Blastocyst culture

Culturing the embryos to the blastocyst stage, or Day 5 after egg retrieval, may be recommended for patients that have at least 8 fertilized oocytes on the first day after retrieval.

The decision to culture embryos to Day 5 is based on the development of the embryos and the patients individual treatment history. Since blastocysts have have higher implantation and pregnancy rates, fewer are usually transferred back to the patient on day 3.

Culturing embryos to Day 5 may not always be beneficial as some patients may not have embryos that survive until the transfer.

In fact, in some patients, the chance of pregnancy is higher, when embryos are transferred on the day after egg retrieval. 

We carefully select the day of the transfer taking into account patient's complete history.