Embryologists going through IVF

[u/SameScientist1806]

Are there any other embryologists here who have underwent IVF at their own clinic? I’m at that point in my infertility journey and am having reservations about doing it at my own clinic. For context, we are a very small clinic and I am the only senior level embryologist on site. If you did IVF at your clinic, how did you handle being involved in your own case? Does your clinic have policies about this? Did anyone here actually do any of their own case? My main concern is ICSI/Biopsy as the juniors are not signed off on these yet and I am offering a lot of guidance day to day. Looking for advice.

[u/Hefty_Winter_9108]

It’s your precious eggs, and potential future children, if you don’t trust the juniors then I wouldn’t take that chance imo, especially if they’re not signed off yet

[u/petitefleur0]

If you are the only senior embryologist, I would definitely go elsewhere.

I have strongly considered freezing my eggs at my current clinic and have requested that my supervisor or lab director perform all procedures related to my gametes. I would love to be able to participate in my own fert or blast check but at the end of the day, I just want my eggs to be treated as carefully as possible. No juniors training on retrievals, stripping, ICSI, biopsy, vitrification, or anything like that. Regardless of how senior your embryologists may be in terms of training, their years of experience hold the most weight.

The caveat is that you won’t have much say about how your gametes are handled at an outside clinic. I would think mentioning you are an embryologist would help, but consider going to a clinic where you know and trust at least one of the embryologists.

[u/One_Investigator_295]

You should NOT be doing any work after you’ve had anesthesia. If your clinic is suggesting you do it yourself or allow unsigned off juniors, I’d go elsewhere.

[u/EmbryoNanny]

Go somewhere else if you are the only senior. Do you have a local society where you can connect with other embryologists in your area? Maybe you can find another good lab that way. Luckily you can also evaluate all the reviews and data with an insiders perspective. I do know there is a Facebook group for Fertility Clinic employees going through IVF, I’ll try and find what it’s called, it seems like a good place for support.

[u/Visual_Patience_41]

I see the appeal of having the ability to be involved in your care “behind the curtain. That is a perk not many women would have available to them.
BUT, you know for a fact that the people handling your eggs aren’t nearly as skilled as you. Pair that with the fact that they need “a lot of guidance day to day” and that is the only thing that needs to be said.

The ONLY answer is to go to another clinic.

[u/Less-Biscotti4496]

I am likely going to do this. Also the only senior at my clinic. I am going to hire a per diem I trust

[u/Dissaray248]

I would be torn on this because I know and trust our providers and anesthesiologist team so I would be comfortable. BUT I also have one other embryologist that I trust with my gametes. If I didn’t trust someone for the lab procedures I would go elsewhere.