Only donor eggs at 42?

[Anonymous]

Here is the information on Shady Grove's PGD program:
http://www.shadygrovefertility.com/pgd

[Anonymous]

What is preimplantation genetic diagnosis? Is this PBB or CGH or Microarray? Last time I checked which was one month ago SG did not do any testing on embryo's prior to implantation.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD, but also called PGS, which stands for preimplantation genetic screening) is a procedure done in conjunction with IVF. After your egg retrieval, your eggs are fertilized in a dish, as you know. After day three, the lab technicians take a single cell out of each fertilized embryo. They test that cell for 10 chromosomes (the ones know to cause major abnormalities, such as chronomome 21 for down syndrome, etc.). On day five, they take the embryos that are healthy for those 10 chromosomes and implant them into you. The procedure is helpful for older women who have fewer genetically healthy eggs due to age, and for couples who want to screen for inherited genetic abnormalities.

The Wall Street Journal article is discouraging, however, because it says that the PGD procedure itself can actually damage the embryos. Another procedure, which the WSJ article discusses, is comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), which is simlar to PGD, except they genetically test all 23 chromosomes in the embryo. There is a significantly higher success rate with this procedure. Dr. Kerns at the lab that does PGD for Shady Grove Fertility mentioned to me in April that CGH should be available at SG soon. I just called the lab today and left a message to find out if it is available yet. Will let you know what I learn.

[Anonymous]

I think the WSJ is also a bit misleading, because it spends much of the time discussing the old technologies rather than the new technologies, which don't damage the embryo and do increase success rates. Odd in that the uptick in testing is with the new technologies not the old.

[Anonymous]

I learned today that the PGD lab at Shady Grove in Rockville expects to offer comparative genomic hybridization (CGH, which is the more effective procedure that was mentioned in the Wll Street Journal article) in about 30 days. They cannot promise anything, but they hope to be offering this procedure to the public then. CGH is the procedure that genetically tests all 23 chromosomes in an embryo rather than just 10.

[Anonymous]

I'm 42 and visited Shady Grove, Dominion and GWU in our quest to have a family. Shady Grove and Dominion strongly pushed donor eggs, based on my poor numbers on HSG and other tests, even telling us that I would never conceive without donor eggs. Dr. Frankfurter at GWU and his staff were very welcoming and explained my chances of conceiving with my own eggs via IVF (an agressive protocol) as well as what things I might have done to get those poor results. I bought and paid for all medications, then before we started IVF, got pregnant! I'm 30 weeks along. We did not do any medical stuff, but timed, diet, prayer, everything else we could think of. When I called GWU, they were as thrilled, and I've kept in touch with them and they have been extremely positive. We want two kids, so I may try IVF after this 'natural' pregnancy, and GWU is a clinic we'll probably used. I also visit GIVF in Fairfax and found them very accepting to getting pregnant in your 40's with your own eggs. Good luck!! And it *does* happen that women get pregnant in their 40's with their own eggs.

[Anonymous]

PP - thank you and CONGRATULATIONS. I am the OP. We are going to start next month trying for No. 2. DH has agreed to visit the gyn with me first. From our conversation yesterday, he thinks this is going to be easy at 42. You give me hope. Any advice on diet, exercise, etc. would be most appreciated. I am trying to give up my vices - caffeine, diet coke, long endurance runs.....

[Anonymous]

16:53 - can you explain more about what Frankfurter told you about the things you might have done to get your poor results?

My RE says that high FSH isn't caused by stress, and that actually stress would artificially lower FSH, but I'm not convinced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

As other posters have pointed out in previous threads, there is no way to know if your friends who say they conceived with their own eggs are telling you the truth. I think some people don't tell anyone they used donor eggs until their child is old enough to be told (if they decide to tell their child). Obviously women to get pregnant with their own eggs after 41, but it may not be as often as you think.

Ditto, I am one of them. Donor egg twins at age 42. But no-one on the planet knows at this point but my husband and my doctor and I.
There are lots of us out there.

Ditto for me, too. I do feel a bit guilty b/c I know a number of women who feel inspired that I got pregnant at my age but don't know I used donor eggs.

[Anonymous]

16:53 here. I read Toni W's book and a lot of other things. We charted, measures, timed sex, gave up caffine and alcohol, ate more protein. I gained 5 pounds (I'm a runner too, not underweight, but to get to the middle BMI range). Dr. Frankfurter had us change to baby oil for lube and the only sex was timed intercourse. Dr. F also said that my poor test results were in part b/c I was very stressed (work, death in the family that week), ran up the stairs (my usual practice) before the 3-day and had a glass of milk in the car -- milk can throw off one of the hormones they test for (can't remember what it was, lacto something). I'm not a doctor and I don't know what worked for me. I wish everyone the best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Great story! Congratulations. Who is Toni W? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Toni Weschler, MPH, wrote Taking Charge of Your Fertility. One of the best sources for educating yourself and DH. http:/ovusoft.com/

[Anonymous]

My name is Mari from Texas. I just turned 42 years old, and I am 15 weeks 7 days pregnant. I conceived naturally. I had 4 failed IUIs a few years ago. To my surprise, I am pregnant now with no medical help. Both my grandmothers had their last child at 42 and 43 years of age and they had healthy babies. I have decided to not have any medical procedures to check for any genetic disorders because I don't want to put my baby at any risk. I believe the Lord gave me this wonderful opportunity in life and this baby is in my womb for a reason. Don't give up if you are my age.












































I am praying a lot for a healthy baby. The Lord is great and he has given me this baby I carry in my womb for a reason. Don't give up if you are trying to have a baby.

[Anonymous]

Don't believe SG when they say they'll be offering CGH anytime soon. Thats bogus. I've been asking them for many months and each month I call they give me the same answer and tell me it'll be available in just one more month. They are just not ready to offer it. I wouldnot go there until they have the process completely up and ready.