ICSI - Number of embryo transfer

Hi,

My doctor@ IVF Australia recommended us to have IVF treatments (ICSI), and he told us that they will transfer no more than 1 embryo at once.
He explained that if more than 1 embryo is transferred, it30% of the gregnancies are twin pregnancies and it will be risky for fetuses.
However, a friend of mine who lives overseas had been transferred 2 embryos and only one was survived. I was wondering if more than one embryo is transferred, are there more chance to be success?
Also, if the other clinics (or different doctors) recommend(or agree) to transfer more than 1 embyro.

I would appreciate it if anybody gives me some information.
Thank you so much.

Ayaca (36yrs)

Hi ayaca, every doctor and very opinion is different. My fs agreed to transfer 2 embryo's this time before we found out that we only had one make it to transfer. She was only happy to do this as I had lost some weight and said my body could cope if we had multiple babies. She doesn't do it on first ones and she is only allowing us to do multiple as my egg quality is not very good and a few other reasons.

So there are doctors who do it and different clinics that do it but I think it should always be case by case as there are always risks with multiple babies as there with just one.

Good luck hun.

Sorry you're having to go down this path.
I think generally they do not transfer more than one except under certain circumstances - like age and multiple failed cycles. Having more than one transferred doesn't necessarily increase the chances of success, but it does increase the chance of twins or higher-order multiples, which is a significant risk for mother and baby.
If you're wanting to look at this option, maybe it would help to talk with your doctor some more about it?
Good luck!

It doesn't really help to compare to overseas either. In America some clinics routinely transfer 3 or 4 embryos (usually just for older patients, but sometimes for younger ones). You won't get that in Australia. As already mentioned above, you will generally only get a Dr to agree to 2 if you are older or have a history of failed transfers.

We started transferring 2 embryos after our first two (single) transfers were BFN. I was also a poor responder to the meds (which we now know was probably due to my low AMH level). We were always given the same chance of success, regardless of whether it was a single or double embryo transfer.

We had 2 transferred on my first ivf cycle. My fs was adamant he would only transfer 1 however on transfer day my 2 embryos were not quite at blast so he transfered them both as neither would have made it to freeze and I suspect he knew they had a low chance of making it. In planning for our second cycle he again was planning to transfer just 1.

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Sorry you're having to go down this path.
I think generally they do not transfer more than one except under certain circumstances - like age and multiple failed cycles. Having more than one transferred doesn't necessarily increase the chances of success, but it does increase the chance of twins or higher-order multiples, which is a significant risk for mother and baby.

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That's exactly what we were told through our clinic.

One very important thing to think about when considering transferring more than one embryo is how many babies you would actually be happy to carry and have. Each single embryo has the chance of splitting into two naturally. Imagine if that happened to both transferred embryos and you ended up pregnant with 4 babies. What would you do? There is then a much higher risk to you and the babies, and in that situation many doctors would start talking about selective reduction...

Yes it's unlikely, but it's food for thought.

Good luck with your IVF journey. It can be a tough one, but when successful it is more than worth it :)

I agree with the wisdom of all the ladies who have responded.

I had one day 5 blastie transferred (my FS only believes in one embie being transferred at a time).

However, that one day 5 blastie divided again - and I am now almost 33 weeks pregnant with identical twins. While we are very happy to be expecting twins - it was unplanned and has been a highly complicated pregnancy, with extreme monitoring and several medical conditions to be dealt with on the way through.

What if you had two emboss transferred and one divided and you ended up with triplets? It wasn't really discussed with us - so it was a shock when it happened. All I can encourage is to do your research prior to making a decision.

Good luck.

Dan

Hi Everybody,

Thank you so much for the information.
It helps me a lot not only the information but also your really warm words.

I didn't notice each single embryo has the chance of splitting into two naturally, so as Mylitta says it will be dangerous if embryo(S) is divided 4...

Good luck too!

Ayaca