[StillWaiting410]

Just curious as to what you would do….
I just finished my 3rd round of IVF. Right now we have two frozen blastocists (beautiful) and two low quality embryos (they are not sure they will make it) frozen. My experience has been to loose half the embryos in the thawing process, which scares me!
My DH and I are hoping God will bless us with more than one child… though one would be great if that’s what’s in our cards.
I am 33 with PCOS and the process of IVF seems to take forever. I have never been able to do a fresh ET due to risk of OHSS. Then there is a wait time after my cycle to give my ovaries time to return to normal.
I feel that maybe doing a new IVF cycle may be the best idea for us. It would give us more embryos… in case of loss during the thawing process and as an option for future children (the embryos would be frozen at my age now, 33). The option for furture children is what keeps pulling at me in the back of my mind. My head is spinning. I’m not sure what to do, my DH is torn too. He thinks the RE is going to tell him a solution. I’m just not that laid back about it.
My question to you is…

What would you do…..Would you do a FET and count your blessings, or a new IVF cycle in hopes of getting more embryos for future children?

[angie056]

Hi Stillwaiting, sorry you have been through so much This process stinks!! I would go for the fresh if I could find an RE who thought they could minimize risk of OSHH such that I could actually do a fresh transfer! Have you had a second opinion? I am no expert but lots of women who are at risk for overstimulation do actual fresh transfers. Look up a couple of recent posts by "Ghost" who seems to think there is a way to avoid OSHH. I won't quote for fear of missing a detail but let me know if you can't find the post. Bottom line is that I would find the best RE I could afford. Good luck to you!!!!

[Ghost]

Originally Posted by angie056

Hi Stillwaiting, sorry you have been through so much This process stinks!! I would go for the fresh if I could find an RE who thought they could minimize risk of OSHH such that I could actually do a fresh transfer! Have you had a second opinion? I am no expert but lots of women who are at risk for overstimulation do actual fresh transfers. Look up a couple of recent posts by "Ghost" who seems to think there is a way to avoid OSHH. I won't quote for fear of missing a detail but let me know if you can't find the post. Bottom line is that I would find the best RE I could afford. Good luck to you!!!!

There is a way to avoid risk of significant OHSS.

Do an antagonist cycle, and trigger with an agonist. For example, do a cycle with ganirelix for pituitary suppression, and trigger with Lupron. The Lupron will induce an immediate LH surge, and the LH will be just about gone by the time they retrieve the eggs. And progression toward OHSS will then be halted, because the corpora lutea expire in the absence of LH (or hCG) activity.

Contrast that with an hCG trigger, where the hCG can last for 10 days and keeps the OHSS symptoms worsening. Even worse, the corpora lutea are not expired (no irreversible luteolysis), so hCG from the pregnancy kicks them into high gear and hospitalization often ensues.

But fresh transfers after Lupron trigger require special luteal support, given the sudden demise of the corpora lutea. See Engmann (2008) for the luteal support protocol.

[Ghost]

Originally Posted by StillWaiting410

Just curious as to what you would do….
I just finished my 3rd round of IVF. Right now we have two frozen blastocists (beautiful) and two low quality embryos (they are not sure they will make it) frozen. My experience has been to loose half the embryos in the thawing process, which scares me!
My DH and I are hoping God will bless us with more than one child… though one would be great if that’s what’s in our cards.
I am 33 with PCOS and the process of IVF seems to take forever. I have never been able to do a fresh ET due to risk of OHSS. Then there is a wait time after my cycle to give my ovaries time to return to normal.
I feel that maybe doing a new IVF cycle may be the best idea for us. It would give us more embryos… in case of loss during the thawing process and as an option for future children (the embryos would be frozen at my age now, 33). The option for furture children is what keeps pulling at me in the back of my mind. My head is spinning. I’m not sure what to do, my DH is torn too. He thinks the RE is going to tell him a solution. I’m just not that laid back about it.
My question to you is…

What would you do…..Would you do a FET and count your blessings, or a new IVF cycle in hopes of getting more embryos for future children?

I'd use the frozens. You paid to have them frozen, and you are probably paying some annual fee to keep them frozen. If you won't use them, then that's all wasted money and wasted embryos.

On top of that, most of the costs and risks associated with IVF are in ovarian stimulation. You can avoid those costs and risks by using frozen embryos.

[Peabody1]

I'd use the frozens as well. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but as long as you do another fresh cycle and freeze additional embryos before age 35 success rates wouldn't be that much different. Good luck with whatever you decide.

[ksm17]

Hi! I am in a similar situation. I have two frozen embryos left, however during my last frozen, i had eight and only two survive. I also dont want to go through it and risk both of them not surving. I want to have a fresh cycle, that way I can bank more embryos for future children, however my doc makes me use all my frozen embryos up first before doing a fresh. We may change docs if he does not let me do a fresh cycle. If i were you, I would def. do a fresh cycle, that way you would have more embryos left. Good luck to you!

[StillWaiting410]

Thank you to all. Insurance is making a great impact on our decision as well. Once we achieve our dream, I hope to stay home. My insurance is the one that covers all expenses. DH's does not and we would go back to paying out of pocket. Grrrrrr.
Thanks again, you definately gave me more to think about.

[StillWaiting410]

Originally Posted by ksm17

I want to have a fresh cycle, that way I can bank more embryos for future children, however my doc makes me use all my frozen embryos up first before doing a fresh.

Wow. I'm surprised that they don't give you the option. Greatest luck to you and whatever you decide!