mentally preparing myself for the next cycle but I actually got my bfp last week. (Early days yet, but it's progress!)

IVF has been around for 30 years and from what I can understand, up until a few years ago, 2 & 3 day transfers were more the norm and resulted in thousands and thousands of bubs. I have never heard either of a clinic only going to blast if numbers are over 20!
I also believe that my new FS, clinic's lab and the placement of the embryo at transfer made a world of difference as opposed to my last cycles.

I do think if I had 2 embies (depending on their quality), I may have transferred both as I too am over 35, but the decision was taken out of my hands which I suppose is a blessing because I personally find the thought of 2 bubs at once is quite daunting!

I wish you all the very best for your cycle and that you get your long awaited bfp. :goodluck:

Thanks everyone for your replies, it's great to hear everyones point of view! I had my EPU yesterday I had 11 eggs and I recieved the news today that 8 fertilised :-) , so luckily I am able to give a 5 day blastie a shot (on Saturday) .... I'm only transfering one though :-) decided to just give the standard a go before I get to hasty!

This is such a ****ty process and so many people go through it over and over again :-( Good luck to you all... as we all know it will be worth it in the end!

Yes, hun it really is totally worth it! By the time you have bubs in your arms...all is forgotten trust me! All the best! Hoping for a very sticky blasty! xx

Thanks TippyToes, I had my ET today with a nice strong Blasty :-) I also got 3 frosties out of this cycle, so I'm really happy...

Now TWW!... fingers and legs crossed

Thank you so much Joeyme as this exact topic has been causing me a little frustration :wall: as if you read the research, you end up going around in circles! My IVF clinic only transfer on day 2 and only do 5 day blasts if you are over 35 and you have had a significant amount of failed IVF cycles, FRUSTRATING and very unfair :redface: Why are clinics sooooooo different ??? I wish I knew to ask before I handed all of my $$$ over and now I have 5 bubsicles on ice with them, there is no turning back now :crossfingers: but ladies, thank you ... thank you ... thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me hope and sharing your positive 2 day transfer stories. Reading that you have born into the world, gorgeous little people out of your 2 day transfers have done wonders for my optimism :loveshower:

Just wanted to wish you luck!!
Sounds like you didn't need to worry about in the end after all hey?

Sue xxx