Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

So at my RE's suggestion, we did microarray testing on my 6 frozen embryos prior to starting a FET cycle. Microarray is a "new" form of PGD testing where they can test all chromosomes.

So, they thawed my embies, biopsied them, then refroze them. As it turns out 4 out of my 6 are NOT normal. We don't have the details of the abnormalities yet (too few chromosomes, too many, etc) but will be seeing my RE later this week when I have my saline sono done.

I'm torn about what to do with the 4 abnormals. I really don't want to discard them, that just doesn't seem right. I mean, while they are abnormal and I would most likely miscarry if any of them were transferred and implanted, it is still a life. Donating them to research is the other option, but again, I feel like it's a life, and they are still be "discarded" And then of course there is the option to keep them frozen and pay storage fees forever, which seems a waste of $$.

I know in the end, the decision is DH's and mine to make, but I'm curious what others have/or would do in this situation.

Re: Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

you're right, this is definitely a decision for you and DH to make. and, it definitely depends on what you consider "life" to be.

i am doing PGD and IVF. i am doing PGD bc i have a disease which is autosomal dominant and i have a 50% chance of passing it along to my children. i am assuming they will discard the "abnormal" embryos. while this was a very hard decision to make, and it still makes me feel sad sometimes, i didnt want my children to go through life with this disease as i have seen my brother, who also has it, suffer.

it is definitely a choice you and DH have to make - you have to weigh your feelings.

it is such a hard decision, and i am so sorry you have to go through this - it was tough for me and DH to decide. i am praying you're at peace with whatever decision you make

Re: Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

i definitely agree that it's a decision for you and DH to make...

for me, I feel like if that was me in that situation, I would discard the embryos if their chromosomal abnormalities make them not compatible with life - KWIM? If there is no chance for them actually becoming a baby, then I would probably discard them or donate them to research. this is of course just my opinion...

Re: Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

Re: Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

How accurate is the testing? what's the possibility they could be wrong? For me, I would never disgard those embies, I would transfer them and see what happens.

Re: Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

This is a difficult and personal choice; I wish you luck in whatever you decide.

I would donate the abnormal embryos to research. This way their little lives won't have been in vain and they can play a part in making the world a better place.

You probably can't keep them frozen forever - my RE will keep them for 6 years and then you have to transfer them someplace else at your own cost. And then what happens 50 years from now? You would be keeping them in suspended animation only to let them go then, after paying for years of storage.

May you and your DH find peace in whatever you decide.

Re: Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

I have been doing a lot of research into frozen embryos recently and read a very interesting article (I want to say in Conceive magazine) that you can transfer them at a time that would not normally be ideal for implantation and basically let nature takes its course...this way they were put back in your womb and you don't have to make any decisions, nature (or a higher power) does. Just a thought. And if they make it, obviously they were ment to be.

Re: Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

They will not allow you to transfer the abnormal embryos once they are determined to be abnormal. There are major problems with PGD (I learned the hard way). Though I have to tell you that you are lucky that you got two out of six that were normal.

Re: Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

Life to ME doesn't exist until the life itself can be supported. I don't consider embies babies because they will never have the opportunity to become one unless they are implanted.

That being said it is definitely a personal decision. If it were ME I would donate them to research.

Good luck with whatever you decide

Re: Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

Re: Spinoff (sort of) to freezing embryos... WWYD?

Posted by Makin-da-baby

Life to ME doesn't exist until the life itself can be supported. I don't consider embies babies because they will never have the opportunity to become one unless they are implanted.

That being said it is definitely a personal decision. If it were ME I would donate them to research.

Good luck with whatever you decide