IVF Advice Needed

Hi K.,
I saw Dr. Foulk at Nevada Center for Reproductive medicine ###-###-#### and I had absolute say in the number of embryos. I highly recommend them.
C. :-)

I've done IVF 3 times. You definitely have a choice about how many embryos are transferred. The doctor will recommend a number based on your history and health, the embryo quality, your age, and other factors. However, the decision for less is always yours. Do not feel pressured to transfer more than you are comfortable transferring. In my understanding, during the retrieval process, the doctor will retrieve all the mature eggs that he/she can. These will then be fertilized in the lab. You may very likely create more embryos than will be transferred. You can then attempt to freeze those embryos for future attempts.

With my first (IVF) child, the clinic gave me a choice of one or two embryos. In the intervening two years, research advances changed the picture a bit. They now always grow the embryos to 5 days (turns out that the ones that won't grow that far probably were never viable) and implant one only, assuming you get one. Chances are then quite high that you'll get a successful pregancy, depending on your circumstances.

Took me three tries with my daughter, and first time with number two (currently 24 weeks preggers).

I'd keep talking to clinics and find someone using up-to-date technology.

Most fertility doctor's recommendations are bassed on the number of eggs they retrieve, the quality of the eggs, your age, and your hormones.
We will be going through our egg retrieval next week and depending on what the doctor sees (large number of good quality eggs vs. few number of lesser quality eggs) will depend on his recommendation. I am 39 (and premenopausal), so my doctor says typically for women of my age the eggs are of lesser quality which means that they need to implant more (he recommends 4 eggs to be implanted on day 3). He says he has seen women of my age who produced a large number of good quality eggs and therefore he only implanted 2, but he did so on day 5. Ultimately your doctor will give you a choice. He or she will give you the statistics of producing multiples based on your age, hormone levels, and through an ultrasound so you can make an informed decision.

How odd that a fertility clinic won't let you choose how many embryos you want, especially if it's less rather than more! I was 32 when I had my first IVF, and they only wanted to put 2 in because I was young enough to have good odds of getting pregnant - and yes, we ended up with twins! I don't know where you've checked, but I used Huntington Reproductive Center in Laguna Hills, Dr. Frederick, and wsa very happy with them. I think their website is www.havingbabies.com.
Good luck!

I have not done IVF but do know a lot of women who have and I have been through medicated fertility assistance. Something that imedately came to mind for me was egg sharing. Would you be willing to "gamble" on only haveing 3 of your eggs fertilized for you and your DH and any "extra" eggs being given to a women at the clinic with poor quality eggs? Another option would be fertilize all the eggs and ask that 2 be implanted in you, and the remaining be implanted in another mother. It is a type of adoption with much less emotional attachment by the bio-mom. I know a few ladies that have done embryo adoption and they are absolutely in AWW of their babies!

Both of those options would bless you and another family. Perhaps even go a step further, IF YOU CAN HANDLE the possibility of your cycle failing while theirs suceeds, and ask someone from your family/church/other social outlet that you are aware is experiencing infertility issues if they would be intrested in egg sharing with you.

My DH and I had talked at length that "If I ever got to the point that IVF was our last option, we would ask my cousin if she would like to egg share." She has been pg a few times, but never had any survive their birth. (1 still birth, 3 miss-carrages)

Just offering some alternatives.

Also- my understanding is that you ALWAYS have the option of how many to implant, but they have to harvest all the "available" eggs in order to proceed with the cycle. If you can afford it, you could choose to freeze any babies beyond the 2 you want implanted. If you choose to have another child in the future, you could go back for you "snowflakes". If not, adoption agencies such as "Night Light" will accept the embies and put up for adpotion much the same as it would be for a newborn or a 5 year old.

Anyway- Hope that helps! ~J.

I would call fertility clinics and ask about # of embryos they typically implant. I think they are implanting less now--you are the patient and can request how many you want implanted. I think they probably will suggest at least 2 because it is an expensive and invasive procedure and you don't want to do it too many times. Once was enough for me: luckily I got twins from 4 embryos. I feel at the time (7 years ago) my dr. was too aggressive--2 or 3 probably would have been ok. I think now there is more pressure to decrease the number of pregnancies resulting in multiples, so you should be OK. Good luck with whatever you decide, but def. call around and speak to some drs. themselves.

Hi K.,

I went through several rounds of IVF several years ago. I think that is crazy that you can not limit the amount of embryos. I went to Dr. FInegold in Westlake. Dr. Johnson's office referred him to us. He was great and he ould ony implant 2-3 embryos. I think you need to find a dr. that works for you. Good Luck.

K., I have some experience w/ IVF. It sounds unusual to me that the drs won't let you decide how many embryos you want transferred. They can't control how many eggs are ready to be "harvested", but they can control how many eggs they fertilize and how many they transfer -- and you should have a huge say in this. Also, keep in mind that any embryos created but not transferred will be frozen for later use. You will then have to decide what to do with the embryos at some point (embryo adoption is one choice).

I did IVF with Huntington Reproduction. I don't know why you wouldn't be able to pic the amount of embryos you put in. The embryos are graded usually, and then the Dr. usually helps you make a smart decision. I had a friend that husband had a vasectomy so she did IVF. First time nothing...2nd time twins:)

A good fertility doctor will consult with you about how many eggs to implant. I have gone through IVF three times. The first time they implanted 5 embryos, none implanted. The second time 4 embryos, none implanted. Third time 3 embryos, 1 implanted and 1 was an "absorbed" twin. I am now the very happy and tired mother of a 7 month old son. The number of embryos that they transfer has a lot to do with your age and the quality of the eggs and embryos. I'm an older woman so they implanted as many as they could with each transfer. (My doctor said if he'd had 10 he would transfer them all.) Since you are young, they may only transfer 2 or 3. IVF is a costly procedure, not just money but also physically, mentally, and emotionally. You don't want to transfer just one and have to repeat the procedure. The most important thing is to find a fertility doctor and clinic (because you will be dealing with many doctors, nurses, and staff) that you really like and trust. You will become very close to these people, speak honestly about your fears and concerns and they should be able to provide the information and support to help you reach the best decision for you. Best of luck!

P.S. After seeing your response, I might suggest that you also consider freezing the extra embryos. This way if the first IVF transfer is not successful then you will have embryos to use for the second transfer without having to do the retrieval again. You can donate the embryos at any later time once you have had the successful transfer.

Hi K.,
While I have not personally had IVF, I have at least 7 friends who have. (I am 38). I know for a fact that some Dr.s will allow as few as 1 or 2. It is not recommended, but depending on insurance coverage, how adamant you are with the Dr. etc. it can be done. Afterall, it is your body. Just be prepared that you may pay up to $12K (depending on where you go and if it is out of pocket), go through a lot physically with shots and harvesting eggs and implanting and then have nothing happen. I have one friend who went through this 5 times, but now she has a beautiful baby boy-yes one. They were in a financial situation where it was ok with them to try that much. The most they ever implanted were 2. I also have a friend who had 4 placed and she has triplets, the stories are everywhere inbetween. You have to consider all outcomes. Implanting 5 or so doesn't mean even one will take and if you place 5 would you be ok with 5 babies? Would elective abortion be ok with you? These are things I have been an ear for several times. Ultimately, you have to decide what is best for you. I know that probably doesn't help much, but keep shopping for Doc's, there are some out there that will do what you want.
U.

I highly recommend Dr. Rachel McConnell with Nevada Fertility Cares. I went through IVF with her and she most definitely gave me the choice of how many embryos I wanted transferred. Here's her website: http://www.nfcares.com/index.html She is highly competent and extremely compassionate. Best of luck!!!