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Looking for insights re older women having twins (in general), and using injectibles (specifically)
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Anonymous
| I am single, 42 and about to start TTC. I had an ultrasound a couple of weeks ago and the doc was very pleased to report that it looked like I was about to ovulate at the time (my FSH was over 16 and I think he was expecting things to look worse). Then today I had my HSG and he said the results were fantastic. So, I guess things are good so far (but who knows, right?). In the meantime, I have been thinking that having twins could be a desirable thing for me -- I hate the thought of it being just me and an only child, which seems like a lot of pressure for the child. I have a fantastic support network (grandparents living with me in my large home... will probably also hire a nanny) and even though I know how difficult and tiring twins are, I think in the long run it could be worth it. So I asked the doc about it today and he said that the chances of me having twins naturally are very low, but that injectibles would increase the chances. Next week I will (hopefully) ovulate and try my first IUI and wouldn't be able to start the injectibles until my next cycle. What experiences have others had with injectibles? Is it hard/painful to do? (I'm not great with needles, although I realize how silly that sounds when discussing whether to have TWINS!) Any older women out there who had twins after injectibles? On a previous post, I had a lot of comments about it being ill-advised for someone my age to knowingly go for twins. I feel like I am in excellent health, but that does concern me. On the other hand, I think this could be my one shot at having two kids -- I think that I would be too old to have a second child (the soonest I could try would be at the age of 44 or 45) and I think that it would be difficult to take two maternity leaves as a one-income family. I know this is a lot to throw out there, but interested in other perspectives. Thanks. |
Anonymous
| You should give it a try with everything available because conceiving over 40 can be a long shot so you need to optimize your chances. Baby dust your way... |
Anonymous
I agree. Your biggest challenge will be getting pregnant at all, twins are not very likely, even with injectables. I did injectable cycles when I was 42, and was a decent responder (I had between 3-10 follicles each month) but never got pregnant. Really, the injections aren't too difficult, especially if you don't have to do the PIO, which are intramuscula (most docs will use suppositores now). |
Anonymous
| I conceived twins via injectibles, IUI. One died of SIDS. After the death, I looked at risk stats for twins with a new light. Something to consider. |
Anonymous
| at 42 with elevated FSH I think you should go for the gusto with the drugs. Time is not on your side. I'd come out of the gates doing everything possible to maximize your chances of getting pregnant. I wouldn't spend time worrying about twins. Wait to see how you respond to the medications. |
Anonymous
| The injections are no big whoop. Sometimes a blood test hurts more. I'd give it everything and use injectibles at this point as each round is psychologically and physically draining. If you are lucky enough to get more embryos than you need, you can store them for later use and/or donate them to infertile couples. Storage can leave one the option of a second pregnancy later and may be much easier on your body than twins. Good luck! |
Anonymous
Exactly this. Even if you stim great on the injects and produce a lot of follicles, your eggs are 42 years old - they are not all capable of fertilization and normal development. To be frank, the chances of getting pregnant on injects/IUI in any given cycle are not that high with your age/FSH, so I would go after it aggressively. The odds that two eggs (a) will be healthy enough to fertilize and (b) that they actually WILL fertilize and implant in any given cycle are low. I would focus my energy on getting pregnant and put aside any twin concerns. I think I would go ahead (ie, not cancel a cycle) even with a large number of follicles. I'm 39 and my FSH is only 6, and I did 3 IUI cycles, with multiple follicles each time, and all 3 of them failed. (One was a chemical pregnancy.) That was a total of 13 follicles over 3 cycles, and only one egg fertilized but did not implant properly or stopped developing shortly after implantation. I don't believe every single egg I produced on those cycles was "bad" - but sometimes even with a perfect cycle & a healthy egg, you don't get pregnant. |
Anonymous
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1) At 42 I wouldn't even waste time with IUI/injects, I would go straight to IVF
2) I would transfer all, with the idea that if you EVEN got multiple embryos that made it to day 5 embryo transfer, you would be doing well. AND realize that the likelihood that you would be pregnant with multiples that are genetically healthy is slim to none. From a twin MoM who went through 2 IUIs (tremendously successful stims 10 to 12 follicles each- BFN) and 3 IVFs. 1st IVF, BFP but lost the baby due to trisomy 18. 2nd IVF BFN. 3rd IVF, eggs collected the day prior to my 42nd birthday, BFP triplets, natural reduction to genetically healthy b/g twins. My RE has had 3 women over 40 get pregnant with healthy multiples. That is VERY FEW women for the number of women he has treated. I also have a difficult time with any woman who enters into ART wanting multiples...and the issues aren't just those that happen after the babies are born...it is everything you have to face while pregnant. I know women who have done it...one who was AMA, a single mom by choice and she had triplets...but she had saved tons of money, set aside her career for a few years, and devoted herself (and her parents devoted themselves) to her pregnancy and her babies. Just some thoughts... |