frozen embryo transfers

[Anonymous]

We have about 5 or 6 frozen embryos left over from our successful IVF procedure in May 2006 (our child is now 14 months old). We are planning to do a frozen embryo transfer sometime this year to try to get pregnant again. Does anyone know the statistics for success with this procedure? Specifically, what percentage of frozen embryos are actually "usable" after that are thawed, and what is the chance of having a successful pregnancy from them? I know it's lower than a regular IVF procedure, but just not sure how much lower. We're thinking of only transferring one embryo at a time (assuming we'll have more than one to try with) because we really don't want twins, but we're not sure what the odds are for that with FET, either. Any insight or shared experience would be greatly appreciated.

[Anonymous]

I think you need to discuss this with your fertility doctor. The stats will vary greatly from woman to woman. What drove your need for IVF in the first place? How old are you? What was the grade of each of the embryos that was frozen? Your doc is probably the best one to advise you as to how many to try and transfer.

Here are Shady Grove's Statistics: http://www.shadygrovefertility.com/success_frozen_embryo.cfm

[Anonymous]

We used Shady Grove, and you're right, I should talk to my doctor and look at their stats, which I obviously will before we start the procedure. I'm guess just looking for personal experiences here. We did IVF due to a problem with my husband, not me. The embryos are actually 6-day blastocysts. I'm 39, in good health and had a healthy pregnancy with my first.

[Anonymous]

OP here again -- the blastocysts are from when I was 36 and 37 years old.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend going to ivfconnections.com and posting your question there. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I am going to have an FET when my daughter is 14 months too and I am 38 now. I would like a 2 yr age gap if it works. I have 7 blasts stored at the Rockville office. I believe the stats are 25% with an FET but I think SG has much higher stats. GOOD LUCK!!

[Anonymous]

I have some 7 days blasts, it took longer to turn to a blast. These blasts are probaby less quality than a 5 or 6 day blasts, based on a pone converstation with the lab at SG.

[Anonymous]

I'll share my experience with you on FETs. I've done 1 fresh IVF and 3 frozen cycles. I have 2 daughters resulting from all 4 cycles. My very first IVF worked. Two years later, I then did a 3 day FET with 2 embryos that failed, I did another 3 day FET with 2 embroys and failed. I then did a 5 day transfer with 1 embryo and it was successful. Each time for the FETs, they thawed 4 embryos, I only had 2 make it as viable each time. They loose some of the better quality ones with frozen embryos but it still works so don't get discouraged---just realizing that thawing 2 embryos may not give you 2 embryos.

Check out resolve.org. It's a website for infertility they have a bulletin board from chats with other women. I found it to be a great resource when I was going through IVF.

[Anonymous]

Previous poster here.....

Shady Grove has one of the best labs in the country and they have a 90% or higher sucessful thawing rate. They only freeze and thaw blasts embryos because they are stronger and most likely the thaw sucessfully. Chances are all our embryos will thaw with success.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Previous poster here.....

Shady Grove has one of the best labs in the country and they have a 90% or higher sucessful thawing rate. They only freeze and thaw blasts embryos because they are stronger and most likely the thaw sucessfully. Chances are all our embryos will thaw with success.

OP here -- thanks for the encouraging stats and positive posts, everyone. I hope that 90% thawing rate for SGF is correct. I didn't know that they only freeze and thaw blasts -- that's very interesting. Well, we only had blasts to freeze, anyway. I'm just praying there's one good one that will give us our second baby.

[Anonymous]

We had a failed fresh cycle but had 7 frozen "excellent" 6 day blasts left. Transferred two and I am about to have twins. Our clinic has a 90% thawing rate as they only freeze the really good ones - we thawed 2 to get 2. The fact that yours are 6 day blasts is a big bonus. We have male factor also and I have no issues and like you had a successful pregnancy prior to our infertility issues so that is on your side too. My Dr gave us 50/50 odds for the FET working, even though the clinics stats were only in the 25% range. Your situation sounds much like ours.
Best of luck adding to your family.

[Anonymous]

Congrats on your upcoming twins. I would have loved twins for my first pregnancy, but now that I have a 14-month old, the thought of twins scares me, which is why I would lean toward only transferring one at at time. Guess that's a conversation to have with the doctor.

[Anonymous]

pp again...

Congrats on the twins!!!

I am the poster with 7 day blasts at SG and will be trying when my daughter is 14 months old.

Blasts have a lot better successful thawing rate vs. 3 day embryos. Why? Because they are the survival of the fittest of day 3 embryos. Many 3 day embies do not make it to the blast stage so why freeze them? Makes no sense to me, just sets up the patient for disapointment.

I am paying a yearly storage fee and would only want to be paying for the costly storage fee if I knew I had decent embryos and a goood chance to get pregnant again.

I will be transferring 2 embryos and my RE informed me I have a 50% with 2 and 25% with one. I hope I end up with at least one baby. Wish me luck!

[Anonymous]

HI pp.

how does it work if you want to transfer two? Do they freeze one by one, until they have two that can be trasnferred? Did your RE explain? Thanks! I am another poster, planning to go back for FER in the 2nd half of the year!

[Anonymous]

sorry - I meant - do they thaw one by one...