We just had some embryos tested. When we were waiting to see how many we had I asked my doctor what was the threshold number he would recommend for testing vs. not bothering with testing. He said 5. So if we had fewer than 5, he wouldn't have recommended testing, 5 or more to test.

I thought FET cycles actually had a better chance of success?

OP. Just read your response, PP. Yes, that makes sense. I am just trying to swallow the idea of paying for another fresh cycle and all of the drugs rather than the FETs which are much more low-key (and cheaper).

Thanks (OP back). I am paying for all of this out of pocket. So to the PP, wouldn't it make sense under your logic to just test the 3 I have rather than starting a new fresh cycle ? And thank you all for the responses! I am so overwhelmed by this decision. I somehow naively thought I wouldn't be here and one would just work pretty fast.

I'm pretty sure they can thaw and test now without problem. There have been recent threads on this.

So if it were me, it'd be a money and time question. At 41, there's no time like the present for doing another fresh cycle. It just gets more grim as time goes on, trust me. (41, too)
Are you paying OOP for the FET cycles? Out of pocket for IVF? If not, I'd do a fresh cycle and pay OOP to batch test the existing embryos and whatever you get from this cycle. Miscarriages take time to recover from, not to mention the emotional toll. You've already had one loss with these untested embryos. the odds are challenging on the remaining frozen embryos you have -- each one is an unknown gamble. You could pay for slightly more certainty with a fresh cycle and testing of all the embryos you retrieve this time and from the last round.

Anonymous wrote:Well, since you said that you don't think you will do a fresh cycle if these don't work anyway I wouldn't risk any potential damage by thawing, testing and refreezing.

+1

FYI, I am 41 did fresh cycle when I was 40 and 41. My fresh cycle at 40 produced 5 embryos (two 4cell and three blastocyst) but sadly all ended in MC at 6 weeks. Fast forward, my cycle at 41 again yield 5 embryos (all frozen at day3, 8-cell). So, it is possible that you may produce enough embryos for fresh/FET transfer at this age.

Well, since you said that you don't think you will do a fresh cycle if these don't work anyway I wouldn't risk any potential damage by thawing, testing and refreezing.

Background: We are currently trying for #2. We had #1 through IVF. Started with a fresh cycle- got 7 embryos. That cycle got pregnant right away but miscarried at 12 weeks. Did FET and got pregnant and delivered DS#1 right after that. This left us 5 really good embryos that we froze (6 day).

Fast forward to now: I just finished my second round of FET with those embryos and it didn't work. Both blasts were already hatching and Dr said they looked really good and my lining looked good, etc.

Now we are down to 3 embryos. I am 41 and I don't think I will do a fresh cycle so if these frozen ones don't work. We never did PGS on them because we weren't sure we wanted to spend the money and our Dr said there wasn't a strong case to do it given that I could just work through what I had and chances were half would be okay for a viable pregnancy if he had to guess.


Now I am not sure what to do. If I send them for testing, what if they somehow are damaged in the re-freezing process? However, I don't want to just keep blowing money and time on using them if they aren't working.

Anyone have advice? I am at Shady Grove and because I have been a good responder, my Dr seems pretty laid back on the whole thing and thinks it doesn't make a huge difference what I decide to do since I am likely to ultimately have success. I'm just questioning his advice now.