I had to deal with a big question this week. Should we save our frozen blastocysts or discard them? For my readers who do not know, a blastocyst is- a human embryo which has grown about 5-6 days in an IVF lab. It is an embryo which has developed to a point of having two cell components and a fluid cavity. A blastocyst is a special embryo that has reached a stage in development that requires activation of the embryo's own genes. See the picture.
During early growth of the embryo, all of the energy and chemicals required for cell division come from the mother's egg. In order to continue to develop past the third or fourth day of life, the embryo must activate its own genes to produce energy for further cell division and differentiation.
Doesn't that sound interesting? It sure does. We have 2 blastocysts stored in a IVF lab and we couldn't decide on what to do. We wanted to try an IUI cycle in which they do not retrieve the eggs from my body like in an IVF, but simply put the sperm close to the uterus in hopes that one of the sperm can catch the egg and inseminate it. Well, we couldn't just make up my minds!
My husband wanted us to start fresh and recommended discarding the blastocysts. I just could not part from my frozen babies. I mean, so what if they were just frozen? I do care about their existence. After much talk, we decided not to do an IUI cycle but do a Frozen Embryo Transfer in which they will thaw both of our blastocysts and then transfer them in my uterus! Whew! Sounds easy, doesn't it? Not really.
Thawing is a much complex procedure in which crystals that may have formed in the blastocysts during the freezing process, need to be removed...carefully. The blastocysts are then allowed to thaw at room temperature. If any of the blastocyst make it during the thawing process, consider yourself lucky otherwise, get prepared to start all over.
I feel that I went through a lot to have blastocysts in the IVF lab. I cannot forget all those miserable shots, hormonal changes, and mood swings. It is not easy to get to this point. Many women never have blastocysts. Heck, I want to give my frozen embabies the chance they deserve. The chance to thrive!
During early growth of the embryo, all of the energy and chemicals required for cell division come from the mother's egg. In order to continue to develop past the third or fourth day of life, the embryo must activate its own genes to produce energy for further cell division and differentiation.
Doesn't that sound interesting? It sure does. We have 2 blastocysts stored in a IVF lab and we couldn't decide on what to do. We wanted to try an IUI cycle in which they do not retrieve the eggs from my body like in an IVF, but simply put the sperm close to the uterus in hopes that one of the sperm can catch the egg and inseminate it. Well, we couldn't just make up my minds!
My husband wanted us to start fresh and recommended discarding the blastocysts. I just could not part from my frozen babies. I mean, so what if they were just frozen? I do care about their existence. After much talk, we decided not to do an IUI cycle but do a Frozen Embryo Transfer in which they will thaw both of our blastocysts and then transfer them in my uterus! Whew! Sounds easy, doesn't it? Not really.
Thawing is a much complex procedure in which crystals that may have formed in the blastocysts during the freezing process, need to be removed...carefully. The blastocysts are then allowed to thaw at room temperature. If any of the blastocyst make it during the thawing process, consider yourself lucky otherwise, get prepared to start all over.
I feel that I went through a lot to have blastocysts in the IVF lab. I cannot forget all those miserable shots, hormonal changes, and mood swings. It is not easy to get to this point. Many women never have blastocysts. Heck, I want to give my frozen embabies the chance they deserve. The chance to thrive!
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