Blastocyst culture and transfer

At TFP Fertility, we grow embryos for 5-6 days until they reach the blastocyst phase and are ready for implantation. The blastocyst culture and transfer is included as part of our IVF treatment and can lead to higher implantation rates.

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What is blastocyst culture?

Blastocyst culture involves growing fertilised eggs in a laboratory under strict conditions until they reach the blastocyst stage. A blastocyst is the stage of an embryo before implantation, forming five to six days after a sperm fertilises the egg. At this point, embryologists can assess the embryos' appearance and development to determine which ones have the best chance of success.

This is followed by the blastocyst transfer where the embryo is transferred to the womb to develop. Our fertility experts will closely monitor the process, which can take up to five days.

Treatments

Blastocyst grading

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Blastocyst grading is a process that allows our embryologists to evaluate and assess embryos on the fifth day to determine which ones have the best potential for implantation. Embryos are graded from A to F, with A being top quality and F being lower quality. Embryos graded A-C are suitable for freezing.

Our embryologists use an EmbryoScope™, a special incubator with built-in cameras, to provide a score and time-lapse of the growth for further information. The EmbryoScope™ also uses an algorithm to predict embryo development, improving the selection process. This is with the help of iDAScore, our new AI software, which ranks embryos and determines which ones have the best potential. This, along with the standard A-F grade, is used to analyse which embryos have the best chance of leading to a successful pregnancy.

Treatment process

Blastocyst culture in IVF

Blastocyst culture is an important part of IVF treatment and can take between five to six days for the embryo to develop. Our process is as follows:

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Egg retrieval and fertilisation

During IVF, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries and mixed with sperm in the laboratory for fertilisation to occur. If necessary, the sperm can be injected into the egg, using a procedure called intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). This method is used when there are concerns about the quality of the sperm.

Embryo development

If fertilisation is successful, an embryo will form, developing over five to six days into a healthy blastocyst. Our embryologists use the EmbryoScope™ to monitor embryo growth. This helps us assess which embryos are developing on target and most likely to be successful.

A healthcare worker in blue scrubs and a hairnet operates a Cytoperm 2 machine in a clinical setting.

A medical professional in scrubs and a hairnet examines a scan on a computer monitor in a hospital setting.

Selection process

The embryologists choose one or two embryos that appear to have the highest chance of implantation. Then a member of the clinical team will transfer them into the womb to develop. Any other embryos that are grade A-C can be frozen for future use.

Blastocyst transfer

Blastocyst transfer is one of the most important parts of the process. Once the blastocyst is transferred into the womb, it hatches out of its shell and attaches to the lining of the womb, which allows the pregnancy to happen.

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