Lab incubator

Blastocyst transfer

What is a blastocyst transfer?

Blastocysts are embryos cultured in the laboratory for 5 or 6 days rather than the usual 2 or 3 days as in traditional IVF. A vital advantage is gained by allowing embryos to continue to this stage of development before embryo transfer, as it is a natural selection process, and shows us which embryos are the strongest and have the best chances of succeeding.

Also, in natural conception, the embryo fertilises in the Fallopian tube and does not arrive in the womb until the blastocyst stage. Hence a blastocyst transfer may be more ‘synchronised’ with the woman’s natural cycle. Blastocyst transfers correlate with higher implantation rates.

Blastocyst transfers are included in our IVF and ICSI Complete packages if medically appropriate.

Blastocyst transfers are more likely to achieve a pregnancy

Patients at Complete Fertility are offered a blastocyst transfer as part of their IVF or ICSI Complete package if medically appropriate.

Packages with blastocyst transfer included

At Complete Fertility our fees include a blastocyst transfer if medically appropriate, in our IVF and ICSI Complete packages, Frozen embryo transfer and egg thawing packages.

Is blastocyst transfer for me?

Blastocyst culture is particularly useful for younger women with a good prognosis for pregnancy from in vitro fertilisation (IVF).

Your doctor may also suggest you try blastocyst transfer if you have produced good quality embryos in a previous IVF cycle but they failed to implant in the womb.

What are the risks of blastocyst transfer?

Not all embryos will develop to produce blastocysts in the laboratory. Embryos can stop developing and progress no further. The embryologist may advise your consultant that in your case it is safer to consider a day two or three embryo transfer than risk having no blastocyst to transfer on day five or six.

Find out more

To find out more about blastocyst transfers please contact us or book an appointment at Complete Fertility Centre.