Patricia Bleigner-Baker has two children as the result of IVF. Even though her daughters are spaced a convenient three years apart in age, they got their start in life at the same time, in the same treatment cycle. That’s because the use of frozen embryos to conceive is becoming as reliable as “regular” IVF.
After trying to get pregnant for about a year during her mid-20’s, Patricia’s OB referred her straight to the Shady Grove Fertility Annapolis office. There, she learned almost immediately that polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) was the culprit.
“I wasn’t what you’d call a ‘classic’ case of PCOS,” she adds, “but it only took a few blood tests to confirm what my doctors suspected.” Their suspicions stemmed from several intrauterine cycles (IUI) that each had to be canceled due to Patricia’s ovaries overstimulating. “I was hesitant to do IVF, but finally it was really apparent that was my better option.”Patricia says she had no idea that her OB had referred her to such a renowned fertility center. “I thought the referral was based on the fact that Shady Grove Fertility was close,” she recalls. Now in hindsight, she says she was far luckier than she knew at the time. “I just love my doctors – they were so respectful and informative and helpful. Compared to some of my cyber friends who are going through this around the country, I really feel like I got the cream of the crop here.”
Her first IVF cycle resulted in the transfer of two embryos and no resulting pregnancy. Her second attempt yielded five embryos, and Patricia and her husband Keith chose to transfer only one and freeze the remaining four. The result: baby Grasyn.
Patricia’s decision to transfer just one embryo on her second IVF attempt came after learning that many PCOS patients are usually good candidates for elective single embryo transfer (eSET). The improvement of IVF techniques and increasing knowledge by patients about the dangers of multiples pregnancies has meant more patients are now opting for eSET. This can also mean that the patient has more embryos to freeze. Fortunately, the rates of pregnancy success with frozen embryo transfer (FET) have also risen. At Shady Grove Fertility, FET success chances are near those of “fresh” (non-frozen) embryos – about 50%.
When baby Grasyn was a couple of years old, Patricia and her husband decided that it was time to try for another baby. This time, though, having their existing frozen embryos made the process considerably simpler, she says.
“There’s a huge difference in the experience!” Patricia remarks, comparing FET with her previous IVF cycle. “Not having to undergo the ovulation stimulation and retrieval were some of the biggest differences,” she said.
Since it’s not necessary to create embryos in an FET cycle, no ovulation medications equals fewer injections, none of the common abdomen discomfort from stimulation, considerably fewer ultrasounds and office visits, and no outpatient egg retrieval.
Prior to the transfer, the couple talked with Dr. Jeff McKeeby about whether or not to transfer more than one frozen embryo.
“I was a little anxious, because you don’t know until the day of transfer how many embryos will survive the thawing process,” Patricia remembers. “It only takes a little time to thaw them, so they do it that day. You go through your preparation process and hope for the best. I asked them to only thaw one at a time, because I wanted to only transfer one again.”
“We felt confident from our first single embryo experience, and Dr. McKeeby and Dr. [Melissa] Esposito told us that the one thawed embryo was almost indistinguishable in appearance from a freshly created one,” Patricia added. “The also said that the embryo had 100 percent cell survival, which is supposed to be pretty remarkable.”
So the couple again transferred only one embryo – and baby Dylan came to be. Now, Patricia and her husband Keith they have three remaining frozen embryos.
“We’re not done,” she laughs, “we’ll just wait until Dylan gets a little older.” Patricia, now 31, has been told by the experts at Shady Grove Fertility that her frozen embryos will remain in their current state of viability, having been created when she was 27.
Patricia continues to be amazed that a fresh IVF cycle that she went through nearly four years ago has provided her with two children, and has given her the option for more. It has also eliminated her concern to rush to do another cycle, even if she waits several more years to try and conceive with her remaining frozen embryos.
“I don’t really have age concerns any more. But you know, if the last three fail to implant, then we still have two beautiful girls for whom we’re incredibly thankful – and I have no need to do another fresh IVF cycle.”
