PGD illegal in my country - can I have frozen embyos transported and tested overseas

[Tsmi]

Mum to 3 boys via IVF. Just started looking at options if we decide to have fourth child. We would love a daughter. We have 4 frozen embryos. Gender selection illegal in my country. Can I transport embryos for testing overseas, then have female embryos only transported back for transfer?

[glory]

Depending on the country (or even state) yes you can, you would have to check with your clinic their policy on transport and receiving embryos. In Australia I can ship out my embryos from Western Australia, but from New South Wales I can't.

We have found that every time this has happened, there has been no success, so keep that in mind, this could be for many reasons but main one is culture type if the different country uses another one, then the embryos will not fare well.

Also in your case you would have to ship, thaw, biopsy, then refreeze and re ship, I don't think this would be either a cost effective process and more than likely would be unsuccessful. Re freezing is not generally recommended.

Your best bet is to either do a cycle overseas, transport your embryos overseas and do a fresh transfer there, or transport your embryos plus do a fresh cycle and batch all embryos together for testing.

[Tsmi]

Thanks glory for your message - yes, I should have remembered about re-freezing not ideal. Am at the beginning of my quest to find out as much info as I can before we decide whether to go ahead. Thanks again :)

[nuthinbutpink]

Are they day 5 blasts? Why couldn't she thaw and have a day 5 biopsy/day 6 transfer? No re-freezing?

[Tsmi]

Hi nuthinbutpink, thanks for comment. yes they are 5 day embies. I initially wondered if the embryos could be sent away for gender testing and then back to New Zealand for transfer but refreezing not ideal so would probably have to travel to overseas clinic for day 6 transfer as you state.
Hmmmm the more I learn the more questions I have! I wanted to send my embryos for testing to see if any were female but realise now I would have to travel also so they can do immediate transfer - but if no females waste of a trip?!

Thailand or US????

[nuthinbutpink]

I guess I woud speak with both and ask if the embryologists think there would be an issue with the embryo culture media, thawing, etc. Yes, you would have to travel. If you become a Dream Member, a consult with Dr Potter at HRC is free when you book it through the site- there is a link to do so in the Member section. You could contact SART and see if they have that capability. I know Dr. Potter does. He is in California.

[Tsmi]

Thanks for your advice nuthinbutpink - much appreciated :)

[Tsmi]

Are there any other recommended clinics in US - is Dr Potter and his clinic the founder of this website...HRC seems to be only clinic mentioned but have heard many others do gender selection? I have 3 boys via IVF. Is it likely my IVF doctor in New Zealand would offer info on gender selection given it is illegal here? Should I meet with him to discuss my plans to travel abroad for PGD. I would like to know if I can cycle here in NZ and have EC abroad if I need to do another cycle (if current 4 frozen 5 day embies not viable) - not sure if I can discuss with him or whether I am breaching ethics etc by doin so?)

[Tsmi]

PS. Have become a dream member and am enjoying reading many posts/threads :)

[Tsmi]

If I book consult with Dr Potter is there any specific info he would require i.e should I find out what type of culture current embryos are in? Should I prepare list of questions or is it just a general chat to discuss options?

[glory]

Are there any other recommended clinics in US - is Dr Potter and his clinic the founder of this website...HRC seems to be only clinic mentioned but have heard many others do gender selection? I have 3 boys via IVF. Is it likely my IVF doctor in New Zealand would offer info on gender selection given it is illegal here? Should I meet with him to discuss my plans to travel abroad for PGD. I would like to know if I can cycle here in NZ and have EC abroad if I need to do another cycle (if current 4 frozen 5 day embies not viable) - not sure if I can discuss with him or whether I am breaching ethics etc by doin so?)

Hi there, Dr P does not have any affiliation with this site, other than he will answer questions in his forum ask the doctor. The owner of the site does not take money from Dr P. He is used a lot for people going to the US from overseas because they offer a lot of gender selection and cater for the travelling person.

As you would know IVF is very dependent on tests and monitoring and being from overseas it is possible with a clinic like HRC to do all your monitoring in your country and fly over just before trigger. There are other clinics, but if you got pregnant easily 3x with IVF I would go there. If you had very hard IVF's in that it took a long time with lots of issues, maybe you could go to a more specialist clinic.

Your doctor would likely say no to any gender selection. What some doctors will do is if you do the PGD they may allow you to put back your desired sex first. With the frozen ones you can transport them to HRC and have them tested but the cost of this, most doing this that don't want to leave their embryos take them, plus do a cycle and batch them all together.

You can always ask your doctor, different countries and even states have different laws and different doctors have different opinions.

[nuthinbutpink]

There are over 150 clinics in the US that offer GS. There are several in both NY and California. If they were day 3 embryos, anyone could test them.

Since they are day 5 embryos, it makes it more difficult. Consulting with a doctor to ask them is my best advice. I know Dr Potter can do day 5 biopsy/day 6 transfer and you wouldn't have to pay for a consult so I suggested you start there. Once you get some information about what is possible, you'll know if you have to start over with an entire new cycle or if you can start with testing the 5 you have.

You can book a consult through the HT member section. Maybe a phone call to SART could accomplish the same thing.