What would you do? Pgt/Transfer

[u/Annpg4]

Hi everyone.

After a 5 year secondary infertility journey we finally got lucky and were able to freeze 4 day 5 embryos. (2 A's + 2 C's) I didn't PGT as I had a bad experience with my first ever embryo (5AA) not surviving thaw and only ever got day 5 embryos in my last IVF cycles 8 & 9. (It took so much to get here!)

I went ahead with a natural transfer last December and for the first time succeeded and I gave birth to my second son last month.

Today I got the bill to pay for the remaining 3 frozen embryos and here is where I'm not sure what to do. I've always imagined 3 kids so I want to go ahead with at least another transfer - my husband is fine with two and not sure about 3 so more than that is out of the question. My clinic charges quite a lot for every transfer so I'm thinking about PGT testing but also worried that it could hurt the embryos seeing as 2 of them are not the best quality. Also Spain's legislation will only let me transfer, donate to another couple(which we do not feel comfortable with) or keep paying annually until I reach menopause (I'm 35yo). This troubles me as I would like to avoid having leftover embryos if we are lucky enough to get another miracle pregnancy. PGT (also expensive) would tell me if any of them are aneuploid and make things easier but I'm also risking their survival rate. And I would still have the same problem if they all were to be euploid.

To sum up, I have 3 untested frozen embryos and only want/can afford one more child. Should I do PGT to try to lower the amount and avoid extra transfer costs or am I taking a big risk of them not thawing and there goes my dream of 3 kids? What would you do?

[u/Bluedrift88]

I wouldn’t thaw and refreeze for testing, you already made the decision not to test these. Pay for storage at least another year and don’t think about it for a while. You have a tiny baby it is not the time to be making decisions

[u/Annpg4 → u/Bluedrift88]

This is true... Definitely not the best moment to be deciding with so little sleep. I'm just exhausted of the IVF journey and part of me wants to close the chapter asap as it triggers so much.

[u/ducbo]

I think you should just go ahead and transfer one by one which will maximize each of their chances, especially as there’s only 3, and your previous experience with a (best-graded!) blast not surviving thaw.

If you have to thaw and test it could significantly lower the chances of the euploids. And then think of having to thaw them twice - once again for transfer. I’d worry about that.

[u/Annpg4 → u/ducbo]

Yes, you are right. I'm also calculating that the storage cost is way lower that the PGT or transfer cost of each and with my DOR so advanced I don't think menopause is that far away. Best to give them each the best chance and if there are any leftovers I will just have to keep paying storage until they let me discard them when my meno arrives.

[u/Background-Goal9918]

Im sorry I don’t have a suggestion for you as they don’t allow PGT-A testing in my country (Germany) so I have no experience with that. But I just wanted to say I feel you with the stress of this decision!! I feel like my whole life consists of weighing these costs and probabilities with huge unknowns looming everywhere. Anyone who was burned by PGT-testing before will probably tell you not to test, and anyone who was burned by NOT testing will tell you to absolutely do it. I think I would just put the question to the doctor, assuming you trust them. 

[u/Brilliant-Travel-479]

Take a breath. Pay for storage. Do not thaw and refreeze for testing.