Transfer of 2 embroyos

[Anonymous]

After several failed IVF transfers, I would really like to transfer two embryos next time since we only have 3 left. My doctor at Shady Grove wasn't crazy about the idea (I'm over 35, higher risk, etc). However, we are MORE than fine having twins if that happens and feel like why not? Has anyone else had this experience? I know many people transfer several embryos at a time so did you have to convince your doctor?

[Anonymous]

Are they both PGS tested?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are they both PGS tested?

Yes

[Anonymous]

I did IVF 8 years ago (underlying dx was endometriosis). I was 38 years old & CGH was not done on the embryos, so SART tables at the time recommended transferring 2 (fresh, not frozen). We had twins. It all went about as well as it could go with the exception of gestational diabetes. But oh man, it was a rough 9 months. It’s a high risk pregnancy, and so there are a ton of appointments & the doctors act like there is disaster lurking around every corner so I was very on-edge the whole time. And infant twins are no joke. I don’t remember the first year of their life! If I had to do it again I’d only transfer one at a time.

Not sure of the state-of-the art now with transfers, but my RE did an endometrial scratch (?), which she thought helped with implantation. The efficacy of that procedure might have been debunked in the intervening 7-8 years, though.

[Anonymous]

I transferred two PGS normal blasts in a very similar situation to OP, late 30s with 2 failed transfers, also at SGF. I didn’t have to convince my doctor. I had twins a little over a year ago. My pregnancy was overall easy until my water broke at 33 weeks and I delivered 7 weeks early. Twins are over a year old now and don’t seem to have any issues from premature birth, but I also know if any medical/developmental things develop down the road I’ll blame myself. I wouldn’t trade my twins for anything in the world, but make sure you are aware of the huge risk of premature birth. We had excellent insurance, but the medical bills for twins in the NICU for almost a month were astounding. Best wishes.

[Anonymous]

It’s such a crap shoot. I transferred 2, got pregnant w/ twins, transferred 2 got pregnant with a singleton, transferred 2 & neither took, then 8 years after my first transfer, transferred 1 and it took. This is probably not helpful but just shows so much is luck/chance/whatever. I would push for 2. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I'd try everything else to improve implantation before possibly transferring two. If there is another underlying issue, you'll be wasting two embryos at once. And since they're PGS tested, it seems like the issue shouldn't be with the embryos, but something with the uterine environment. My previous clinic associated with CCRM threw all kinds of things at my transfer that SGF didnt- an antibiotic, steroid, and baby aspirin. Might be worth asking your doctor about adding something like that first. Also, have you done an ERA? I know some people think it helps a lot. I've also have heard of people getting pregnant naturally after their ERA, potentially because it acted like an endometrial scratch, as the PP above mentioned.

[Anonymous]

I'd follow your doctor's advice. I have a singleton from transferring 1 embryo, and twins from transferring 2. I followed my doctor's recommendations for both and had relatively healthy pregnancies.

There is risk with any pregnancy though, and a twin pregnancy is not an ideal outcome. Many pregnancies result in the loss of one twin or both, premature births and ongoing health issues.

I would strongly recommend listening to doctor as s/he is weighing many risk factors.

[Anonymous]

Do a search here for similar questions. Most parents of twins (including me) would STRONGLY encourage you to transfer one at a time.

I had a healthy pregnancy at 44 yrs old, delivered my twins via planned c section at 37 weeks and a bit, they were each 6 lbs and healthy, and everyone is healthy and great today. I had the best case scenario and outcome and I still NEVER suggest twins as the best option.

I very much wish I had my kids one at a time, and that is as true now that they are in elementary school as it was in pre-school, in toddlerhood, and in the womb. In many ways their days as infants were the easiest. There are real challenges to being a twin (and certainly some benefits also) that I wish they didn't have to deal with.

I always tell people that I fully understand the desire to rush into parenting and be done w/ all the IVF related nightmares, but one child at a time is soooooo much better and this is a long game you're playing, even if you feel like you've already been at it for years.

Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

After several failed IVF transfers, I would really like to transfer two embryos next time since we only have 3 left. My doctor at Shady Grove wasn't crazy about the idea (I'm over 35, higher risk, etc). However, we are MORE than fine having twins if that happens and feel like why not? Has anyone else had this experience? I know many people transfer several embryos at a time so did you have to convince your doctor?

were all your previous failures also PGS tested? if so, has your RE recommended any different protocol or change?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are they both PGS tested?

Yes

I would switch clinics rather than transfer 2 PGS normal embryos. Repeated failures with PGS normal embryos suggest an implantation issue. Not sure that putting more embryos in will help in that scenario.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

After several failed IVF transfers, I would really like to transfer two embryos next time since we only have 3 left. My doctor at Shady Grove wasn't crazy about the idea (I'm over 35, higher risk, etc). However, we are MORE than fine having twins if that happens and feel like why not? Has anyone else had this experience? I know many people transfer several embryos at a time so did you have to convince your doctor?

were all your previous failures also PGS tested? if so, has your RE recommended any different protocol or change?

OP here. Yes the other embryos were PGS tested. Recently got the news of the last failed transfer so will be going over next steps more in detail but last conversation he seemed to just say sometimes it takes, sometimes it doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd try everything else to improve implantation before possibly transferring two. If there is another underlying issue, you'll be wasting two embryos at once. And since they're PGS tested, it seems like the issue shouldn't be with the embryos, but something with the uterine environment. My previous clinic associated with CCRM threw all kinds of things at my transfer that SGF didnt- an antibiotic, steroid, and baby aspirin. Might be worth asking your doctor about adding something like that first. Also, have you done an ERA? I know some people think it helps a lot. I've also have heard of people getting pregnant naturally after their ERA, potentially because it acted like an endometrial scratch, as the PP above mentioned.

OP here. Good thoughts and very helpful. I have not done an ERA so I'll look into it. We went though the extra steps of the PGS testing in hopes of decreasing the chance of failed transfers, misscarriage
It's so frustrating how the answers after these things are still, "It could be this, could be that, not really sure...." ughhh

Thanks for all the tips and help!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'd try everything else to improve implantation before possibly transferring two. If there is another underlying issue, you'll be wasting two embryos at once. And since they're PGS tested, it seems like the issue shouldn't be with the embryos, but something with the uterine environment. My previous clinic associated with CCRM threw all kinds of things at my transfer that SGF didnt- an antibiotic, steroid, and baby aspirin. Might be worth asking your doctor about adding something like that first. Also, have you done an ERA? I know some people think it helps a lot. I've also have heard of people getting pregnant naturally after their ERA, potentially because it acted like an endometrial scratch, as the PP above mentioned.

OP here. Good thoughts and very helpful. I have not done an ERA so I'll look into it. We went though the extra steps of the PGS testing in hopes of decreasing the chance of failed transfers, misscarriage
It's so frustrating how the answers after these things are still, "It could be this, could be that, not really sure...." ughhh

Thanks for all the tips and help!

Is your Dr changing anything up each time you transfer? I left Dominion because the only answers I ever got were, we just have to keep trying. So I moved to CCRM where they seemed more invested in trying new things.

[Anonymous]

I transferred 2 embryos (not PGS tested) of fair quality and became pregnant with twin boys. At 22w my cervix opened and I suddenly went into labor and they were born too soon for medical intervention. Worst day of my life and you won’t know if it will happen to you until it happens. Future transfers were sET and while it took many years to build our family, we now have 2 kids on earth.

(I did not convince my doctor to transfer 2—we made the decision together based on the grades of the embryos and I was >40.)