Blastocyst Culture and Transfer What You Need to Know

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Blastocyst Culture and Transfer

What you need to Know

Caring | Compassionate | personalised What is a Blastocyst? therefore, fewer embryos will have the ability to grow to the blastocyst stage. A blastocyst is an embryo that consists of around 100 to 150 potentially, extending culture to the blastocyst stage allows cells. It is at the blastocyst stage of development (approx. selection and transfer of embryos that are more likely to five days after fertilisation) that an embryo would normally implant. those that successfully reach the blastocyst stage move out of the fallopian tube and into the uterus. once are probably more developmentally competent than earlier in the uterus, the blastocyst starts to attach to the uterine A blastocyst is an embryo that consists of around 100 to 150 Potentially,stage embryos. extending As culturewell, their to the stage blastocyst of development stage allows when lining in a process known as implantation. cells. It is at the blastocyst stage of development (five days selectionreplaced and into transfer the uterus of embryos is very that similar are more to what likely it to would be after fertilisation) that an embryo would normally move out bein genetically a natural normal; conception however, cycle. there is no guarantee of Blastocystof the fallopian t tuberansfer and into the uterus. Once in the uterus, this. Those that successfully reach the blastocyst stage are Inthe Vitro blastocyst Fertilisation starts to (IVF) attach embryos to the uterinecan be liningtransferred in a process on probablyWhat aremore the developmentally pros and cons competent of Blastocyst than earlier transfer? stage theknown second as implantation. or third day IVF following embryos eggcan beretrieval transferred when on the the embryos. As well, their stage of development when replaced embryosecond or is thirdat the day four- following to eight-cell egg retrieval stage when of development. the embryo intothe the advantage uterus is very of attempting similar to what to grow it would embryos be in a tonatural the tishe at embryosthe four- to must eight-cell continue stage to of grow development. for two or The three embryos more conceptionblastocyst cycle. stage is that they are potentially more likely to daysmust withincontinue the to laboratory grow for two to or reach three the more blastocyst days within stage, the be genetically normal and should have a greater chance beforelaboratory they to are reach ready the blastocystfor transfer stage, to the before uterus. they are ready Whatof implantation are the because pros theand stage cons of development of for transfer to the uterus. blastocystmatches the uterinetransfer? environment. the extended culture to The diagram below shows the different stages of embryo development: blastocyst stage has identified the embryos most able to The advantage of attempting to grow embryos to the implant following a single embryo transfer. DAY 1 DAY 2 blastocyst stage is that they are potentially more likely to Secondary Fertalisation Zygote Zygote 2 Cell Stage be genetically normal and should have a greater chance of Ocyte Egg Nucleus Metaphase implantation because the stage of development matches the & Sperm Nucleus uterine environment. The extended culture to blastocyst stage has identified the embryos most able to implant following a single embryo transfer.

DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 4 Cell Stage 8 Cell Stage Morula Early Blastocyst Blastocyst Implantation the disadvantage of attempting to grow embryos to the blastocyst stage is that fewer embryos will ‘survive’ or grow to this stage (probably about 30-50% of the embryos). there is a possibility (up to 10%) that none of the embryos will reach the blastocyst stage and therefore, no embryos RecentRecent advances inin IVFIVF laboratory laboratory methods methods and and culture culture media media will be available for transfer. the availability of ‘extra’ havehave allowed forfor the the successful successful culture culture of of embryos embryos to tothe the embryos for freezing is also significantly reduced. there Theis alsodisadvantage a greater of risk attempting of having to growtwins embryos if two blastocysts to the are blastocystblastocyst stage. BlastocystsBlastocysts may may have have a abetter better potential potential to to blastocysttransferred. stage t isherefore that fewer you embryos need to will discuss ‘survive’ how or grow many implantimplant intointo thethe uterineuterine wall wall than than earlier earlier stage stage embryos. embryos. Many Many embryos stop growing at the four- to eight-cell stage, probably toembryos this stage to (probably safely transfer about 30 with - 50% your of the specialist. embryos). embryos stop growing at the four- to eight-cell stage, probably because of an inherent problem. Any genetically abnormal There is a possibility (up to 10%) that none will reach the because of an inherent problem. There is now evidence from embryos usually fail to develop past the eight-cell stage. blastocyst stage and therefore, no embryos will be available research studies that suggests: although embryos may have for transfer. The availability of ‘extra’ embryos for freezing is a normal appearance, up to 60% may be chromosomally also significantly reduced. There is also a greater risk of having abnormal. These genetically abnormal embryos usually twins if two blastocysts are transferred, plus an increased risk fail to develop past the eight-cell stage. Therefore, fewer of identical twins. Therefore you need to discuss how many embryos will have the ability to grow to the blastocyst stage. embryos to safely transfer with your fertility specialist. There is an additional fee for blastocyst transfer. Who is eligible for Blastocyst transfer?

Blastocyst culture may not be recommended for every couple. Couples who have had repeated, unsuccessful attempts with IVF or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) (despite having many good-quality embryos in appearance replaced to the uterus on day two or three after egg retrieval) may be offered blastocyst culture as an alternative treatment. Women 40 years of age or older may also consider blastocyst transfer.

Early Blastocyst

Where to now?

I want more I have Blastocyst as part of my information treatment plan

• Contact our Fertility • Book an appointment with our clinic to Advice Team speak to a scientist • Call one of our friendly patient services staff for information regarding the cost associated with this procedure

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