We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is a Blastocyst Transfer?

By B. Chisholm
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,276
Share

Blastocyst transfer is one of the options available in in-vitro fertilization (IVF). It involves implanting one or more blastocysts in the womb. A blastocyst is an embryo that has developed for five to six days after fertilization of the egg in an incubator in the laboratory. Blastocyst transfer may be recommended for younger women and women who have had previously tried IVF, but were unsuccessful in getting the embryos to implant in the womb.

IVF is an option for women who fail to get pregnant by conventional means due to a wide range of reasons. These can include blocked fallopian tubes, hostile cervical mucus and problems with the male sperm. There are various different options with IVF. A fertility specialist can recommend the best one according to each patient's circumstances.

Blastocyst transfer is a process that takes some time and should be closely monitored. First, the woman's natural hormonal cycle is suppressed using hormonal drugs, either by self-injection or intra-nasally, for approximately two weeks. After this, follicle-stimulating hormone is administered, again by self-injection, for about 12 days. This stimulates the production of more eggs than normal.

A day or two before the eggs are harvested, a hormone injection is administered to allow the eggs to mature. They are then removed, usually under conscious sedation, from each ovary. The eggs are then mixed with the partner or donor sperm in the laboratory and left for 16 to 20 hours for fertilization. Those that are fertilized are placed in an incubator. In the case of embryo transfer, the most viable embryo or two will be transferred into the womb two to three days later.

In the case of blastocyst transfer, this will occur only five to six days later. This may increase the chances of successful pregnancy. In an unassisted pregnancy, this is the stage at which implantation occurs in the uterine lining. There is a risk, though, that the embryos will not develop into blastocysts in the incubator. Some develop only until day two in the laboratory.

The chance of successful pregnancy with IVF differs from patient to patient, with numerous factors affecting outcome, most important of which is age. Depending on the number of blastocysts that are inserted during blastocyst transfer, there is a high incidence of multiple births with IVF. It is vital that prospective mothers discuss this with their medical practitioner before embarking on IVF by any method, be it embryo or blastocyst transfer.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-blastocyst-transfer.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.