The 5-6 day old human embryo is called a blastocyst. Normally, 2-3 day old embryos have not yet completed their journey from the fallopian tube to the uterus. On approximately the sixth day, the embryo begins to attach to the uterine wall.Blastocyst transfer is also performed to make the pregnancy process as close to natural …
The 5-6 day old human embryo is called a blastocyst. Normally, 2-3 day old embryos have not yet completed their journey from the fallopian tube to the uterus. On approximately the sixth day, the embryo begins to attach to the uterine wall.
Blastocyst transfer is also performed to make the pregnancy process as close to natural pregnancy as possible. In this way, the chance of pregnancy increases even more. When the embryo is at the blastocyst level, the cells inside it begin to divide and multiply rapidly. There are approximately 120 cells in the embryo during the blastocyst stage.
A few days after the transfer, the protective layer called zona pellucida around the embryo disappears and then the process of attaching to the uterine tissue begins. In our country, a maximum of 2 blastocyst transfers can be performed at the same time.
This also prevents the risk of multiple pregnancy. A maximum of two embryo transfers allows couples who have questions about in vitro fertilization and multiple pregnancy to look more favorably on the treatment.
Advantages of Blastocyst Transfer
Blastocyst transfer is a much easier procedure. In cases where the embryo is transferred on the third day, it must be left in the fallopian tube. However, in blastocyst transfer, the embryo is directly placed in the uterus. However, the chance of pregnancy is much higher.
Another important advantage of blastocyst transfer is that genetic tests in implantations performed during this period provide much more consistent and accurate results. In this way, higher quality embryos are transferred and at the same time, the baby can start his life in a healthy way.
In some cases, the development of transferred two or three-day embryos stops as of the fifth day. This causes the in vitro fertilization treatment to fail. However, there is no such risk in blastocyst treatment.
Disadvantages of Blastocyst Transfer
The biggest risk of blastocyst transfer is that none of the eggs fertilized in the laboratory reach this period. In such cases, the treatment must be started again. However, it is not known whether this will happen in couples who have not had in vitro fertilization treatment before.
Embryos that remain in culture for a longer period of time sometimes become stressed and stop growing. In couples who encounter such a situation, the embryo transfer procedure is usually performed on the third day in their next attempt. Embryos that remain in culture for a shorter period of time are less stressed and can continue to develop in the uterus.
