FET only- anyone experience this?

[Anonymous]

I had a consult with my RE this morning about IVF. If my most recent IUI doesn't work, he is recommending we go on to IVF. Since I am prone to OHSS (I have PCOS), he said the most likely scenario is that they would freeze all viable embryos after ER (hopefully all day 5s) and then go with FET the following cycle. The reason why he doesn't want to do a fresh cycle is to give my ovaries a chance to "quiet down" before transfer. Has anyone else experienced this and/or had this protocol recommended to them?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Yup me!

And I am AMA (over 40 yo)...it was on my third cycle. I had mild OHSS (always responded really well to the stim meds) and my RE didn't want to risk me getting worse if I got pg.

I will admit, I was really uncomfortable and sick, just a few minutes before scheduled transfer, and when he suggested FET, I started crying hysterically...thinking that my cycle was completely ruined, not believing that my embryos (from old and weak eggs) would survive a freeze thaw.

But...I came out of the process a FIRM believer in the miracle of FET. I think it was the FET and giving my body a chance to regulate that made that third and final IVF a success! I am now a blissfully happy MoM (Mom of Multiples) of twins.

Some really good questions to ask:
1. Does the lab use vitrification for their freezing? (Really the only sure way to go...for excellent freeze/thaw success rates)
2. What is this center's freeze/thaw success rate? (My RE quoted me over an 85% success rate...I happened to have 7 out of 7 make it...so 100%)
3. How many will they freeze per straw?
4. How many will they un-freeze each time, and how many will they transfer if all survive?
5. What is their FET success rate?
6. Will they use Natural Cycle FET or will they put you on more meds? (If you have PCOS, they may want to monitor you and give you some kind of cycle control)
7. What are the extra costs to you? Will it cost extra to freeze? Will it cost extra to cycle for an FET? It will certainly cost you extra to store what you don't use! (In my case, since I had been working with my RE for quite some time, and this was an unexpected FET...and probably because I was so freaking upset!!...my RE was kind and waved the freezing fee and charged only half for the FET cycle. It was all still very expensive...all OOP (out of pocket)...but as I said above...all WELL worth it in the end.)

Best Wishes! And trust me...as long as the freeze is via vitrification, it is well worth the extra month or two wait. You positively, absolutely do NOT want to go through OHSS...I only had a VERY mild case, and I was completely miserable and stressed to the max emotionally.

WLD

[Anonymous]

Agree with PP's list of questions - that should give you good information to make a decision. There is some thought that, assuming vitrification is used so that the thaw rate is high, freeze-all cycles are best or at least can be better for some women, the belief being that a woman's body is more likely to implant an embryo after it has had a chance to recover from stimming. Take a look at the Colorado board on IVFConnections for more on this - there is a lot of discussion related to CCRM's microarray testing.

[Anonymous]

I'm 40 and had 23 eggs retrieved and suffered from moderate OHSS (had to have my ovaries drained a few times) before my 5 day transfer. I developed OHSS really badly when I found out I was pregnant with twins and than had to be hospitalized for a week, it was that bad! When you get pregnant your OHSS can be life threatening. I think your Dr. is making the right move!!

[Anonymous]

I'm 29 and have PCOS and my first IVF I had 42 eggs retrieved and they told me it was ok to transfer two fresh embies, I developed severe OHSS requiring hospitalization and luckily I didn't get pregnant because I would have died from the fluid on my lungs. I then underwent 2 FET's but none of my embryos survived the thaw probably because they were all immature eggs. We moved to another RE and he was appalled that the first clinic ever let me have a fresh transfer and told me a "freeze all" through vitrification would be the only way to go. Now we are expecting our baby this spring, if your doctor recommends freeze all it's the way to go!
My doctor wrote a blog about it:
http://www.100infertilityquestions.blogspot.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm 29 and have PCOS and my first IVF I had 42 eggs retrieved and they told me it was ok to transfer two fresh embies, I developed severe OHSS requiring hospitalization and luckily I didn't get pregnant because I would have died from the fluid on my lungs. I then underwent 2 FET's but none of my embryos survived the thaw probably because they were all immature eggs. We moved to another RE and he was appalled that the first clinic ever let me have a fresh transfer and told me a "freeze all" through vitrification would be the only way to go. Now we are expecting our baby this spring, if your doctor recommends freeze all it's the way to go!
My doctor wrote a blog about it:
http://www.100infertilityquestions.blogspot.com/

May I ask which clinic? We are about to start IVF.

[Anonymous]

9:06...You'll know which clinic and RE if you hit the link posted by 2:24

2:24...You and I have the same, wonderful and caring RE. Who HATES OHSS! Thanks for sharing your story, time and again...it is really an important story for PCOS and high responder ladies to hear.

WLD (1/19/2010, 16:03)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:9:06...You'll know which clinic and RE if you hit the link posted by 2:24

2:24...You and I have the same, wonderful and caring RE. Who HATES OHSS! Thanks for sharing your story, time and again...it is really an important story for PCOS and high responder ladies to hear.

WLD (1/19/2010, 16:03)

I did hit that link. I see who the good doctor was, but not the one that treated initially resulting in OHSS. No need to name names, just the clinic. Shady Grove?

[Anonymous]

9:35...based upon the responses that this poster received on here before, I believe they are hesitant to mention anything 'bad' about anyone.
But if I remember correctly, your guess might be correct.

WLD

[Anonymous]

The blog was written by Dr. Gordon of Dominion Fertility.

[Anonymous]

yes, Dr. Stillman and SG were the first clinic, and I will continue to tell my story until everyone with PCOS hears the truth.

[Anonymous]

OP here- many, many thanks to all of you for the excellent thoughts and input. I had mild OHSS with my first pregnancy, so I know that's why my RE is extra cautious with me. I became pregnant with IUI and have been trying IUIs so far this time around. My RE has had me on very low doses of Gonal-F to keep me from over-stimulating, but even then had to cancel one cycle because I produced a very large number of mature follicles (6-8). It’s been a frustrating road, but I know he has kept my health and safety as a top priority. I have another appointment with him next week, so will definitely ask the questions you all recommended. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

meant to say six-eight mature follicles- for some reason an emoticon showed up in my reply!

[Anonymous]

OP here again- one more question. My RE said that frozen 3 day blasts have about a 50% reduction in implantation success rate versus fresh, but that there is very little difference between fresh vs frozen for 5 day. Is that what you all have heard, as well?

Thanks again!

[Anonymous]

Most reputable clinics do 5 day transfers only although I was a successful recipient of a 3 day 8 cell embie so I only know what the RE's say and can't attest to this practice based on my personal experience.