Loss of frozen embryos - is it normal?

[SunFlower2010]

We had three 5-days embryos frozen a year ago (at that time I was one month away from being 38 y.o). Two of the embryos were a high quality (grade AA and AB) and the third one was a lower quality (BC). Our RE was reassuring us that at least two embryos should survive when thawing. This week we were doing FET but were unpleasantly surprised right before the procedure that only one embryo (the BC grade) survived. Two other embryos didn't make it.

My question is: is it a standard outcome that only 1 out of 3 embryos survive? The clinic we are doing it at vigorously advertises its Single Embryo Transfer Program encouraging only transferring one fresh embryo and freezing all remaining embryos for the future transfer.  After such a disappointing result as having only 1 out of 3 embryos surviving after thawing, this tendency seems very strange to us.

Did anything similar happen to anybody? Please share!

[mhv]

I think sometimes it has to do with the experience (for a lack of a better word) of the lab.  I believe embryologist are not all created equal, and that different clinics have different success rates because of it.  Of course, it has to do with the doctor too, and when/how they harvest the eggs.  
Have you looked at your clinics SART success rates?  
This whole process is maddening isn't it?  I had an RE tell me that my embryos, frozen on day 2, weren't my problem, but my uterus was.  Funny, had them transferred to a new RE, and out of 7 embryo's none made it to blast on day 5 after being thawed.... but the the RE was soooo quick to throw ME under the bus!!!

[SunFlower2010]

Thank you very much for your reply, Kris. I am sorry to hear that it didn't work for you this time. I know how devastating it is when you receive such news. I am so puzzled why doctors still prefer to transfer just few embryos in the fresh cycle when they know quite well that frozen embryos have much less chance to work. My embryos were grade AA and AB - if the doctor put more on the fresh cycle, they'd have more chance to work! I think they do it on purpose, to make more money from their patients.
I hope you are strong enough to try it again. And hope that it will work for you next time! good luck!

[kris71]

i just had a failed FET but i had 4 blastocysts frozen (day 5 and day 6) . Dr kept reassuring me that 3 out of 4 would survive. Only 2 survived. the other 2 were still alive but he showed me what they looked like and they looked awful so he did not advise i transfer those. I was devastated but my grading was BB i believe BUT in my fresh cycle i had 2 AB day 5 blasts transferred. 1 took but ended in m/c due to chromosome abnormality so the grading system to me means nothing and even my dr said it was a flawe. Hopefully that 1 blast that you put in will take. Good luck to you!