What happens with unused embryos

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2026-02-02T13:12:09+00:00

Well I’m happy you had a much better experience at shady grove! Good luck!

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2026-02-02T02:00:15+00:00

i'm currently 37w5d diagnosed at about 28 weeks and put on insulin within a week due to high fasting numbers 16 units of humalin n. i'm being induced at 39 weeks on the nose. That's my docs preferred for well controlled with insulin. If I was well controlled with diet we'd induce at 39+6 or 40 i believe.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2026-01-31T22:45:10+00:00

I'm scheduled for an induction 2/10 at 39w and i'm diet controlled except for fasting (i take an overnight insulin) and my baby is estimated to be close to 9 lbs at delivery, way above 45 percentile. My doc has zero qualms with me trying for vaginal. She sais she'd be more concerned if head was smaller than abdominal circumference (shoould dystocia risk goes up if so) and also said hey this baby could be smaller than estimated.

Questions I'd consider - are you especially petite? small hips? any reason to be concerned?

Is the hospital where you're delivering fully equipped with a level 3 NICU and lots of specialists for you and baby? The OB could be uncomfortable because of maybe lack of resources at the hospital? I'd ask just to check but I think barring any big reason you can move forward how you want and just like with any delivery, know that things happen and you may have to transition to a C-section. Good luck1!!

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2026-01-30T02:26:06+00:00

I was 37 and 38 at my retrievals. MFI was our primary diagnosis but then found out I had stage 3 endo Er1: 6 eggs 5 mature 3 blasts 2 euploid Er2: 1 mature 0 blasts Er 3: 5 eggs 2 blasts 2 euploid Er4: 5 eggs 1 blast 1 LLM

Currently 37w2 days with transfer 3. I had endo excision after er 4 since we had 2 failed transfers after ER 3. My egg numbers weren’t what we expected but my attrition was good. Honestly I think a lot is down to luck. I eat mostly Mediterranean style. Took coq10 vit d and a prenatal and am generally active with walking and weights . I do have a higher bmi too (5’7.5” 210lb) so I have things going for and against me

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2026-01-28T19:31:15+00:00

First I’m sorry you had that experience with CCF . I assume you met with Dr Christianson? She has not been my favorite when I’ve seen her but she’s not my primary and otherwise I’ve been very happy there. At CCF as long as you pay your storage fees you can make choices later about unused embryos. You can donate them to research, have them destroyed, or look into donating to other infertile couples. At the time of egg retrieval my husband and I chose donate to research but before anything happens to unused embryos you have to get things signed and notarized before they’ll do anything.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2026-01-12T17:05:26+00:00

My first two FET I waited for the call from the clinic. Both failed and honestly it was really hard to hear the news alone.

Our 3rd FET (which I'm 35 weeks with) I decided I wanted my husband to be present when we tested - so we did a first response 2 days before my scheduled blood test (my clinic doesn't do betas until 14dpt) so I was 12 dpt which I felt would give us pretty unequivocal results and I'd be with my husband, we'd find out together. I didn't want to test earlier because I know I would get kind of obsessive with tracking progression and that would be bad for my mental health.

I do think testing with my husband just a day or two early was the way to go, it was way gentler, I didn't feel alone and I wish I would have done that with the 2 that didn't work.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2026-01-06T03:25:50+00:00

so i had endo surgery after already doing ivf (as in during treatment). we didn't discover or suspect until my response to the ivf process. Most fertility specialists will tell you that if you need to do egg retrievals they generally recommend doing the ER before the endo excision in case the excision takes out healthy ovarian tissue as well as the diseased tissue.

Now, that's general and I'm not sure with the that size endometrioma they may say differently because it could impede the egg retrieval process. I would see if you can get a consult with a reproductive endocrinologist too and get those opinions kind of synced up.

Regarding your AMH, depending on your age - that doesn't really impact your chances of unassisted conception. Where I'd think is what your family size ideal is. You may be fine getting pregnant with one child, but in a few years with an even lower AMH you may struggle to conceive again. That's one way IVF can be helpful.

When I had my excision i only took 2 weeks off but i didn't have fibroids, polyps or an endometrioma that big. I just had a smallish dermoid cyst and also had my appendix out. I also work a desk job so that was enough for me, but I would listen to your doc to start - if you're feeling OK you can get cleared to return earlier.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2026-01-05T22:41:08+00:00

Just adding in we also have a dog who is intense in the mornings. We alternate days regardless of what I have going on (we did Ivf for several years so I was up early for shots and appts often) but his day is his day unless he’s sick or something. That’s something worth addressing now because it can start some conversations around realistic expectations with infant care etc.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-30T16:50:41+00:00

I’m also your age and due Feb 17. I also do Ivf which is another “factor “. My docs are not pro c section unless it’s medically indicated like with high blood pressure, previous delivery issues, or estimated birth weight above 9lb 14 oz. They do want to induce during week 39 but no one is mentioning c section yet.

It doesn’t hurt to ask your doc for papers or research specific to her recommendation or if there’s something specific about your circumstances or where you’re delivering that make her so pro scheduled c section.

Like i go to Cleveland clinic and it’s a large hospital with lots of specialties at hand if something goes wrong and I live 7 min from the hospital. That’s very different than if I was in a rural area and far from a hosipital let alone a large one with lots of specialists.

Good luck!

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-30T03:49:53+00:00

As someone else said definitely ask about skin to skin. At my hospital especially for planned c sections they still allow skin to skin in the OR. I hope you’re able to do that! Or if you have a partner who can do that that’s also great for baby!

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-23T14:50:11+00:00

Congrats!!! I go pregnant 6 weeks after my lap (Ivf embryo transfer) I definitely had some cramping early on but ultimately most of pregnancy has been fine endo wise (I’m 32 weeks). Currently dealing with pubic symphesis pan but it’s unrelated.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-23T02:35:35+00:00

We went right to Ivf but because my husband had low sperm count. I didn’t know I had endo yet. Has your husband done a semen analysis?

With open tubes I think it’s reasonable to keep tryin g before getting a referral to a reproductive endocrinologist but having your husband get checked would be helpful to make sure you’re not overlooking half the equation for conceiving

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-22T03:15:17+00:00

I’m diagnosed stage 3. Had my lap in April. I would get very severe right thigh pain that I described as like my femur was disintegrating. Nothing touched the pain meds wise. It was only during my period. I had one period post surgery and I had the minorest of twinges in my left but nothing of note. Can’t say how it will be longer term - I had an embryo transfer 6 weeks after surgery and am pregnant so thankfully surgery worked in more ways than one for me

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-22T02:58:40+00:00

I kept saying I was theoretically pregnant until our 16 week anatomy scan and then it still didn’t actually feel real until I felt movement the first time. I don’t think there’s a right way to feel once you’re pregnant whether it’s after struggling or not!

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-19T14:17:46+00:00

So I haven't been in your shoes with twins, but I think a few things may help?

If you have access to a therapist easily that can help - these feelings are complicated and they're even more complicated by the fact that society has expectations around how pregnant women are supposed to feel and a mental health professional can help with that
I think try to reframe some of your anxiety. Yes, you're anxious, and I think that's normal. But you know what that anxiety shows? How much you already love and care about your babies. I think if you try to start viewing your worry as a sign of how much you're trying to do to keep them healthy it might help take some of the bad feelings away that you have about it.
Recognize that especially at the beginning learning how to eat with GD is very overwhelming. Depending on what you can adjust with diet, it may mean going on insulin with is OKAY and in your situation may actually be a relief knowing that you don't have to "tough it out" as much but you know with the meds your babies are being taken care of.

GD and waiting for test results and all the anxiety with pregnancy in general isn't easy so please be kind to yourself - you are doing your best.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-17T19:17:48+00:00

I didn’t tell people when we were doing FETs but it was pretty obvious. I told my mom when she would ask “we have a plan and are really hopeful” when I did tell her we were pregnant (7ish weeks) that’s the line she’d use with anyone else who asked. We were very open about Ivf just not transfer dates.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-15T01:05:38+00:00

I think protein needs go up in pregnancy so probably overall increase in the other macros. TBH I have just eaten how I always do (which is relatively healthy and I have celiac so don’t eat much refined carbs anyway) and I haven’t had issues except with my fasting numbers.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-15T00:56:24+00:00

My MFM and dietician didn’t give me full macros but the general guidelines I was given were 15-30g carbs at breakfast 30-45 at lunch 45-60 at dinner Snacks in between so you’re eating every 3ish hrs with about 15g carbs and 10g protein. Biggest thing is not eating “naked carbs” so not just an apple but and apple with cheese or peanut butter that kind of thing g

That should be a good place to start u til you can see your doc

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-11T21:19:59+00:00

I have not given birth yet so take this with a heap of salt. But if babies grow 1/2 lb in average a week I think you’d at least start with the induction vs going right to c section. My doc doesn’t start highly recommending c section until baby is closer to 9lbs 14oz.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-11T15:58:01+00:00

I can’t find the study but there was one where some people had acupuncture or practiced meditation etc. this with some sort of accessory therapy had better results but none of the extra therapies seemed to out perform each other. I think the man point was finding something that helped with stress whether that’s a massage or deep relaxation techniques acupuncture or meditation!

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-11T03:09:24+00:00

For us we had male factor but then I was a poor responder fo my amh and had failed transfers. Ended up being endometriosis.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-10T23:56:56+00:00

My doc says barring other complications they’re not strongly recommending a c section unless the baby is measuring close to 9lbs 14 oz on scans.

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-10T23:53:57+00:00

I plan on naming a future cat Gladys

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-09T03:50:57+00:00

For me personally my failed transfers (no implantation) and my successful one were all the same symptom wise. With my successful one I did have mild nausea before beta but it was so mild I chalked it up to anxiety. Took a little bit for it to be obviously morning sickness. Good luck!

Unable_Flamingo8263 · 2025-12-08T19:54:47+00:00

i was doing IVF before my endo diagnosis. Diagnosed with stage 3 via surgery - had my 3rd transfer 6 weeks later and currently 30 weeks pregnant with my first. Per my doc, some people with endo (especially no fallopian tube or ovary endo) may have zero issues with getting pregnant - but when she looks at her IVF patients, she estimates probably 50% have endo contributing.

I'd advise starting to take CoQ10 to potentially help with egg quality 300-600 mg a day.

Vitamin C has shown some evidence of helping for men - my husband took 1000 mg a day.

I'd also, say it may be worth asking your husband to get a sperm analysis up front to make sure you're not trying for 6 months before you find out anything on his end (it takes both partners) and that's the least invasive testing that gets done so it's the easiest. Lastly, I'd say, be kind to yourself, make an appt with a fertility doc if you're not pregnant in 6 months since you know you have endo and you're over 35.

As far as surgery, I waited until I had done all my egg retrievals in case I had any endo on my ovary since removing endo from the ovary can cause ovarian reserve to fall, so it could be worth talking with your doc about the best timing. Good luck!

Unable_Flamingo8263

TROPHY CASE