40+ and untested embryos

[Anonymous]

Has anyone here had any luck using untested embryos being 40 years old and older? Or maybe even close to 40. I don’t make many blasts and it has been recommended that I put back a lot of untested embryos to have a better chance. Anyone?

[Anonymous]

Hmmm. What is “a lot”? More than 2 seems a bad idea unless you e been through several rounds and aren’t having any luck.
I didn’t test at 41. Had 4 5-day blasts to work with. First (fresh) transfer of two embryos ended with a v early mc. Second transfer was FET and also 2 embryos. I now have lovely 12 mo old TWINS. Twins are hard both for pregnancy (luckily mine were full term, no issues) and as infants (I’m not an octopus with extra arms!) but my choice not to test and transfer 2 embryos was definitely the right decision based on probabilities and avail info at the time but... you just never know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hmmm. What is “a lot”? More than 2 seems a bad idea unless you e been through several rounds and aren’t having any luck.
I didn’t test at 41. Had 4 5-day blasts to work with. First (fresh) transfer of two embryos ended with a v early mc. Second transfer was FET and also 2 embryos. I now have lovely 12 mo old TWINS. Twins are hard both for pregnancy (luckily mine were full term, no issues) and as infants (I’m not an octopus with extra arms!) but my choice not to test and transfer 2 embryos was definitely the right decision based on probabilities and avail info at the time but... you just never know.

This would be 5 day 3 frozens. Congrats

[Anonymous]

I was 36 for first egg retrieval and had five untested embryos to work with.

FET #1 with two: did not take. FET #2 with two: did not take. Third did not survive thaw.

Egg retrieval #2 at 37. Had four untested embryos. Did fresh transfer with two, one took, delivered at age 38, baby is now a healthy, neurotypical toddler. Other two are in cryo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was 36 for first egg retrieval and had five untested embryos to work with.

FET #1 with two: did not take. FET #2 with two: did not take. Third did not survive thaw.

Egg retrieval #2 at 37. Had four untested embryos. Did fresh transfer with two, one took, delivered at age 38, baby is now a healthy, neurotypical toddler. Other two are in cryo.

Fantastic

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 36 for first egg retrieval and had five untested embryos to work with.

FET #1 with two: did not take. FET #2 with two: did not take. Third did not survive thaw.

Egg retrieval #2 at 37. Had four untested embryos. Did fresh transfer with two, one took, delivered at age 38, baby is now a healthy, neurotypical toddler. Other two are in cryo.

Fantastic

I’m the above PP who had luck on the third transfer on the second round. I should have noted that I also was not able to have my embryos turned into blasts. They just could not survive that long. All of my embryos were frozen or used fresh as day two or three embryos. I think a lot of doctors don’t like deviating from the typical process of growing embryos to day 5-7 blasts and steering women towards FETs. But it’s obviously not a one size fits all protocol, I think particularly for older women whose egg quality may not result in the strong and hearty eggs and embryos of a woman in her 20s. Im glad my doctor’s approach was to get the embryos transferred or frozen (if fresh not possible) earlier than later.

All that said, I personally would not be comfortable transferring more than two embryos. There is still a chance even one embryo can split, and you could wind up with high order multiples if you transfer three or more. If you do decide to go down that path, make sure you and your husband discuss your thoughts around selective reduction, if it may be necessary for the safety of the mother or babies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was 36 for first egg retrieval and had five untested embryos to work with.

FET #1 with two: did not take. FET #2 with two: did not take. Third did not survive thaw.

Egg retrieval #2 at 37. Had four untested embryos. Did fresh transfer with two, one took, delivered at age 38, baby is now a healthy, neurotypical toddler. Other two are in cryo.

Fantastic

I’m the above PP who had luck on the third transfer on the second round. I should have noted that I also was not able to have my embryos turned into blasts. They just could not survive that long. All of my embryos were frozen or used fresh as day two or three embryos. I think a lot of doctors don’t like deviating from the typical process of growing embryos to day 5-7 blasts and steering women towards FETs. But it’s obviously not a one size fits all protocol, I think particularly for older women whose egg quality may not result in the strong and hearty eggs and embryos of a woman in her 20s. Im glad my doctor’s approach was to get the embryos transferred or frozen (if fresh not possible) earlier than later.

All that said, I personally would not be comfortable transferring more than two embryos. There is still a chance even one embryo can split, and you could wind up with high order multiples if you transfer three or more. If you do decide to go down that path, make sure you and your husband discuss your thoughts around selective reduction, if it may be necessary for the safety of the mother or babies.

They’re going to put back six for me. The doctor gave me the success stats per embryo at my age and I guess she feels like the risk is low for multiples.

[Anonymous]

Whoooooa. There is no way I would do that. Can you transfer 3 and then do an FET the next month with another 3 if it doesn’t work? You can often do them back to back. That is so much safer and greatly lowers your chances of potentially have sextuplets or more.

[Anonymous]

OP, after multiple cycles with nothing to freeze I did get 5 transferred. Nothing took. Previously I had 3 transferred, also nada. The recommendation of the Reproductive Medicine Advisory body is up to 5 for 40+ with previous failures and poor prognosis. So it's not a bad idea, it's a current standard for cases with little chances of success. Some REs may be more conservative and transfer only 2 max, but let's face it, it's also better business for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

All that said, I personally would not be comfortable transferring more than two embryos. There is still a chance even one embryo can split, and you could wind up with high order multiples if you transfer three or more. If you do decide to go down that path, make sure you and your husband discuss your thoughts around selective reduction, if it may be necessary for the safety of the mother or babies.

They’re going to put back six for me. The doctor gave me the success stats per embryo at my age and I guess she feels like the risk is low for multiples.

SIX, that is nuts! I had two untested put in at 41 and ended up with twins and a late-term miscarriage which was terrible (both fetuses were chromosomally normal so that wasn't the issue; it was the stress of twins on my body, so far as anyone could tell). Please, please don't let them do this. No more than two. I can't believe any reputable doctor would actually recommend more than two, my God. Also, if you would consider TFMR, think about if 2-3 (or more) stick, one (or more) is abnormal, and then you need to risk a partial termination process. The FET process is so much easier than a full cycle is; I really think it makes sense to transfer fewer at a time and go back for an FET if you're not initially successful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whoooooa. There is no way I would do that. Can you transfer 3 and then do an FET the next month with another 3 if it doesn’t work? You can often do them back to back. That is so much safer and greatly lowers your chances of potentially have sextuplets or more.

The doctor believes I’ll be lucky if any of them take.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Has anyone here had any luck using untested embryos being 40 years old and older? Or maybe even close to 40. I don’t make many blasts and it has been recommended that I put back a lot of untested embryos to have a better chance. Anyone?

We had one IVF cycle when I just two months short of 41. Produced a bunch of embryos. Put in two fresh one, not tested. Had one DD. Froze the rest. Then unfroze and tested. Put in one normal. Had DS. The rest still on ice, why, I'm not sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whoooooa. There is no way I would do that. Can you transfer 3 and then do an FET the next month with another 3 if it doesn’t work? You can often do them back to back. That is so much safer and greatly lowers your chances of potentially have sextuplets or more.

The doctor believes I’ll be lucky if any of them take.

No chance in hell I would do this. Break it up over multiple transfers if necessary. I would transfer 3 max and be prepared to selectively reduce if they take/split. I am so surprised your doctor would even suggest this. It seems incredibly ill-advised and dangerous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whoooooa. There is no way I would do that. Can you transfer 3 and then do an FET the next month with another 3 if it doesn’t work? You can often do them back to back. That is so much safer and greatly lowers your chances of potentially have sextuplets or more.

The doctor believes I’ll be lucky if any of them take.

I was in a similar situation years ago at SGF at age 41. Transferred all, none took. I’d been concerned I might have multiples, ha!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whoooooa. There is no way I would do that. Can you transfer 3 and then do an FET the next month with another 3 if it doesn’t work? You can often do them back to back. That is so much safer and greatly lowers your chances of potentially have sextuplets or more.

The doctor believes I’ll be lucky if any of them take.

I was in a similar situation years ago at SGF at age 41. Transferred all, none took. I’d been concerned I might have multiples, ha!

Yes, that’s always a risk—that none of them work. Implanting 6 means you also take the risk that they ALL stick. You have no choice in the former but you do in the later. Why put yourself in that position?