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Is a day 5 embryo transfer (blastocyst transfer) better than a day 3 embryo transfer (cleavage stage embryo transfer).

Fact : Yes, this is true, if you have lots of embryos and you are taking treatment in a good IVF lab. This is because growing embryos to Day 5 allows us to select the best embryos. By allowing the embryos to compete amongst themselves, we can choose the ones which have the highest potential to implant. However, if you have only a few embryos, then matters become more complex.

When blastocyst transfer was introduced a decade back , there was a lot of hype surrounding it. It is of course amazing to watch a human embryo grow into a blastocyst in vitro ; and it is very reassuring to know that the cell culture media and laboratory culture conditions in the IVF lab have improved so much that we can routinely grow embryos to Day 5.

The Claims 

A few IVF centres initially claimed that pregnancy rate increased tremendously with blastocyst transfer when compared to cleavage stage embryo transfer. One such example is this paper (PMID:10856474) from the very famous CCRM in which they claimed a 70 % implantation rate (with heart tone) with the transfer of two good quality blastocysts.

But as time went on and when enough clinical evidence accumulated based on several Randomised Clinical Trials (RCTs) , it became clear that as usual overenthusiastic researchers have made a mountain out of a molehill !

The Process

Before going into the details, here is a brief summary about human embryo development:

  • A human embryo starts its development as a zygote. A zygote is the initial cell which is formed when an egg and a sperm fuse with each other
  • It carries the genetic material from both the parents
  • Approximately at around 30 hours after fertilization a zygote divides into two cells and the cells are called blastomeres
  • On the third day of fertilization a zygote usually contains 8 blastomeres
  • A cleavage stage embryo transfer is usually performed at this stage
  • The zygote further divides and at around day 5 of fertilization it contains around 70-100 cells
  • From this time onwards a zygote is called a blastocyst. The blastocyst contains an inner cell mass (ICM) which subsequently forms the embryo and an outer layer of cells called trophoblast which develops into the placenta.
  • The meeting of egg and the sperm takes place in the fallopian tube and the embryo thus formed resides in the fallopian tube for upto 4 days
  • The gentle contractions of the fallopian tube pushes the embryo towards the uterus and the embryo reaches the uterus usually at around day 4-5 of fertilization; that is in the blastocyst stage.

If an embryo reaches the uterus when it is a blastocyst , then it is logical to transfer the embryo produced in vitro back to the uterus during the same time period , so that the synchrony between the endometrium and the embryo is not lost. 

Some Questions 

Many embryos arrest during the initial developmental stages:

  • If this is the case , then doesn't doing a blastocyst transfer ensures that you transfer only embryos which are viable enough to develop into a baby when compared to cleavage stage embryo transfer?
  • Won't better embryo selection improve pregnancy rates? All these logical questions led to the development and propagation of blastocyst transfer with great expectations.
It was assumed ( quite logically !) that a blastocyst transfer will lead to an improvement in IVF pregnancy rates.  And it will, provided there are enough embryos, and the lab is good at growing blastocysts !

Read more- IVF success rates , blastocyst transfer , and simplifying IVF

  • The risk is that a blastocyst transfer can lead to higher embryo transfer cancellation rate. Not all the embryos develop into a blastocyst and the blastocyst formation rate are less for women of advanced maternal age ; women with poor ovarian reserve ; and women with poor embryo quality. Such women are at higher risk of cycle cancellation if none of their embryos reach the blastocyst stage. This is a major issue when the IVF lab is of poor quality, and they don't have the experience and skill to grow embryos to the blastocyst stage.

This means that your odds of getting pregnant are higher if you are doing a blastocyst transfer , provided your IVF clinic is good, and if you have enough embryos .

The truth is that a functionally competent embryo ( with a normal genotype and a normal mitochondrial complement) will implant, whether we transfer on Day 3 or Day 5 - or even Day 2, for that matter. Growing to Day 5 allows us to select the best embryos, and is very valuable for patients who grow lots of eggs; and for those who have failed cleavage stage transfers in the past.

Read more- Why even perfect blastocysts do not result in a baby




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