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@Mrs Green Grass: @Shutterbug: oh, cool. Thanks for the info. Then I definitely stick with transferring no more than 2.
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I haven't done IVF so can't contribute to the transfer question but wanted to chime in on the transferring 3 idea- triplet pregnancies are incredibly difficult and the stats for triplet and other higher-order multiple pregnancies are depressing. Even twin pregnancies are quite high risk and can be stressful, scary and not have good outcomes. Transferring more than one embryo is not something to take lightly. Not trying to be harsh or insensitive at all, just want to make sure that's known bc I did IF treatments and really wasn't aware of all the risks associated with multiples...
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I haven't done IVF but a good friend of mine just did. She, too, was worried about multiples and I can't remember the exact stats but she was told that transferring 2 significantly increased the odds of multiples but didn't actually increase the odds of a BFP by much. For that reason she transferred one and just had a beautiful baby boy.
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@QBbride: my RE said the same thing to me - he gave me 50% odds with 1 embryo and 60% with two (and a 30% chance of twins) so we transferred 1.
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We transferred 2, and I'm currently 25 wks with b/g twins.
We couldn't be happier, but if you're certain you don't want more than a singleton pregnancy, than definitely don't transfer more than one embryo. Even with that, there is always the (small) chance of a split for identical twins or more!
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@QBbride: @Shutterbug: This was pretty much what our clinic told us as well
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@TheFixIts: Yay! I'm so glad you're doing well!
The statistic about single vs. double ET doesn't make sense to me (also I think the study was older and success rates were lower than what is now commonly seen). Logically, it seems like the only way that's possible is if the uterine environment is a huge determining factor (good environment=embryo implants with increased likelihood)...rather than assuming that 2 individual embryos each have about an equal probability of being "good" and implanting.
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@Trailmix: So I admit when I first read your comment, I wasn't sure who you were directing your comment to. I'll be honest and admit I wasn't too happy about your comment. I know you had your struggle with IF and believe you were successful with an IUI. Is that right? I thought you were coming here to remind us that multiples are possible and I was rather annoyed that you remind us when everyone in this thread has gone through IVF and for me it was written all over our IVF consent forms. For me, I knew the risks of multiples when I had 3 follicles at my second to last IUI. I knew in my TWW, that there was a chance that we could possibly have triplets. My DH knew as well. We prepared as much as we could prepare during the TWW. It, of course, was a failed cycle. That is when I knew that my DH and I would deal with whatever comes our way. Be it a singleton, twins, triplets or more. What got me through my TWW was thinking that God only gives us what we can handle and if he thinks we can handle triplets then we can and we will.
Anyway, I'm rambling. I see now that you are a mother of twins (I think I knew that before but my memory is so bad that I had to refresh my memory) and your comment came from that point of view... that you wished you knew more about the risk of multiples. I, for one, know the risks of having multiples. Although, I come from the perspective that I will welcome multiples. I have always wanted twins for as long as I can remember. Yes, I know carrying multiples have risks to both mother and child. Then there's the emotional and financial stress of it. Also, sadly from some of the IVF threads that there is a risk of losing a child.
So sad and it must be so hard for those of us who have gone through that. So for me I know the risks. Yes, from the comments earlier, I did not know that ICSI increases the risk of multiples. Though, I could have read it in my IVF consent forms and just forgot. I'll check my forms when I get home. But like I said, increasing the risk of multiples is something I like to hear. Anyway, just want to say that you don't have to remind me of the risks. I say this respectfully. No hard feelings, I hope.
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@FliegepilzHut: You are quite right about the uterine environment being a huge factor with this statistic as is the quality of the blasts at transfer.
The way it was explained to us is that since our main issue seemed to be MFI and DOR there was no reason to believe that we would have implantation issues, my progesterone was normal, clear hysteroscopy, etc. Provided that we had two embryos of similar quality for a day 5 transfer the RE said that their statistic show (over 500 cycle per year) that transferring 2 wouldn't improve my chance of a pregnancy but that the chance of twins would be dramatically higher. Of course this all changes if you have had previous cycles that fail or reason to believe that there are implantation issues.
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@mrswin: I see. The hardest thing about statistics is figuring out to whom they most precisely apply!
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@FliegepilzHut: Haha statistics make me remember why I chose to take calculus in high school!!
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@mrswin: No doubt that was a good call!
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@bluestriped bee: I'm so sorry my comment wasn't clear and of course no hard feelings at all. I should have mentioned that I am a twin mom. I also should have put the reason for my caution at the beginning of my comment, definitely. My main reason for contributing is not particularly well-known but just so you can see where I'm coming from- we did IUI knowing I had 4+ follicles and a high chance of multiples. My RE didn't want to do it but I pushed for it. We ended up with triplets but ultimately felt the risks were too high and chose not to continue with all three. It was, without a doubt, the hardest thing I have ever gone through and I would never ever wish it on anyone else. I feel that I wasn't very well-educated on the risks of a multiples pregnancy and just want to make sure people are very aware of the reality of this all. I so strongly remember my desperation to get pregnant and definitely said out loud how much I hoped for twins but it haunts me now.
I always read the IF boards and have been following you for 2+ years. I know your babies are out there and will come to you soon! -
@bluestriped bee: @Trailmix: I wish I could give you both hugs! Such difficult decisions I wish none of us ever had to make!!
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@Trailmix: Thank you so much for sharing! I remember when you were going through it all, but never knew what you decided.
Like @Trailmix, I felt like I understood the risks, but you are given such a laundry list of risks that everything kind of just blends together. I had absolutely no idea that embryos could split whether I signed that I had read it or not. I thought that 2 was the most we would have and I was fine with it. Then when you are faced with a higher order multiples scenario, the odds are really scary. Quads are typically born around 28 weeks, Triplets 32, and Twins 36 (although I know examples of each that were born closer to term and/or had almost zero NICU stay.) It's just all very real and very scary and it's unfortunate that any of us had/have to be in this situation.
I wish BFPs and easy, simple pregnancies on everyone...
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@Trailmix: Hugs to you!
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@Trailmix: Oh, I'm so sorry. It must have been such a difficult decision. Hugs to you.
Re-reading your comment does make it seem like there was a more (private & difficult) story that we weren't aware of. Glad there are no hard feeling. I have followed your journey and even with my bad memory, I know you are a IF graduate. So happy you have your twins but it must have been so so difficult to make that decision. Our IF journey doesn't make things easy for us.
So sad and it must be so hard for those of us who have gone through that. So for me I know the risks. Yes, from the comments earlier, I did not know that ICSI increases the risk of multiples. Though, I could have read it in my IVF consent forms and just forgot. I'll check my forms when I get home. But like I said, increasing the risk of multiples is something I like to hear. 
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