Unorthodox question about donor sperm

Danasingle · 10-19-2007, 05:10 PM

Hi!

I'm debating whether to continue trying donor sperm IUI's or to give up and switch to donor embryo. DE would make sense, but I would need to do a shared egg cycle to cut costs and it would still be high.

Here's my wild idea. I've heard of clinics thawing sperm, using a few for ICSI and then refreezing the rest. Do you think I could use half the unit, then refreeze the rest---so that I could have two tries with one unit?

I'm trying to be creative here.

I've checked with a few clinics about donor embryo and the wait lists are 1+ years. Feeling rather daunted and 'needle in a haystack' chances of finding a couple willing to donate to me.

My donor's count this cycle after washing and allowing for all the tests was 16 million.

Dana
Expecting AF any day now - negatie beta

knittingmama22 · 10-19-2007, 07:41 PM

(pg & m/c ment.)

Hi Dana,
I'm sorry to hear about your BFN. We are trying donor embryo. The FETs are easier on my body than a full / stimulated IVF with ICSI. Been there, done that. Would I ever want to try IVF/ICSI again? Yes (esp if ins covered it). But I'd probably never convince my hubby to go that route again.

We did 2 FETs with Donor Embryos last year. One ended in a blighted ovum (sac, but the baby didn't grow) and the other was a chemical pg -- I tested positive early on hpts, but the beta was low and declining. The encouraging news here: these were the only times I have ever been pg!

We did not have to wait for the donor embryos we used last year. They had a list for us to choose from. I did have to wait a year for the current embryos were are FETting with in November... but I think we were just put on the back burner so they could give other couples first dibs on other possible embryos. (Long story, but that's my gut feeling.) I'm telling you this because you don't have to wait for donor embryos at all clinics. You could also go the "embryo adoption" route, but that would take a long time, too. We are getting anonymously donated embryos though the RE's office.

If I were you... sign up for the donor embryo waiting list through a local RE. In the mean time, try an IVF with ICSI (if finances allow). The donor FET is not very expensive compared to IVF.

I hope I've helped you and not discouraged you. I am really thrilled with the concept of Donor Embryo.

Best wishes!
Nancy

Danasingle · 10-19-2007, 11:41 PM

Thank you for sharing your experiences and your encouragement Nancy!

Good luck with your new embryos. How interesting donor embryos and embryo adoption are different.

Unfortunately, there are no local clinics here that offer donor embryos. I would likely have to travel to the States. I've been reading some posts about donor embryos from Cooper Clinic in the States. (Hope that is the right place.)

It would be so much simpler just to conceive via DIUI again. Sighhhh.

Dana

Edited to add:

ccivf.com/embryo_program

Yeah!! They DO accept single women! But lots more hoops, because I am 45. Back to DIUI's being simpler.

knittingmama22 · 10-20-2007, 07:46 AM

(adoption ment.)

Hi Dana,
I didn't see that you were in Canada

We have 2 children that we adopted at birth after we did 2 IVFs/ICSI. When faced with the choice the decision of how to get more babies, we like the idea of donor embryo because it's easier and less expensive. Sounds like you're picking your best option for your situation

Hope you get your baby(s)!
Nancy

**BC-MAV** · 10-20-2007, 11:57 AM

I think once sperm is frozen that freezing it again would possable hinder it's motility and all. I think if you are not "married" to the idea of having the same donor then donor embryo is certainly another option and you could still experience pregnancy.

pbcolor · 10-21-2007, 10:34 PM

dana

The only RE i have talked to that does this is Dr Zhang - New Hope Fertility in New York. He does low stim protocols and charges $2800 for natural cycle ivf and $4800 for full medicated cycle.

He thaws a part of avial and told me that he can get 4-5 cycles out of one vial of sperm

Feel free to contact his assitant Maria to set up a telephone consult appt. I find going thru her to be much easier that thru the receptionist

Best of luck
PB

bebeblues · 10-22-2007, 06:33 AM

Hi D-we ordered one vial and only used 5 sperm from it for ICSI and then they refroze the vial-post that and wash it was like 55mill/57% motility or something like that, but I haven;t checked the counts after freezing and thawing again yet. Were you considering doing an IVF-ICSI cycle, using just a few sperm for that and then using the rest for IUI? You can totally do that! I just don;t know how that second freeze, thaw will effect the sperm. You can also do it for more IVF-ICSI cycles, but I doubt you want to do that.

If this doesn't work, we'll get on a donor embryo list b/c I just cannot see doing another IVF (out of state b/c i'd go to SIRM) to just use donor sperm, but we may be faced w/ that decision in a few more cycles.

Something WILL work for you.
Bebe

10-19-2007, 05:10 PM	#1 (permalink)
Danasingle 5000-9999 post king of hearts Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Western Canada Posts: 8,324	Unorthodox question about donor sperm Hi! I'm debating whether to continue trying donor sperm IUI's or to give up and switch to donor embryo. DE would make sense, but I would need to do a shared egg cycle to cut costs and it would still be high. Here's my wild idea. I've heard of clinics thawing sperm, using a few for ICSI and then refreezing the rest. Do you think I could use half the unit, then refreeze the rest---so that I could have two tries with one unit? I'm trying to be creative here. I've checked with a few clinics about donor embryo and the wait lists are 1+ years. Feeling rather daunted and 'needle in a haystack' chances of finding a couple willing to donate to me. My donor's count this cycle after washing and allowing for all the tests was 16 million. Dana Expecting AF any day now - negatie beta

10-19-2007, 11:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
Danasingle 5000-9999 post king of hearts Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Western Canada Posts: 8,324	Thank you for sharing your experiences and your encouragement Nancy! Good luck with your new embryos. How interesting donor embryos and embryo adoption are different. Unfortunately, there are no local clinics here that offer donor embryos. I would likely have to travel to the States. I've been reading some posts about donor embryos from Cooper Clinic in the States. (Hope that is the right place.) It would be so much simpler just to conceive via DIUI again. Sighhhh. Dana Edited to add: ccivf.com/embryo_program Yeah!! They DO accept single women! But lots more hoops, because I am 45. Back to DIUI's being simpler. Last edited by Danasingle; 10-19-2007 at 11:53 PM.

10-21-2007, 10:34 PM	#6 (permalink)
pbcolor 700-799 post 9 of hearts Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 782	Partial thaw dana The only RE i have talked to that does this is Dr Zhang - New Hope Fertility in New York. He does low stim protocols and charges $2800 for natural cycle ivf and $4800 for full medicated cycle. He thaws a part of avial and told me that he can get 4-5 cycles out of one vial of sperm Feel free to contact his assitant Maria to set up a telephone consult appt. I find going thru her to be much easier that thru the receptionist Best of luck PB

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10-19-2007, 07:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
knittingmama22 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern NJ Posts: 830	(pg & m/c ment.) Hi Dana, I'm sorry to hear about your BFN. We are trying donor embryo. The FETs are easier on my body than a full / stimulated IVF with ICSI. Been there, done that. Would I ever want to try IVF/ICSI again? Yes (esp if ins covered it). But I'd probably never convince my hubby to go that route again. We did 2 FETs with Donor Embryos last year. One ended in a blighted ovum (sac, but the baby didn't grow) and the other was a chemical pg -- I tested positive early on hpts, but the beta was low and declining. The encouraging news here: these were the only times I have ever been pg! We did not have to wait for the donor embryos we used last year. They had a list for us to choose from. I did have to wait a year for the current embryos were are FETting with in November... but I think we were just put on the back burner so they could give other couples first dibs on other possible embryos. (Long story, but that's my gut feeling.) I'm telling you this because you don't have to wait for donor embryos at all clinics. You could also go the "embryo adoption" route, but that would take a long time, too. We are getting anonymously donated embryos though the RE's office. If I were you... sign up for the donor embryo waiting list through a local RE. In the mean time, try an IVF with ICSI (if finances allow). The donor FET is not very expensive compared to IVF. I hope I've helped you and not discouraged you. I am really thrilled with the concept of Donor Embryo. Best wishes! Nancy

10-20-2007, 07:46 AM	#4 (permalink)
knittingmama22 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Southern NJ Posts: 830	(adoption ment.) Hi Dana, I didn't see that you were in Canada We have 2 children that we adopted at birth after we did 2 IVFs/ICSI. When faced with the choice the decision of how to get more babies, we like the idea of donor embryo because it's easier and less expensive. Sounds like you're picking your best option for your situation Hope you get your baby(s)! Nancy

10-20-2007, 11:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
BC-MAV Board Coordinator for Surrogacy BB Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: way down yonder ... Posts: 29,651 Blog Entries: 50	I think once sperm is frozen that freezing it again would possable hinder it's motility and all. I think if you are not "married" to the idea of having the same donor then donor embryo is certainly another option and you could still experience pregnancy.

10-22-2007, 06:33 AM	#7 (permalink)
bebeblues 1000-4999 post queen of hearts Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,723	Hi D-we ordered one vial and only used 5 sperm from it for ICSI and then they refroze the vial-post that and wash it was like 55mill/57% motility or something like that, but I haven;t checked the counts after freezing and thawing again yet. Were you considering doing an IVF-ICSI cycle, using just a few sperm for that and then using the rest for IUI? You can totally do that! I just don;t know how that second freeze, thaw will effect the sperm. You can also do it for more IVF-ICSI cycles, but I doubt you want to do that. If this doesn't work, we'll get on a donor embryo list b/c I just cannot see doing another IVF (out of state b/c i'd go to SIRM) to just use donor sperm, but we may be faced w/ that decision in a few more cycles. Something WILL work for you. Bebe