Virginia Center for Reproductive Medicine | Fady I. Sharara MD, FAOG | Galal Abdo PhD, HCLD
Meet Us Patient Information Lab Services Other Services Fertility Egg Donor IVF

Blastocyst Culture and Transfer

Multiple recent studies confirm that blastocyst transfers (BT) on day 5 have essentially equivalent or better pregnancy rates when compared to embryo transfers on day 3. This occurs despite the fact that significantly fewer embryos are replaced on day 5 to maintain these pregnancy rates. Normally, 3-4 embryos will be replaced on a day 3 transfer compared to typically only 2 blastocyts replaced on a day 5 transfer. Blastocyst culture and transfer offers a way to eliminate high order multiple gestations (such as triplets or more), while maintaining high clinical pregnancy rates.

What is a blastocyst?

A blastocyst is an embryo that is approximately 5 days old following fertilization. A blastocyst contains around 100 cells that are formed into 2 distinct types, the inner cell mass (that goes on to make the baby), and the surface cells called the trophectoderm (that goes on to form the placenta). The trophectoderm surrounds a central cavity called the blastocele. A blastocyst hatches from the Zona Pellucida (the egg shell) around day 6, and begins the complex process of implantation over the next 24 hours or so. We grade each blastocyst based on its total number of cells, the size and shape of its inner cell mass, and the size and shape of the trophectoderm.

Are you a candidate?

Candidates for a blastocyst transfer (BT) typically are younger women who produce a large number of good eggs. Potential candidates include those women having at least 4 high quality embryos on day 3 (usually at least 4 8-cell embryos with grades A or AB. Other candidates include those patients in which a multiple pregnancy is medically contraindicated (such as those with a uterine malformation, or women with certain systemic diseases).

In this section...


Maryland IVF Mandate
IVF Treatment Cycle
Refund Plan
Testing Outline
Understanding Stats
Multiple Births
Monozygotic Twins
IVF Answers
Effects of Alcohol
SCSA
Blastocyst Culture
ART Success Rates
Embryology Atlas
FET Success Rates
PGD

100% Guarantee


We will refund your fees if IVF/Donor Egg treatments are not effective.
Restrictions apply.

Contact Us


Call us! 703.437.7722
info@vcrmed.com
Map / Driving Directions

Virginia Center for Reproductive Medicine • 11150 Sunset Hills Rd, Suite 100 • Reston, VA 20190 • phone: 703-437-7722