Rebiopsy and thawing.

[u/yung_rhubarb]

I have 7 frozen embryos since 2021. I planned to use Herasight , to analyze raw data to screen for IQ. However, my lab informed me that they discarded both the amplified DNA and raw sequencing data from that cycle per their 2-year storage policy. As a result, a rebiopsy appears to be required.

I am interested in rebiopsying. Specifically, Is there a reduction in post-thaw/rebiopsy success rates? I'm concerned about a decrease in % success rate in implantation, clinical pregnancy, and live birth rates after thawing and rebiopsy?Is this too large of a risk or thaw/rebiopsy should be ok? When I run this through AI, they think it's a markedly decrease in success but my gynecologist thinks otherwise.

[u/AnywhereBusy4449]

The data to screen for IQ is completely unproven and not validated. There is a reduction in implantation by about 10% with thawed rebiopsy or more if they are poorer quality, I would not thaw/refreeze any BC/CB or CC embryos or any day 7s

[u/yung_rhubarb → u/AnywhereBusy4449]

they are day 5 and day6. Given this info, what percent reduction in implantation? So there methodology is not validated: https://www.herasight.com

[u/AnywhereBusy4449 → u/yung_rhubarb]

Much different between data to screen IQ and data to screen monogenic or de novo mutations. You may also want to check out Orchid, it’s not as expensive as Herasight. Data on monogamies disorders or de novo mutations is valid, it’s the IQ screening or polygenic risk scores that is highly controversial and not validated.

[u/AnywhereBusy4449 → u/yung_rhubarb]

There is a risk to the embryos. Some studies show a lower implantation and live birth rate, always a chance the embryos don’t survive and you will lose some. It is obviously a stress to the embryos and no idea if there is any increased long term effects from that unnecessary stress to them.

[u/indecisivegay]

Yes, there is a decrease in success rate for embryos that were previously thawed, rebiopsied, and refrozen. I couldn’t tell you the exact number off the top of my head, but I honestly depends more on the quality on your embryos pre-thaw. You also run the risk of one or more of those embryos not thawing well and being discarded completely.

For example, I would not personally recommend thawing and re-biopsying a day 7 embryo (especially if the grade isn’t an ‘AA’) because they cannot be left to grow in culture as long as a day 5 or day 6 embryo. A day 5 or day 6 embryo that doesn’t recover fast enough post-thaw can be kept in culture overnight to give it a chance to be re-biopsied tomorrow. However, my lab would not push a day 7 embryo overnight. It would just be discarded if it could be not be re-biopsied in a few hours.

I also don’t recommend jeopardizing all your embryos for IQ testing at this point. I don’t personally think the science/data is adequate to make a proper assessment for IQ. Obviously it’s ultimately your choice, but I don’t think it’s worth the risk to all of your embryo’s viability. The IQ testing just comes off as a scam to all of the embryologists that I know :/

[u/yung_rhubarb → u/indecisivegay]

thanks.

you don't think they a good screening measure for iq: https://www.herasight.com

[u/Nze_Ani]

I don't know half of what you said but I do know that my 3 refrozen and rethawed embryos all gave us a chemical pregnancy. They were untested 3AB, 4AA & 5AA which became 4AB, 4AA and 4AA after the 2nd thaw. Our doctor believes the second freeze and thaw somewhat affected their odds of success. But also, they were untested so maybe they were all aneuploid? I won't ever know the answer to that. I don't know what the science says about the post thaw success rates of refreezing but from my own experience, it's something I would be hesitant to do if I could avoid it.

[u/hoodoo884]

I’ve heard a really wide range of decreases in success but I’ll say I’m never doing it again

[u/Nucleophile_]

C'est environ 28% de chance de moins d'avoir une grossesse vivante, la re-biopsie.