Quality and quantity , Guide for transferring blastocysts
10/29/2018 12:28:00 AM"The doctor told me that transferring 2-3 blastocysts are good enough, but my husband wants to do all 4 that all we have, as the previous 3 went through PGS were abnormal..." When I got your call, I can feel your worries, hopeless, hesitating, wanting to talk to someone.
one is the success rate of IVF, the other one is chances of having multiple births, how can we find the balance? From the perspective of modern artificial reproductive, the goal is to bring a healthy baby back home asap.
Multi-pregnancy pregnancy bears high risks for the mother and the baby as well, including premature birth, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, fetal underweight, etc., and there are risks in fetal reduction surgery.
To maintain the success rate of artificial reproduction and reduce the risk of multiple births, countries have begun to set guidelines for the fertility centers, suggesting the number of blastocysts for implantation.
How many should we transfer? How can we provide the most substantial help?
European countries set a guideline for themselves considering the number of implants, blastocysts grading, age, and other parameters.
According to the Taiwanese Society for Reproductive Medicine (TSRM), the suggested number of blastocysts for implantation are as follow. For blastocysts with normal PGS result, transferring one will be enough.
Strok Fertility Center collected the four-year data from 2013.-2017.01, there were 2,857 thawed blastocysts implantation cycles, which were divided into five age groups according to the TSRM index. The average number of implants was 1.65 vs. 1.82 vs. 1.97. Vs. 1.98 vs.1.00; and multiple birth rates were 16.1% vs. 15.2% vs. 9.9% vs. 4.7% vs. 0.3%.
We measured the live birth rate data from the period of 2013.01-2015.12. There were 1,842 thawing implantation cycles, and the average number of implantation is 1.70 vs. 1.80 vs. 2.01 vs. 1.96 vs. 1.00. As for the live birth rate was 52.9% vs. 48.8% vs. 33.6% vs. 17.5% vs. 43.0%.
"Transferring a normal blastocyst, giving you a healthy baby" has always been our biggest goal. As we mentioned at the beginning, the client was facing a predicament that all the blastocysts were abnormal and cannot be implanted.
Although she was 37 years old and the prevalence rate of embryo abnormality is high, I still did not recommend that she transfer all the rest four unexamined blastocysts.
After listening to my analysis of the pros and cons, she thanked me happily. It seemed to help the client to clear her thoughts. I believe that no matter what the final decision is, she will be okay.
Reference:
1.Clinical data by Stork Fertility Center
2.TSRM guideline (2016)


Andi's word
1. The abnormal rate of the 37-year-old group woman is about 46.2% based on the PGS(preimplantation chromosome screenings) test of 2,980 of blastocysts. However, according to the study of the relationship between
the result of transfer a single embryo with normal chromosome and the grading of blastocysts that published by our center in 2017, not every blastocyst is suitable for PGS, and the blastocyst with poor grades are more vulnerable even if the test results show that the chromosomes are normal. Result in a lower pregnancy rate.
2. The Taiwanese Society for Reproductive Medicine (TSRM) introduced a guideline based on the "maternal age", "with or without chromosome screening" considering the clinical data of local fertility institutions.
the success rate of transferring a blastocyst with normal chromosomes is about 60%, but it is true that not every blastocyst is suitable for biopsy and examination. As the way of cultivation might be different at each different institution (eg. splinter culture vs blastocyst stage culture), blastocyst parameters are different (pollardization time, appearance grading), different personal experiences (implanted several times, maternal environment), it is not the best way to apply one single fixed formula to each case.
The primary purpose of Personalized Precision(PP-IVF) is to provide tailor-made medical assistance that best meets the needs of the individual.
We have to keep a balance of the pregnancy rate and the risks of multi-birth.
Other than adjusting the number of blastocysts for implantation, "immune system screening", " hysterosalpingogram (HSG) ", " Hysteroscopy ", and "ERA (Endometrial Receptivity Array)” etc. are also factor that might affect the bedding. We no longer just transfer with few blastocysts, we transfer the right one at the right time in the right place!
[Patient Testimonial] advanced maternal age with Egg Donation
10/02/2018 11:07:00 PM
My baby just finished his milk; and now he was sleeping in my wife arms while I was writing our story. My wife held my hand and gave me a lovely smile. This simple happiness made me so happy. However, this simple happiness was hard to come by.
My wife and I were considered as late marriage. After marriage, having a child was not our top priority because we were concerned about work, life, and dream more. Around 7 years ago, by seeing friends and colleagues sharing their happy family life with their children, suddenly I felt it’s time to have a child. I discussed with my wife and realized that actually my wife had been thinking about having a baby for a long while, but she never told me because she chose to support and respect my decision. Therefore, we started to trying, completing our physical checkup, taking Chinese-medicine therapy, exercising, adjusting daily diets and living...etc. However, my wife didn't get pregnant. About 3 years ago, we accepted the treatment of IUI, but it didn't work out. We were so disappointed, but we still believe we should try our last chance, IVF.
I still could remember the day we went to see our doctor, it was on February, 2016, it was still cold in Hong-Kong. We met the doctor of Reproductive Medicine from Hong-Kong. He told us" Look at the number of the chart. Because of your age, success rate of IVF is still very low. To be honest, I would like to suggest you not to waste your money on this valueless treatment. Nevertheless, if you still insist on trying, I will try my best to help you. " We appreciated the meaning of doctor's truth and we felt hopeless after the appointment.
We didn’t say any words on the way home; we could not stop crying when we were home. I still remembered that heartbreaking feeling. We decided to have one last treatment of IVF in Hong-Kong. After that, we experienced 4 months treatment: medicine, injection, ova harvest ...etc. Finally, we collected 3 eggs, but only one egg grew up to day 3. We transferred the embryo without knowing the quality of the embryo because they didn't explained it. It had a fair knowledge of consequence, my wife didn't get pregnant. We accepted the result with peace and calm this time.
We didn't give up! And Keeping trying to find hope and success. Suddenly, we have found many research paper all mentioned about "44 years old" is a boundary lines to accept the suggestion of egg donation. What a coincidence, that's also my wife's age of that year. That was the first information regarding egg donation. Therefore, We did lots of search and also knew Stork Fertility Center which is the top of this field, and then we registered for consulting.Soon, the consultant of Stork Fertility Center reached us, answered us all the question of regarding egg donation with detail patiently. So that we made decision right away
Maybe we've got many frustration in Hong-Kong. “So that we looked so tired while arrived Stork Fertility Center.” For that reason, we looked listless when we first time met Doctor Wang. However, Doctor Wang's profession and confidence that gave us a lot of hope. Also he gave us detail explanation on our report of physical checkup, which let us know we still have some positive side. After that, we've stayed couple days in Taiwan. We went to Pingxi for sky lanterns. Wishing for good luck, we left the words "Wishing for a baby boy and making us happily after".I thought the God heard our wishes, we found the right girl for egg donation. We trusted this team so much, so we didn't take long time to make decision on each step and also believe in Stork Fertility Center would help us pick the best option. For example, there was quality issue on my sperm, after reviewing my physical checkup. Therefore, they suggested the best way for us is using fresh sperm instead frozen sperm to get the good blastocyst. The only thing I needed to do was an extra trip to Taiwan. Everything went so well and showed all suggestions Stork Fertility Center made were so right. We got many good blastocysts. Also we took their advice to transfer one blastocyst that professional team chosen. After transferring, we went back to Hong-Kong waiting and waited for good news.
We really appreciate all the assistant from Stork Fertility Center. Without their support, we wouldn’t have such hopeful treatment on IVF.Eventually, we would like to tell our anonymous egg donator: “Thank you so much for everything. What you did was so meaningful for us. Your sweet heart made our wishes come true and also gave us a completed family. We wish you live happily ever and after.”
[Patient Testimonial] The Most Important Choice in My Life
9/18/2018 06:45:00 PM
I am a woman who has gotten primary ovarian insufficiency, so I stopped having a menstrual cycle since I was in high school. I have to take pills to make my menstrual cycle regular. Thus, I started my infertility treatment immediately after I got married. However, I did not get any oocyte that could be used for my IVF treatment after several times doing the OPU (Oocyte pick-up) surgeries. After all of these treatments, I decided to do IVA (In Vitro Follicle Activation) test to know how many oocytes that I still have. The final test result is that I do not have any oocyte or follicle in my ovarian, and it also means that I don’t have any opportunity to use my own egg having a baby. Therefore, using an oocytes bank is my new hope to have a baby.
At first, we did some research online. My husband and I only found information on oocytes bank in the U.S., but price of these treatments were way too high than we originally expected. In the same time, my original clinic in Japan recommended us to go fertility center in Taiwan. After couple days discussion, my husband and me realize that we could do the oocyte bank in Taiwan, and the price of oocyte bank in Taiwan is more affordable than if we go to the U.S.. Also, the distance from Japan to Taiwan is much closer than from Japan to The U.S.. My original clinic in Japan introduced us to two fertility centers in Taiwan. At First, my husband and I had hard time to make a choice for these two fertility centers in Taiwan, so we e-mailed both of them in the same time. These two fertility centers were replied our question kindly and quickly. Eventually, we choose Stork Fertility Center because most Taiwanese to go here to do IVF or do oocyte bank. Even though another fertility center is more famous in Japan and we can find a lot of information online, we still believe that only local people know these fertility centers better than foreigners like us who from Japan.
In the beginning of September, we went to Stork fertility center first time. We took bus from Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport to High Speed Railway Taoyuan station for 15 minis, and we spend another 10 minis for taking High Speed Railway from Taoyuan to Hsinchu. The last step is that Taking a Taxi from High Speed Railway Hsinchu station to Stork fertility center for 15 minis. When we arrived stork fertility center, and we saw a giant and elegant building in front of our face. If people do not know this building is a fertility center, people may think this building is an art museum. This how amazing that building is. Also, their staffs open the door for you, when you into lobby. I never see any clinic has this kind of service which is like you check in to a hotel.
Finally, we saw the person who was kept sending email with me is our Japanese consulter, Celine. She is a woman who looks very kind and outstanding. She helped us to figure out how to arrange some instruments of law for applying to the oocyte bank, and went to bank to exchange money. The most important thing is that stork fertility center will pay all of the taxi fees for their customers. Also, we have to exchange a large amount of money. It really makes feel safer and sweet that Celine can go to the bank with us. Especially, she found a bank which had a better exchange rate for Japanese to Taiwan currency. When we finished all of paper work for some instruments of law, we still had couple hours waiting for our first visit with deputy superintendentsur. Thus, Celine asked us if we want to have a dinner first, then she print out a map to us, and recommend us a famous local restaurant. Although this restaurant can’t speak Japanese, it still was a great experience to have such tasty food and experience Taiwanese culture.
The deputy superintendent in Stork fertility center can’t speak Japanese, but the first visit with deputy superintendent still was great because Japanese consulter will help translate very thing what deputy superintendent said to us. The Deputy superintendent patiently answer our questions and told to my husband and I that “ I think you will have your baby this year”. This sentence really cheers me up a lot, and helps me use a positive attitude to face the unknown future. Moreover, I noticed that the equipment are better and newer than Japan clinic during the tests. After these tests, we told our conditions to Japanese consulter because under reproductive law in Taiwan, oocyte receiver can’t know how oocyte donor look or any information of this oocyte donor.
When we got all of paper work and tests done, and there were a lot of Taiwanese patients in the waiting area. I recognized that no matter what country you go, there are always a lot of people who have infertility problems. Also, we make sure that the Stork fertility center is very famous and popular in Taiwan. Before we left Stork fertility center, my husband and I went to visit their room which is for foreigners. It is very clean and cozy, just like a deluxe hotel. It’s price for one night also a little bit high as well. Stork fertility center also help us to find a taxi to go Hsinchu train station, and we do not have to pay any fee for this ride.
After we back to Japan one month later, we received a message that they found a oocyte donor from Stork fertility center. However, this donor is not too fit with our expectation, so we decided do a one more round for pair up a new donor. Two weeks later, they found another donor for us, and my husband and I agreed with this donor. Therefore, this all pair process only took around one and half month. This is much faster than I thought. In the end of November, oocyte donor complete OPU (Oocyte pick-up) surgery. During this time, Celine kept updating every single detail of that oocyte bank process. Sometimes, I asked something is not that relate to this oocyte bank, Celine still answered my question very soon and accurate.
The Day Came that I do BT(Blastocyst Transfer). The Deputy Superintendent showed me the photo of that blastocyst before we start to do that surgery,and He told me that the process of thaw blastocyst is good. A minute later, Deputy Superintendent said this BT(Blastocyst Transfer) is going very well, and I still can’t believe that how soon that deputy Deputy Superintendent complete this surgery. Then they moved me to a quiet room for recover, and the staff also prepare a meal as my lunch. It really makes me feel warm and sweet. Two later, I did the blood test in Japan clinic told me that you are pregnant. From the first visit to I'm pregnant, my husband and me only spend four months. I would never believe everything will be that easy to happen.
After 10 months and 10 days, I have my own child, and my family. Even though I took a lot of convoluted path before I want to Stork fertility center, I hug my lovely daughter now. Before I see my daughter, I was worried about my daughter is not look like me. If she is not look like me, do I still love her without any question? However, I see my daughter at first sight. I know these worries are not necessary. I certainly sure I will love her, my daughter forever. Thanks so much to Stork Fertility center for bringing this amazing happiness to me, and also thanks Celine who is our Japanese consulter during this time. Choosing Stork fertility center is the most important choice in my life, and it is the most correct one as well.
Female Premature ovarian failure
9/03/2018 01:30:00 AM
Modern people
have the phenomenon of late marriages and late child-birth. For a woman, the
age is the biggest factor affecting fertility. The older women are, the poorer
oocytes quality they have. Not only the fertilization rate, blastocyst
implantation rate, pregnancy rate, but also even if they are pregnant, their
abortion rate, fetal chromosomal abnormality rate, risk of delivery, are higher
than younger women. Through medical tests and
examinations, we can know our ovarian function in advance, and let women who
are on the journey of having babies to know their own natural conception rate.
Is
there any way to know if our ovary is aging and how do we know if our ovarian
function is aging?
There are several ways of testing and
examining in medicine science that can be predicted in advance.
Below are some ways of evaluating the
ovarian function:
Follicle-Stimulating Hormone, FSH
FSH is a
gonadotropin, a glycoprotein polypeptide hormone. It is synthesized and
secreted by the gonadotropic cells of the anterior pituitary gland, and
regulates the development, growth, pubertal maturation, and reproductive
processes of the body.
Reference
1. Having the blood test on the first day to third day of our period, and it can be used as an indicator to evaluate the "ovarian reserve".
2. This indicator has great
variability, and it is recommended to continuously evaluate 2~3 cycles for
reference.
3.
The reference of values is reduced
for who have the ovarian surgery or endometriosis .
However, 75% of women's ovarian reserve has declined, and this hormone is still within the normal range.
Once it is detected that this hormone has risen, it is usually too late.
Anti-Mullerian Hormone, AMH
AMH is expressed by granulosa cells of the ovary during the reproductive years. It declines with age and oocytes. Due to its high sensitivity, stability and low volatility, it has become the most important indicator for assessing the ovarian reserve.
Reference
1. As the age increases or ovarian reserve begins to decline, AMH will become lower and lower.
2. It is low volatility that we can have
the blood test in any day.
3. Combining with FSH
and AFC allows, it's more accurate for assessing the ovarian reserve.
4. On average, AMH has declined to 50% when women aged
from 30 to 37. However, FSH has only slightly increased. (AMH sensitivity is
better than FSH)
5. AMH is associated with the number of retrieval
oocytes, fertilization rate, blastocyst quality, pregnancy rate, and abortion
rate when doing In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Inhibin B,
Inhibin B is a sensitive marker of ovarian follicle
development and produced by granulosa cells in the ovary, is a heterodimeric
glycoprotein suppressing synthesis and secretion of the follicle stimulating
hormone (FSH). If the inhibin B on the third day of the period is less than 45
(pg/ml), it means that the ovary may not well respond to ovulation drugs. This
hormone has great variability in the period, and it is recommended to evaluate
on the second day to the third day of menstruation.
Antral
Follicle Counts, AFC
At birth, a female fetus has 1 to 2 million immature
eggs called oocytes inside her ovaries, which are all the eggs she will ever
produce. By the time a girl enters puberty, about 200,000 of these eggs remain.
Approximately 300 to 400 of the remaining eggs will be ovulated during a
woman's reproductive lifetime.There is quantitative eggs are
screened out in every cycle, but when it is ovulating, only one egg will win,
and the other eggs will automatically apoptosis. Therefore, when the menstrual cycle comes, the number
of follicles in the ovary can be checked by the transvaginal ultrasound. If the
total amount of follicles on both sides is less than 4, it means that the
amount of ovarian reserve is not much, which can be clinically correlates with AMH.
However, don't just trust the clinical values, because these indicators or the results of the test only present the status of the current ovarian function, rather than predicting the outcome of pregnancy. As long as we grasp the prime time of pregnancy and do not give up easily, I believe that the happiness in the future will not be too far away.



