Blastocyst Transfer
Blastocyst Transfer is included as standard in our packages to help improve your pregnancy chances.
Quick Read- Blastocyst transfer involves growing embryos in the laboratory for around five to six days until they reach a more advanced “blastocyst” stage before being transferred to the uterus.
- At this stage, embryos have differentiated into cells that will form the baby and the placenta, allowing embryologists to better assess which embryos have the highest implantation potential.
- Whether a blastocyst transfer is used depends on how embryos develop, with day 3 embryos sometimes transferred earlier if numbers are low, or cultured further if multiple embryos are progressing well.
- Continuing culture to day 5 or 6 helps identify the strongest embryos, although it may result in fewer embryos being suitable for transfer compared to earlier stages.
- This approach is part of standard IVF care at Manchester Fertility and is included within treatment packages when embryos are suitable for extended culture.
What is Blastocyst Transfer?
If you have suitable embryos, they will be cultured to blastocyst stage in our embryology laboratory at no additional charge.
Your embryo becomes a blastocyst when it has reached a very specific, advanced stage of development, where we can see the cells that will eventually form the placenta and baby.
Developing embryos to blastocyst stage involves further culture in our laboratory, to day 5, which helps us to identify which embryos which have good pregnancy potential.
Will I have a Blastocyst Transfer?
Whether you have blastocyst transfer in your IVF cycle depends on embryo development, and how many are progressing well at day 3, which is when we grade embryos.
We may either advise to transfer an embryo on day 3 or leave embryos in culture to reach blastocyst stage.
If you only have a small number of embryos, it may be evident by day 3 which is the best for transfer. We will carry out your transfer on day 3 so your embryo can continue to grow and develop in the optimum conditions of your uterus.
However, if there are several embryos on day 3, then the best way of selecting the most viable embryos is to continue to grow them in the laboratory until day 5 or day 6.
Not all day 3 embryos will keep developing until day 5 or day 6. This helps our embryologists to choose embryos with a higher implantation potential, but it does mean that you are likely to have fewer embryos on day 5 or day 6 than you had on day 3.
Understanding Embryo Growth
Day 1
The morning after egg retrieval we examine your eggs for signs of fertilisation. We need to see that the genetic material of the egg and sperm have joined together. If your eggs have fertilised, they are now known as embryos.
Day 2
We would now expect to see cell division – or cleavage - start to happen. This is when the embryo divides from a single cell to multiple cells. If you do not have many embryos, we may advise that your embryo is transferred now.
Day 3
The cells continue to divide, and the embryo starts to change shape slightly, becoming more compact. Embryo transfer may also be recommended now.
Day 4
Significant cell changes happen as the cells transform and divide rapidly as the embryo progresses through a stage called morula.
Day 5
The embryo is now a Blastocyst. Cells have begun to differentiate from each other, and two groups of cells can be made out under the microscope. Some of the cells will form the baby and others will form the placenta. Blastocyst embryos are usually transferred, or frozen for future use, on day 5.
Embryo transfer day
Embryo development in our laboratory is now complete. If your embryos have reached blastocyst stage on day 6, and are of good grades, they can be used for your treatment.
What are add-ons?
Add-ons are optional extras that you may be offered on top of your normal fertility treatment, often at an additional cost.
Some clinics may include certain add-ons with their treatment packages as standard whilst others charge separately, this add-on is included as part of your treatment, within our packages at Manchester Fertility.
Your doctor will be able to provide you the complete information and risk associated with any of these add-ons, we offer these add-ons after a full discussion with our experts and after your specific individual circumstances have been considered.
If you require more information on add-ons you can visit the HFEA website here.
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