EMBRYO TRANSFER

5 days after retrieval my embryos were ready for transfer. Everything went as expected and now all we can do is sit, wait and see what happens.

Some clinics prefer 5 day transfers because the success rates are higher. If embryo development is good on day 2 after transfer and there are a few embryos, it is recommended to wait until day 5.

It all seems quite simple but waiting until day 5 means that the embryos have less possibilities of survival, so while on the one hand we get embryos with higher success rates once transferred to the mother’s uterus, we can actually lose a few between day 3 and day 5. So, we could end up at day 5 with hardly any embryos, but the ones which survived will be potentially better than the rest so higher success rates.

I think its up to the doctor to decide which is the best option, to move forward at day 3 after transfer or to wait until day 5 with possibilities of having few embryos for and transfer and perhaps none to freeze.

Amanda

IN VITRO (IVF) … A FEW ASPECTS

It is absolutely amazing how the current medical techniques have evolved. However, IFV is relatively new. I read an article not long ago that the 1^st IFV baby turned 34 this year.

It seems quite simple, the eggs (own or donor eggs) are fertilized by the sperm (own or sperm donor) outside of the uterus of the mother. After between 3 – 5 days the embryos are transferred to the intended mother’s uterus and the long pregnancy process begins until the baby is born. In this case of course we are transferring the embryos to the gestational carrier’s uterus.

An import aspect to consider is whether you want to use your own eggs or donor eggs. In fact, most of the surrogacy agencies also have egg donors.

If you have experienced fertility issues already, what would you prefer? Try to be the biological mother, that is, that your baby would be genetically related to you. Or would you prefer to be a parent no matter what?

Amanda.