BLASTOCYST CULTURES - BLASTOCYST TRANSFER

Embryos are usually transferred back to the uterus 3 days after egg retrieval when they are at the 8 cell stage of development.

The term ‘blastocyst’ refers to the stage of embryo development when the embryo consists of 100 cells – usually reached after 5 days after retrieval. By waiting until day 5, we have the ability to observe the embryos for several more days- and transfer back to the uterus those embryos which appear to be healthiest.

The downside to blastocyst cultures is that in some cases the woman’s uterus would be a better incubator than the laboratory incubator – which may cause some pregnancies to be lost. Blastocyst transfer is usually recommended for woman with a high number of embryos so that one can select the best embryos for transfer and avoid the risk of multiple births.