Blastocyst transfer- Dr Akash Sharma

What do you mean by blastocyst transfer?

During IVF process, embryos are kept outside the body in a laboratory environment to allow them to develop further. After five or six days, these grown up embryos are known as Blastocysts. When embryos are converted into blastocyst stage, it is the best time when they can be selected to be implanted into the womb of the prospective mother.

But before that’s done, embryos are cultured in an incubator in a laboratory environment. These cultured embryos are suitable for transfer into the womb. However, as each of the blastocyst can develop into a child, only one or two Blastocysts are selected for implantation.

Pregnancy shall only be successful if these implanted Blastocysts attach themselves to the wall of womb. And this implantation process is known as blastocyst transfer.

Is blastocyst transfer suitable for me?

Blastocyst transfer is suitable for fertile women, who are young, produces good quality eggs and have a reasonably good pregnancy expectation. But due to some problem embryos stop development in womb. By blastocyst transfer, chances of embryo development improve greatly.

However in situation of below normal egg evolution, blastocyst procedure may not be suggested by the embryologist.

How does the process of blastocyst transfer works?

Process of blastocyst transfer is not much different from normal embryo transfer of IVF. In both cases, either embryo or blastocyst is placed into the womb to let it grow into the natural environment. But the difference is the timing of placement in context to growth of the embryo. Normal embryo placement of IVF is done on the second or third day after fertilization, whereas Blastocysts are transferred after five or six days of development.

What are the risks associated with the blastocyst transfer?

No major setbacks are reported with blastocyst transfer. However nothing comes without an exception. There are two main risks or setbacks attached.

Firstly, there is a possibility that even after the incubation embryo doesn’t develops into the Blastocysts. Embryos sometimes stop developing after day two, reaching four cell stages. So process of blastocyst transfer can’t be accomplished.

Another setback is the risk of multiple births. As discussed earlier, every blastocyst is a potential child. To increase chances of pregnancy, doctors transfer two or three Blastocysts. This may result in twins or triplets.

Dr Akash Sharma is a reputed embryologist in Delhi. Please visit www.drakashsharma.com .