Anybody participate in an IVF study?

By Jenn23 Mar 20, 2014

My husband and I just decided to try IVF #2 in the next few months. Yay! Our first one was successful, but we didn't have any frozen embryos so we are back to square one. Our clinic currently has a study that I am eligible for (I meet the age requirements-age 35-42, normal hysteroscopy, pap, etc.) and we would save about 6,000, maybe 7,000 more. (Free meds and $2,000 discount on the retrieval) Anyway, the condition is that it has to be a Day 3 and only transfer two embryos.

On our first IVF cycle, we transferred two on Day 5 (one is now my son). I'm worried that if it doesn't work, we'll regret not doing a Day 5, however, the savings is so much that it appeals to us so much more. We are conflicted! What would you do? Oh, and we won't do another IVF cycle if this one doesn't work. Do you think we should do the cheaper cycle and do a Day 3, or pay more and do a Day 5?

And has anybody ever done an IVF study of any kind?

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28 comments

MamaMoose
GOLD / squash / 13464 posts

Mar 20, 2014

I don't know enough about IVF to understand the details, but if Day 5 is proven to be more effective than Day 3 I would not be willing to trade better chances for discounted costs.
Mrs.Someone
pomelo / 5228 posts

Mar 20, 2014

If you do the study and it doesn't work on the first shot, can you do FETs if you have leftover embryos?
justdarling
apricot / 452 posts

Mar 20, 2014

The savings is really tempting. We were also successful on our first IVF. Ours was a little different since we did genetic testing so the embryos grew to day 5 and then were frozen. On day 3 we had 9 embryos and only 3 of them made it to day 5.

I want to know how they choose the embryos to transfer. Would you still be able to freeze any embryos that made it to day 5 so you could potentially do a FET if the fresh cycle doesn't work?
spaniellove
honeydew / 7916 posts

Mar 20, 2014

Is there anything about the study that will improve their technique over a traditional Day 3 transfer? There are a lot of people who are successful with it; it's just that it's a technique often used by less skilled labs. I would ask them a lot of questions to find out what it is they're doing. But if it was my last shot, I'd probably want to find the absolute best lab and technique possible regardless of the cost. If they happen to be using a great technique, then of course they may be a good fit!
Jenn23
persimmon / 1085 posts

Mar 20, 2014

Thanks, all. Nope, nothing better about the technique. I should have explained what the study is, huh? It's a new medicine called Afolia that is being compared to Gonal-F. This is the third phase of the clinical trials and from what I've read in my research, Afolia has had pretty much the same success as Gonal-F. I would take one or the other, but not know which one upfront.

Yes, I can freeze any that make it to that point. But being that I didn't have any left before (and all eight that fertilized made it to day 5), I won't assume or count on having any left. I know it is a different cycle, but I don't want to even consider that I'll have any left, so that isn't a consideration.

I just don't know! Part of me says we should pay the extra money to do Day 5, but we are tight with money right now after having a lot of other things come up lately. Ahh! Such a tough decision.
Apex
clementine / 770 posts

Mar 20, 2014

@Jenn23: Its practically free compared to paying the full amount for an IVF cycle, so i think you should go for it. Especially since you have the option to freeze however many makes it to day 5.
Jenn23
persimmon / 1085 posts

Mar 20, 2014

@Apex: No, it'll be $9,000 instead of $15,000-$16,000. So almost half the cost, but certainly not almost free. $9,000 is still a lot of money! Edit: If it were almost free, I wouldn't even think twice about doing the study. Cause then we would have money to do another IVF cycle if it didn't work. Now that would be amazing!
Apex
clementine / 770 posts

Mar 20, 2014

@Jenn23: You're right $9,000 is still A LOT of money......What is your DH's take on this?

ETA: Just like to add that personally, i would still go for it. mostly because even in a full cycle, there's still no guarantee that all the eggs would make it to day 5, and then you have to do a day 3. I believe @twodoghouse did a day 3 with 2 embies and she's pregnant with twins today! Anything can happen.
Mrs Green Grass
pomelo / 5628 posts

Mar 20, 2014

I've read that the rates are very similar for Day 3 and Day 5. Some clinics only do a Day 3 I believe. I think I'd do it!
Mrs Green Grass
pomelo / 5628 posts

Mar 20, 2014

@Jenn23: I wonder if you could negotiate up front for a discount on the second in case it didn't work...
MrsMccarthy
honeydew / 7295 posts

Mar 20, 2014

AHHHH I AM SO EXCITED YHAT YOU ARE GONNA TRY AGAIN! wishing you a lot of luck!!!
brady80
kiwi / 589 posts

Mar 20, 2014

For what it's worth my doctor believe day 3 is better because you are putting the embryos back in their "natural" environment. My daughter is the result of a day 3 fet.
Wishing you lots of good luck!!
Jenn23
persimmon / 1085 posts

Mar 21, 2014

@Apex: My husband is conflicted like me on the decision. There are pros and cons to both, guess we'll just have to keep discussing it and make a decision.

@Mrs Green Grass: I doubt they'd give a discount on another cycle. Did you do a day 3 or day 5? I can't remember! Yep, I know some clinics only do Day 3, but my RE loves Day 5 much more, so they can pick the best at that point. But of course the risk is that you may not have any which is scary. I was lucky before in that all 8 made it to day 5 and in fact on day 3 they couldn't tell which were the best ones, so it may not have worked had we not done a day 5. So that is why I prefer day 5. The good thing is even if we do the study, we aren't signing a contract or anything, so if on day 3 we could always drop out of the study, and push for day 5. We'd just have to pay the extra $6,000 or whatever it is. So that is always an option, too.

@MrsMccarthy: Thanks! So excited!! It's all I'm thinking about.

@brady80: Thanks!
Mrs Green Grass
pomelo / 5628 posts

Mar 21, 2014

@Jenn23: I did day 5 too and also had 8! That's good to know that you can drop out. In that case, definitely go for it. Although you might be a wee bit too stressed out between days 2 and 3 to make really important decisions!
swedishfish
GOLD / coconut / 8266 posts

Mar 21, 2014

I'd sign up for the study especially since you can drop out to do a day 5 transfer instead. Aahhhhhh, I'm so excited for you!
Caly
nectarine / 2765 posts

Mar 21, 2014

For what it's worth, I was another day 3 success that resulted in my twins. Good luck in whichever you decide!
BSB
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts

Mar 21, 2014

I haven't done IVF yet and will be starting one soon, but I would consider doing an IVF study.
Jenn23
persimmon / 1085 posts

Mar 21, 2014

@Mrs Green Grass: Yea, I had forgotten to mention that part-that we could drop out. I mean they don't advertise the fact or anything, but I specifically asked, "What if I want to transfer 3 instead of 2 on Day 3, or push for Day 5?" and the woman in charge of the IVF studies basically said they can't stop us from changing our minds, but we'd most likely have to pay for the meds at that point. So at least we do have that option.

@swedishfish: Thanks! I'm excited!

@LMOG47: Thank you! I was hoping for twins for our first IVF. I've been saying to my husband, now I bet if it works, we will have twins. Oh my gosh....can't imagine twins plus a 2-3 yr old toddler.

@bluestriped bee: Many fertility clinics offer studies. Our clinic always has about 5-6 studies running at a time. Most of them save you about $1,000-$2,000, but this particular one that I qualify for gives a substantial discount. You do have to qualify for them. Some are for younger woman, others like mine are for older women (gosh, that makes me feel old saying I'm an older woman!) and you sometimes have to meet the bloodwork requirements. Check it out! My clinic lists them all right on their website.
tequiero21
honeydew / 7968 posts

Mar 23, 2014

As a person who has two thriving kids from a day 3 transfer, I say go for it! I read that there are studies done where there really was no difference in outcome. That the reason day 5 had better results was cuz lots of docs waited til day 5 or something. Good luck, whatever u decide!
Jenn23
persimmon / 1085 posts

Mar 24, 2014

@tequiero21: Thanks! I know many studies show no difference in outcome, however if all the embryos look the same on Day 3, that is when they say usually a Day 5 is more successful since they know the best to transfer back. That is why I'm conflicted. But I may not have many anyway since I'm getting old now and was lucky to have that many before. I think we will probably just go with the study. Congrats on your twins!
tequiero21
honeydew / 7968 posts

Mar 24, 2014

@Jenn23: good luck! Hope it all goes well and you have a lo at the end of it!
kentuckygirl
pear / 1786 posts

Mar 24, 2014

After paying for one cycle out of pocket, and having a successful pregnancy on day 3, I say go for it!!!! That is a pretty big discount!
Linz3675
apple seed / 3 posts

Jun 25, 2014

@Jenn23 This trial is being offered at my local RE's office and since it's been awhile since you posted this I wondered if you went threw with it? This is an opportunity for us to do IVF that without we wouldn't be able to afford. We already have one DD and have tried for 6 years to have a second. We are hoping this will be the answer. I'd love to know more about your experience.

Thanks!
Espion
pomegranate / 3577 posts

Jun 25, 2014

@Linz3675: Tag the author, by editing your comment and putting "@Jenn23:" at the front. Many of us have e-mail notifications set up, and she'll see that you asked the question! I hope you find the answers you are looking for!
Jenn23
persimmon / 1085 posts

Jun 26, 2014

@Linz3675: Funny you mention this now, because I probably should have updated this thread anyway. I just found out Monday this week that I didn't qualify for the study. I wasn't expecting to, though, after finding out a month ago that you need 10 AFC to qualify and I figured I probably wouldn't. I didn't. Plus my lining was slightly too high and I had a larger size cyst. I really hope you can get into the study, though! Did you use IVF for your first child? Do you have a diagnosis for why you need it now? Hopefully, you can qualify! It's a great discount financially if you make it in.
Jenn23
persimmon / 1085 posts

Jun 26, 2014

@Espion: Thanks!
Linz3675
apple seed / 3 posts

Jun 26, 2014

@Jenn23 we had our first with no trouble at all naturally. Then couldn't get pregnant again no matter what we did (naturally and drug assisted). We never had IVF in our sights for cost reasons. Then 6 years later (last Nov. 2013) I turned up pregnant. It was completely unexpected and exciting. However, at 14 weeks, I miscarried. That's when we realized how much we wanted another and decided to look into treatment beyond drugs. We've tried IUI 2x so far and then our Dr. called us in to talk to us about this study. He seems to think we will be good candidates and I'm hoping it will work out. If it doesn't we can't afford IVF and will have to accept one child (whom couldn't be a better daughter) or possibly try IUI 1-2x more. I'm almost 40 so this is pretty much the end of the line for us.

I'm super sorry to hear it didn't work for you. Like you I feel we at least have to try. I'm very hopeful it will work and feel I have a better chance than doing IUI again.

Thanks for the reply!
Jenn23
persimmon / 1085 posts

Jun 26, 2014

@Linz3675: Sorry to hear about your miscarriage. I went through that, too, but back in 2010 before our infertility struggles. Do you know what your AFC has been with any of the IUI's? I don't know if they check that or not? How about your FSH/AMH? Hopefully you do qualify so you can do it. I know, IVF out of pocket is outrageous. When will you find out if you can participate in the study? Keep me posted!

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Anybody participate in an IVF study?

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