IVF Girls

What did you have left over to freeze?

I'm at RSofNY for my first IVF cycle. They ended retrieving 9 eggs. 7 fertilized. When I went in for the transfer, 2 had gone to "early blast" and the other 5 were morulas. They transferred the 2 blasts.

They said they weren't able to freeze any of the others and "This happens more often than not." In talking to people IRL who've done this, that hasn't really been true, and I've gotten kind of a nonchalant, tra-la-la vibe from them on some things that I thought deserved more attention and concern.

Now I'm feeling a little paranoid about they 2 they did put back (and the fact that I have to start from scratch if I have to go another round)

so if you made it this far, thanks, and any insight would be helpful.

Re: IVF Girls

I think each lab/doctor has their own requirements for freezing and transferring. My first IVF cycle I had to freeze all b/c I hyperstimmed and out of 24 eggs we froze 4 blasts. My doc would only freeze blasts. This cycle, with new docs, I did a planned 3 day transfer and what we had left over we froze @ day 3. This was decided on prior to my IVF cycle. However, with my first cycle I didn't really know the difference between day 3 and 5 and had no idea my doc only froze on day 5. Hope this all made sense. Good Luck!!!

Re: IVF Girls

I never asked... I figured unless I HAVE to ask, it doesn't matter! In the meantime, I think I may have had just one to freeze. Either one or none.. Of the 3 we put back, there was one more that was decent quality.


At that point I said if it didn't work out for us I'd for sure be doing another fresh cycle because I'd be too nervous doing an FET with only 1 in case it didn't make it past the thaw, etc. Also.. we put in 3.. so my feeling was if 3 don't make it, I'd feel funny trying my luck with just one.

Anyway, you may not have to worry about an FET!

When do you test?

Re: IVF Girls

i think a lot depends on your d/x and your reason for IVF.
for me i had a pretty typical PCOS IVF cycle. retrieved 18 mature, 18 fertilized, transferred 2 blasts on day 5, froze 8. i was told that the other 8 were going to be given an extra day to see if they turned to blast and then possibly frozen, but i think since my others were very high quality they either didn't do this or if they did none of them were high enough quality to make it worth freezing.

what day was your transfer that 2 of 7 were blasts and the other 5 werent?

i honestly think they really should have at least explained why the rest didnt make it to freeze. that would aggrevate me.
but hopefully you wont need to think about this anytime soon

Message edited 4/26/2011 9:20:59 PM.

Re: IVF Girls

With unexpained IF:

I had 18 eggs retrieved.

Most of them (maybe 12) fertilized.

2 were transferred both blasts, but one they called "perfect"(1 took, my gorgeous DS...as I say, the most wanted baby EVER).

ONLY 2 were frozen (I was surprised by reading this website where people freeze TONS).

Looking back now: After having DS, I feel differently about his suspended "twins". I'm glad there are only 2, which will enable me to do a FET if I don't get preggo "naturally" in the next 7 months, but the storage fees are high and I can't imagine deciding to just "throw them out". Even if I get preggo, I'd pay another year of storage fees and try to impalnt them without much help... does this make sense?

Re: IVF Girls

i wasn't given a whole lot of details after my first transfer. just how many were left to freeze. when my cycle failed and i met with the dr to discuss FET, they went over my fertilization report and showed me how each embryo progessed (or failed to progress).

i had 14 fertilize, transfered 2 and 7 left to freeze. the quality of my embryos was not great.

focus on your transfered embies for right now. and when the time comes to discuss, make sure they go over your fertilization report with you and you feel comfortable with your protocol moving forward. if not, go with your gut and maybe get some second opinions.

Re: IVF Girls

I definitely think a lot depends on your dx and how you respond to the stims. I'm also a pt of RSNY. I hyperstimmed and they retrieved 38 eggs, 20 fertilized with ICSI, transferred 2 and froze 11. I think my story is NOT close to the norm though. Most people only have a few, if any, to freeze. I would definitely ask to speak to embryology if you still have questions or push them for a better explanation. One thing I found with the practice is that you really need to speak up there. Make sure you go in with a list of questions and if you don't understand their answer then ask them to clarify.