Transfer embryo or do another IVF cycle: WWYD?

[Anonymous]

I'm two months shy of turning 40 and just did my first IVF cycle. 12 eggs retrieved, 9 fertilized, 6 made it to PGS biopsy and freeze... and only one was normal. We are so disappointed. We had planned to transfer the one good embryo ASAP, but we're wondering if we should do another cycle first since this appears to be an egg quality issue.

Reasons:
1. We want more than one child, and if the embryo we have now does stick, I'll be nearly 42 before we can do this again; I'm sure my eggs will be in worse shape then. We really don't want to have to use a donor egg.
2. We can only afford one more cycle, and I think we will be so financially strained when we already have a child it will hurt a lot more to spend the money then than it would now. (We are entirely out of pocket on this.)

We've already spent 1/4 of our savings; if we go around again it will be half gone. I've already accepted that we won't be buying a home any time soon.

What would you do?

[Anonymous]

I think you should go for it, and it sounds like you think you should too. If you really want more than one child (and even the one embryo isn't a guarantee), and you can make it work financially, get the IVF cycles out of the way now.

[Anonymous]

Agreed - do the cycle now with a plan to freeze all again and then transfer whatever the best embryo you have is for an FET. It'll set you back a few months, but as you said, gives you the chance to bank some more embryos.

[Anonymous]

Is the issue you really don't want to use donor eggs or you won't use donor eggs? If the former, do the IVF cycle now. If the latter, save your money in case you do have to use donor eggs. Realistically, your chances of having a kid with OE IVF with your egg quality and age are 2-5%. With donor eggs, it's 60-70%. Only you can decide how to spend your money or how much you want to be a parent vs how much you want a genetically related child or nothing at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the issue you really don't want to use donor eggs or you won't use donor eggs? If the former, do the IVF cycle now. If the latter, save your money in case you do have to use donor eggs. Realistically, your chances of having a kid with OE IVF with your egg quality and age are 2-5%. With donor eggs, it's 60-70%. Only you can decide how to spend your money or how much you want to be a parent vs how much you want a genetically related child or nothing at all.

I would use a donor egg if I had to, but money is an issue, and you raise a good point. It's also a question of family dynamics - I have a young sister (age 25) who may be willing to donate her eggs... but our relationship means a lot more to me than "keeping it in the family," so we have to explore whether or not that would be a bad idea. I know it works beautifully in some families, not so much in others. And I'd rather ask her now than in a few years when she may be married and feel differently.

[Anonymous]

I would do another IVF cycle. you don't want the "what ifs." Where is the 2-5% figure coming from in the previous post?Not familiar with that stat.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is the issue you really don't want to use donor eggs or you won't use donor eggs? If the former, do the IVF cycle now. If the latter, save your money in case you do have to use donor eggs. Realistically, your chances of having a kid with OE IVF with your egg quality and age are 2-5%. With donor eggs, it's 60-70%. Only you can decide how to spend your money or how much you want to be a parent vs how much you want a genetically related child or nothing at all.

Don't OP's chances increase with PGS normal embryos? OP, if you are firm about not using DE, then I agrees with PPS who suggested doing another Freeze All cycle and getting embryos PGS tested again.

[Anonymous]

Do another cycle to bank. For sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do another cycle to bank. For sure.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agreed - do the cycle now with a plan to freeze all again and then transfer whatever the best embryo you have is for an FET. It'll set you back a few months, but as you said, gives you the chance to bank some more embryos.

This cycle went remarkably fast - just a month from the start of BC pills to getting the PGS results. Hopefully we wouldn't lose too much time if we go it again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed - do the cycle now with a plan to freeze all again and then transfer whatever the best embryo you have is for an FET. It'll set you back a few months, but as you said, gives you the chance to bank some more embryos.

This cycle went remarkably fast - just a month from the start of BC pills to getting the PGS results. Hopefully we wouldn't lose too much time if we go it again.

well the FET is usually 6-8 weeks in time from getting your period, so that's where the extra time comes from.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed - do the cycle now with a plan to freeze all again and then transfer whatever the best embryo you have is for an FET. It'll set you back a few months, but as you said, gives you the chance to bank some more embryos.

This cycle went remarkably fast - just a month from the start of BC pills to getting the PGS results. Hopefully we wouldn't lose too much time if we go it again.

well the FET is usually 6-8 weeks in time from getting your period, so that's where the extra time comes from.

That was what they initially told me, but when I got my period a few days after egg retrieval, they said I could get started without waiting for another period. I went in for baseline bloodwork today, which is two weeks since egg retrieval.

[Anonymous]

I would do another cycle now. If nothing comes out of the next cycle, transfer the frozen one.

[Anonymous]

I am exactly in your situation at 41, lots of numbers but only 1 normal each time. We opted to do the three IVF cycles our insurance covers, and did two rounds of PGS to determine our few normal embryos.
I am preparing for a FET of one embryo. If this does not work, we will proceed to a gestational carrier since I have uterine issues as well. We wanted to do the fresh cycles ASAP before my eggs age beyond help.
FWIW, after the first cyle I started taking ubiqionol in addition to folate, prenatals and DHA. I also got my vitamin D levels up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Agreed - do the cycle now with a plan to freeze all again and then transfer whatever the best embryo you have is for an FET. It'll set you back a few months, but as you said, gives you the chance to bank some more embryos.

This cycle went remarkably fast - just a month from the start of BC pills to getting the PGS results. Hopefully we wouldn't lose too much time if we go it again.

well the FET is usually 6-8 weeks in time from getting your period, so that's where the extra time comes from.

That was what they initially told me, but when I got my period a few days after egg retrieval, they said I could get started without waiting for another period. I went in for baseline bloodwork today, which is two weeks since egg retrieval.

I know you want to get this done as quickly as possible, but you might want to wait one cycle to give your body a rest. Anecdotally some people have better results after waiting a cycle. YMMV.