Embryo transfer at cleavage or blastocyst stage

Neil Johnson

In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is fertilisation (egg and sperm creating an embryo) in a laboratory, usually in a “test tube”. With standard IVF, embryos are transferred into the woman’s uterus two to three days after fertilisation (at the cleavage stage). An alternative technique delays transferral until five to six days after fertilisation (at the blastocyst stage). This may be better timing and allow selection of more viable embryos. The review of trials found no evidence that more women will become pregnant or have a baby with blastocyst transfer than with standard IVF. However, blastocyst transfer was associated with an increase in failure to transfer any embryos in a cycle, and a decrease in the number of embryos available for freezing.

To read the full Cochrane Review, please click on the Link

To go back to Infertility, please click here