How did you make the decision to go to blast? 7 embryo's today (day 2) and first IVF

[Anonymous]

I'm so confused. We started with 12 eggs. 11 made it to embryo stage. We then split the batch to do 5 ICSI and 6 natural IVF today on day 2 we're down to 7. We've only lost the natural IVF embryo's (lost 4 of them). I was really hoping to make it to a 5 day blast, but it's so scary knowing we lost 4 in 2 days what's to say we will have anything on day 5). I also have a 4 yr old and so here are my concerns;

1) What if they tell me the embryo's are of average quality tomorrow ( day 3) and encourage double embryo transfer. I am very adverse to twins as I have a 4 yr old, but now that I'm down to the wire, I'm nervous about this failing altogther. In addition my DH cannot make it to the appt tomorrow so I feel like the pressure is on me at the end of the day to make the right call on what to do.

2) If these 7 exist tomorrow, or say we lose the other 2 naturally fertilized embryo's tomorrow (so we're down to 5), do we just move ahead with a blast? How many embryo's would it take for you to move ahead with a blast? I would feel more confident about the whole situation if we were using a blast, but of course with 7 embryo's left, maybe that's too risky since 4 have died in just 2 days. How many embryo's did you move to blast stage with?

[Anonymous]

OP here; if it helps i'm 32 and have blocked tubes. DH is 34.

[Anonymous]

Sadly, you lose eggs and/or embryos at every part of this process. Not every egg retrieved will fertilize. Not every fertilized egg will grow properly. And not every growing fertilized egg will make it to day 3, and of those, not every one will make it to day 5.

This may sound too simplistic, but why don't you leave this in the hands of your doctors now to recommend a plan of action for you? I know this is scary and that it may feel more comfortable to "ask the audience," (you're doing a lot of that. ) but the doctors/embryologists are the ones who are seeing your eggs and can give you an idea of how vigorously they are growing. And you have a right to ask them to explain very carefully and clearly to you why they are making the suggestions that they are.

I personally think the odds in your favor that you'll have at least 2-3 blasts by day 5. It's unlikely that you'll have more than that. But with the numbers you're describing a desire not to have twins, I could see pushing to blast.

But your doctor may recommend a day 3 transfer based on what they're seeing of your eggs and how they're coping in lab conditions. There's really not one "right" answer here. There's only what you feel is right in consultation with your doctors.

[Anonymous]

3 years ago I was making this decision. I had IVF twins and REALLY did not want another set. We began with 5 embryos and by day 3 I was left with 3 embryos, all of equal quality. We pushed the 3 embryos to day 5/6 and ended up with a single good blast which we transferred.
My daughter from this cycle is now 2.5.

[Anonymous]

Since you won't transfer more than 2 I think you are pretty safe going for a blast. That said, I second PP that you should talk to your docs. They know more and have much more experience with similar situations.

[Anonymous]

I think SG just sort of decided to take me to blast and I was there before I knew it. Don't recall a big chat about the options, but I did speak with them every day. Guess the idea was go go go as long as things looked good. If they didn't, I presume they would have raised it with me. Maybe. Started with 12, 10 fertilized, 2 blasts on day 5 for the transfer, rest left to grow a bit more, and 4 of those grew to top quality blasts and were frozen. Rest expired.

[Anonymous]

My sense is that SG will only go to the next stage (wait longer) IF they are reasonably certain they will have something to transfer if they wait. In other words, my sense is that if there is a chance all will expire before transfer day, they will move your transfer up.

Having said that, I dont know that for sure and would be interested to hear what you find out

[Anonymous]

OP here; Day 3, and we're going to a blast with 5 ICSI embryo's. All the natural fertilization have expired. Fingers crossed we have something on Wednesday.