By Dr. Arnold Mahesan
Fertility SpecialistBeverly Hills Babies
Dr. Arnold Mahesan is a board-certified fertility specialist with extensive experience in IVF, fertility treatment, and gestational surrogacy. He is committed to helping intended parents navigate their journey with personalized care and expert guidance
The number of embryos you should aim to create depends on your desired family size and the embryos themselves. One embryo may result in a child, but one embryo is not a guarantee of one child. If you want siblings, or embryos from both partners, the planning needs to account for each goal separately.
I begin with the family you hope to build rather than choosing an embryo target before we know what it is intended to achieve.
1. Count embryos after development
A donor’s egg count is an early milestone. It does not tell us how many embryos will ultimately be available. Eggs must be mature, fertilize and develop sufficiently for the intended use. If genetic testing is chosen, those findings may change the transfer options further.
Promises based on an expected retrieval yield should therefore be treated cautiously. You can plan around a likely range of outcomes, but the actual embryology report determines the next discussion.
2. Consider the quality of the information
An embryo count needs context. We review development, age of the egg source, laboratory history and any genetic-testing results. An untested embryo, a euploid result and a result requiring additional counseling should not be treated as identical entries in a freezer inventory.
Genetic testing can assist particular decisions, but it cannot guarantee that an embryo will produce a live birth. The reserve needs to allow for uncertainty even when the reports look favorable.
3. Plan separately for each father’s embryos
For couples using sperm from both partners, think of two related planning questions. Are there enough embryos from the first partner for his intended goal? Are there enough from the second?
A large total can hide a small reserve in one group. For example, having several embryos overall may provide limited options for a second genetically related child if most belong to the other partner’s group. That possibility should be discussed before deciding whether another retrieval is appropriate.
4. Preserve options for a future sibling
If using the same donor matters to you, creating and storing embryos early can preserve options that may be difficult to recreate later. The donor may not be available for another cycle, and a repeat retrieval may produce a different result.
This does not mean every family needs the largest possible reserve. Additional treatment brings financial and medical burdens. The decision depends on your goals, existing embryos and willingness to return for treatment if needed.
5. Ask for a plan rather than a promise
A useful embryo-planning conversation should explain the target, the assumptions behind it and what you would do if the result falls short. It should also distinguish embryos banked for future transfers from embryos transferred at the same time.
Contact Fathers First™ to discuss an embryo strategy for one child, future siblings or a family with a genetic contribution from each father.
