Blastocyst transfer

With blastocyst transfer, embryos remain in culture in the lab are allowed to grow until they reach the blastocyst stage of development; this generally occurs in about five or six days. This procedure is most commonly performed when a patient has many excellent quality embryos in an effort to select the embryo(s) to transfer that are most likely to result in pregnancy. A disadvantage is that occasionally, some patients will have no embryos that reach the blastocyst stage, and therefore, no embryos to transfer.

Currently, our guidelines at AFS are to recommend the option of blastocyst transfer to women who have a high risk of triplet or higher-order multiple pregnancy or to couples who have a particular medical or social concern about multiple pregnancy.