Decision to transfer one or two embryos?

[Anonymous]

I have been a surrogate 3 times, have transferred at 2 of the most nationally renowned clinics. Even with AMA or other fertility issues, both REs said transferring two only increases your chances of twins. Unfortunately many choose 2 because it's more of a "2 for 1 deal", and so many people have the blasé attitude that with modern day technology "twins are born every day and do great!"

[Anonymous]

If you have good blasts, I would only transfer one. The risks that come along with a twin pregnancy are very real. I'm currently 33 weeks pregnant after transferring a singleton, so of course am very happy we only transferred one.

I seem to recall reading statistics indicating that transferring 2 vs. 1 actually did not improve odds much.

Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

OP I would not compare this to DE. DE eggs are young and from proven fertile women. You are significantly older (10 more years than a DE clinic would accept) and you have already had one MC and a failed IVF. In that case I would transfer both. My RE said "one lousy young egg/ embryo is better than 5 older ones" What does your RE say about your specific situation?

[Anonymous]

Good grief, people this is the most negative thread I have ever seen. Not all twins are born premature or die. And not all cycles result in twin pregnancies. In fact most do not. OP, please note that almost all of the replies come from DE moms -- very very different than a 37 year old with infertility. Best of luck. (I would transfer both if the RE said OK) I think it is interesting that the surrogate gave her view, but increasing risk in a surrogacy is something the REs will be very hesitant to do. In that circumstance the doc would rathr have nothing than twins.

[Anonymous]

Transfer one! (as long as it's high quality) Agree with what the other PP's have said, as well as many close friends, several of which have twins from IVF (and one that transferred 2 and has triplets!).

Also, 14:38 mentions you are 10y older than the oldest woman a DE clinic would accept. This isn't true! I believe they accept up to age 32. I am 30 and my RE kept telling me I am the type of person that they would actively recruit to donate (we had severe MFI).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good grief, people this is the most negative thread I have ever seen. Not all twins are born premature or die. And not all cycles result in twin pregnancies. In fact most do not. OP, please note that almost all of the replies come from DE moms -- very very different than a 37 year old with infertility. Best of luck. (I would transfer both if the RE said OK) I think it is interesting that the surrogate gave her view, but increasing risk in a surrogacy is something the REs will be very hesitant to do. In that circumstance the doc would rathr have nothing than twins.

Yes, we have awesome identical twins born at 35 weeks weighing over 5 pounds. No delays. Challenging, but so much fun, too! They get a kick out of each other. That being said, we transferred one, but ended up with two. Honestly, I was more stressed about my conception of twins, and it hasn't been nearly as hard. We also have another child who was three when they were born, so I was not a FTM.

[Anonymous]

I was in a similar boat but have a 4 year old. Two embryos and had to decide what to do. As a twin myself I was really concerned about raising twins, I found it difficulty growing up in someone else's shadow and wanted my kids to be more independent. I love my twin sister, but it was hard growing up. Anyway, I went with one at a time as at Shady Grove, it seemed like the success rate was high with a single transfer compared to two. It's worked out so far. My first was miscarried early in the first trimester, I immediately did a FET at my next chance and it stuck. Currently 17 weeks.

[Anonymous]

I am pregnant with baby #2 - baby #1 was a SET and I did three SETs to get him. Baby #2 was an SET and I did two SET to get pregnant. I didnt want twins. I was scared of health risks of twin pregnancy and thought twins would be a huge emotional strain to take care of. I am glad I did it how I did it. I think if you have a good blast, your chances of success are only MARGINALLY increased by putting in 1 vs. 2. If you have time and or $$ to do another cycle, I would transfer 1.

[Anonymous]

OP update - we unfortunately did not have any high quality and decided based on doctor advice to transfer two "fair" embryos. Doctor indicated transferring two would increase chance of pregnancy by 10 percent and chance of twins by twenty percent. We don't know yet whether any will be good enough to freeze. Again this decision was based on our specific situation. I had prepared myself for a single embryo transfer and naively thought embryo quality would be good. It's been a roller coaster of emotions - looking forward to letting my mind rest for a bit!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP update - we unfortunately did not have any high quality and decided based on doctor advice to transfer two "fair" embryos. Doctor indicated transferring two would increase chance of pregnancy by 10 percent and chance of twins by twenty percent. We don't know yet whether any will be good enough to freeze. Again this decision was based on our specific situation. I had prepared myself for a single embryo transfer and naively thought embryo quality would be good. It's been a roller coaster of emotions - looking forward to letting my mind rest for a bit!

10:51 here: wishing you the best, OP. the whole process is a roller coaster in the dark, you never know what's coming next. We never had any that were viewed as being of a high enough quality to wait until day 5. But, even the 'ugly' ones can turn into beautiful babies.

I'll be thinking of you over the next couple of weeks. Good luck

[Anonymous]

Keep us posted, good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Transfer one! (as long as it's high quality) Agree with what the other PP's have said, as well as many close friends, several of which have twins from IVF (and one that transferred 2 and has triplets!).

Also, 14:38 mentions you are 10y older than the oldest woman a DE clinic would accept. This isn't true! I believe they accept up to age 32. I am 30 and my RE kept telling me I am the type of person that they would actively recruit to donate (we had severe MFI).

He is just being nice. Most donors are WELL under 30.

[Anonymous]

Good luck OP!

[Anonymous]

It's a really hard decision - and I think you should really consider the quality of your embryos. With my first pregnancy, we transfered 2 high quality embroys 2x and 3 (1 great, 2 medium) and ended up with one healthy pregnancy. (37 years old)

For our second - we thawed 6, and ended up with one quality embryo - I'm 15 weeks pregnant. *(39 going on 40)

This goes to say: You really have no guarantee either way. If I had it to do over again - just focus on quality as your guide and listen well to your RE - at 40, and with one child at home, I was a much more cautious patient...but, my RE was like "WTF were we thinking with a 3 embryo transfer..dodged a bullet with multiples.." I think we all understand the math you are trying to go. Wishing you good luck and a quick path to baby-town.

[Anonymous]

Just a point of clarification. A PP said they did IVF 6 times. Is that 6 ETs or 6 stem cycles? To me those are different and play into a decision whether to transfer 1 or 2. My first stem cycle, I did two ET, neither worked. First ET was 1, second was 2. But they were from the same 'batch'/stem cycle. Then we did another stem cycle, transferred 2 and got one baby. But that was all we had available on that cycle. I firmly believe that the 2nd cycle produced better blasts, because SG was familiar with my cycle, maturity of eggs, follicle performance, etc. Full Disclosure - no known fertility issues. Just genetic considerations.