Embryo preservation

[Anonymous]

I am trying to decide if I should persue elective embryo preservation. I am almost 38, have one child and would like two more spaced a few years apart. I have no know infertility, but the stats regarding rapid declines as one nears 40 and older are concerning. I feel like it's preserve now and put off TTC or, potentially have to seek infertility treatments at age 41 or 42 without having any embryos banked. Has anyone faced a similar decision, or do you have any insights to share that might help me decide if the potential "insurance" is worth delaying TTC? Thank you for reading.

[Anonymous]

Do it now if you can.

I was shocked by how my fertility dropped off between just shy of 40 and 40.5. Two IVF cycles, six months apart, same protocol, big drop-off in embryos.

And the hard truth is that most women who try to get pregnant via IVF at 41 or 42 are not successful with their own eggs.

[Anonymous]

Definitely do it now. Aim for extra embryos that r tested and genetically normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do it now if you can.

I was shocked by how my fertility dropped off between just shy of 40 and 40.5. Two IVF cycles, six months apart, same protocol, big drop-off in embryos.

And the hard truth is that most women who try to get pregnant via IVF at 41 or 42 are not successful with their own eggs.

I don't think the latter statement is true- most is large qualifier here. I got pregnant with my own eggs at 41; two cycles led to 5 normal embryos. But they had to give me lots of drugs to get me there. And it is a roll of the dice because you don't know when your fertility will fall off the cliff
Do IVF now if you want three.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Do it now if you can.

I was shocked by how my fertility dropped off between just shy of 40 and 40.5. Two IVF cycles, six months apart, same protocol, big drop-off in embryos.

And the hard truth is that most women who try to get pregnant via IVF at 41 or 42 are not successful with their own eggs.

I don't think the latter statement is true- most is large qualifier here. I got pregnant with my own eggs at 41; two cycles led to 5 normal embryos. But they had to give me lots of drugs to get me there. And it is a roll of the dice because you don't know when your fertility will fall off the cliff
Do IVF now if you want three.

IVF stats over 40 give a 20% success rate. While success may be a bit higher over the general population, I think it's very accurate to say that it won't work for most. For comparison, we used a 28yo donor and got 11 normal embryos with minimal drugs and 1 cycle. I also got pregnant on my own easily at 40. A couple years makes a big difference over 40.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP, I just turned 38 and am going down the banking road so that we can have more in the future.
In Europe, the cost of banking with drugs included isn't far from what you would pay for drugs alone here. I am about to take 2 weeks off from work to go do the stimulation and banking in either Poland with Invicta in Gdansk, or in the Czech Republic, Unica Prague.
Unica is affiliated with McGill University in Canada and they have outside audit/ accreditation type of thing. Unica also has a location in Bruno which is about 2 hour train ride from Vienna.
I think that I prefer Invicta Gdansk as I liked the medical director and the main embryology lab is very modern and located there. I can get an Air B&B in the old town and walk to the clinic and sites. I feel comfortable with the whole idea.
There are an overwhelming number of different clinics, mostly in CZ, and they all have coordinators that converse English because these IVF options are quite popular with women from the UK.
I wish you luck and know that you are not alone!

[Anonymous]

Agreeing w/ everyone else to do it now - bank anything you can get asap.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Would give anything to go back to age 38 and bypass the last 4.5 years of trying with treatments, losses, money spent, countless doctor appointments, etc. I started again at 39 after one child and it has been a long road. Just had my last transfer this morning. Although some are successful on their own at 40 and older, I would not count on it as a probability, especially if you are wanting two more. Get some good quality embryos in the freezer.