Comments on IVF Authority: Egg and Embryo Freezing: Vitrification is a Giant ...

I recently moved from TX to CO and have 6 embryos ...

2011-06-27T21:11:27.082-07:00

I recently moved from TX to CO and have 6 embryos sitting in TX. my doctor informed me today that since they used the vitrification process, the frozen embryos have no chance of survival during the shipping here and hence they wont release them. is this true? he mentioned something about using a kind of straw that does not permit the shipping. this is news to me as he never discussed this method of freezing with me.

lets say a lady does this. and they freeze 8 eggs....

2011-06-05T10:11:12.959-07:00

lets say a lady does this. and they freeze 8 eggs. on the 1st try she gets pregnant. what do they do with the 7 other fertilized frozen eggs?

Can embryos survive the freeze-thaw cycle more tha...

2011-02-04T07:41:29.696-08:00

Can embryos survive the freeze-thaw cycle more than once?

We have 4 blastocycsts, frozen in pairs (vitrified). If we try for another child, there's no way I would transfer 2 blasts given our strong track record (3 SETs = 2 babies and one m/c). I wonder whether we could thaw 2 blasts (transfer 1 and refreeze 1) or thaw all 4 for genetic testing, refreeze and future SET. What would you do?

That is regretable! No truth whatsoever in my opin...

2010-04-26T16:34:12.970-07:00

That is regretable! No truth whatsoever in my opinion.

Geoff Sher

Dear Dr Sher, I lost 5 frozen blastocyst embryos b...

2010-04-25T08:41:49.603-07:00

Dear Dr Sher,
I lost 5 frozen blastocyst embryos because they did not survive the thaw. We were quite devastated! The clinic still uses the old freezing system. When I asked why they won't upgrade to vitrification, the doctor told me that he is afraid of DNA damage from vitrification. From what I have read, you use this method successfully. Is there any truth to the assertion that vitrification may result in DNA damage? Thank you kindly for your response.

Vasa Previa is NOT more common with IVF. The beta ...

2010-03-08T22:50:49.347-08:00

Vasa Previa is NOT more common with IVF. The beta results should start coming in 1 week after a blastocyst transfer.

Geoff Sher

That you offer your time to answer questions for w...

2010-02-26T14:44:29.150-08:00

That you offer your time to answer questions for women wanting to be mothers is noble and kind. Thank you.

I just wondered why a clinic would require 14 days to take the first beta test after a FET of a 5-6 day blast, as my well-known clinic in the DC/MD/VA area does? For my fresh cycle last year (which was successful but I lost my full-term son 8 hours after he was born due to undiagnosed vasa previa), I took my beta 13 days after a fresh 3-day transfer. I am scheduled to transfer remaining blast embryo from my batch last year on the 4th and have been told to avoid false negative, I had to wait for 14 days for beta this time. Confused.

As I mentioned vasa previa, do you have any thoughts about the theory that it is more prevalent in IVF (though still obviously very rare) pregnancies? I searched Vasa previa on your blog and the SIRM site and didn't see anything related to that.
Thank you again for your time and consideration.

What a pity your clinic does not vitrify embryos.....

2010-01-27T16:21:54.302-08:00

What a pity your clinic does not vitrify embryos...but I guess that is "water under the bridge".

I answered the rest of your queries elsewhere.

Geoff Sher

I am posting again as I am about to undego my firs...

2010-01-22T09:11:51.595-08:00

I am posting again as I am about to undego my first FET, looking for some more advice. I need some help and have a two-fold question.

Unfortunately, the lab and clinic do not use vitrification, rather the old-fashioned method. They also put all three of my remaining embryos in the same straw, but are only legally allowed to implant two. I am aware that there is less than a 50% chance that they will survive the 'freezing' and 'thawing'.

I have been taking estrogen via tablet form and I went in for blood work and an ultrasound today (DAY 12) so I was surprised that my lining and my labs came back with results good enough (I suppose) to do the ET on Monday morning (making it DAY 15). I know that my clinic normally performs ET on day 17 or 18, so I am a bit confused. I have to start on progesterone suppositories today. Isn't this quite early or is it on contigent on my hormone levels and lining measurement?

Also, please offer your opinion on the amount of time that a woman should remain prostrate after a transfer? In addition, how many days bed rest do you require that your patients take after transfer, after FET or fresh cycle. The info out there is very contradicting: anything from 2-3 days bed rest to no bed rest, but just no lifting, exercise or bending.

Thank you so much, Dr. Sher!!!

There is no waiting period required and yes it is ...

2009-11-18T13:01:33.928-08:00

There is no waiting period required and yes it is quite common to have irregular ovulation and disrupted menses after a cycle of stim.

Good luck!

Geoff Sher

I would like to know if there is a minimum or an...

2009-11-18T06:51:30.637-08:00

I would like to know if there is a minimum or an optimal time that embryos should be frozen before pursuing FET.

I had ET in late September and have 3 frozen. The one embryo that was transferred resulted in an ectopic pregnancy. I have yet to have my first period since the emergency lap (38 days since last period, 27 days since lap)

Is it normal for one's cycle to be out of whack after an IVF cycle and then an ectopic?

I would like to try a FET in December (after one regular cycle) if possible.

Your opinion is greatly appreciated:)!

That's about it! Geoff Sher

2009-07-24T17:41:08.643-07:00

That's about it!

Geoff Sher

Please correct me if I am wrong, but vitrification...

2009-07-24T12:47:58.339-07:00

Please correct me if I am wrong, but vitrification does not actually involve freezing - that is there is no change of state from liquid to solid, but rather an additive allows they liquid to become extremely viscous. Since there is no change of state, there is not the risk of ice crystals forming in the embryo.

Thank you very much! We mix in 500CC NS. Geoff S...

2009-07-07T11:08:57.059-07:00

Thank you very much!

We mix in 500CC NS.

Geoff Sher

Your post inspired me of a very excellent point of...

2009-07-05T17:46:36.626-07:00

Your post inspired me of a very excellent point of view to treat patients who repeatitively failed over 10 cycles. I'd like to try 20% intralipid instead of IVIG because one of my patients recently failed one more cycle with IVIG. 20% intralipid solution of 250ml/ a bag is available here, South Korea. Do you mix this solution in 500 cc normal saline or just give two bags?