Why Blastocyst Transfer Is Preferred in IVF Cycles?Dr. Asha S Vijay

The blastocyst transfer has provided chances for couples to have healthier babies with fewer congenital disabilities and abnormalities. With blastocyst, researchers have observed a remarkable increase in the success rate of IVF treatment.

Blastocyst transfer has become the most popular technique in IVF treatment. First, the genetic health of the embryo informs about its potential to grow and divide. Some eggs may start to fertilize, but only a few can reach the four-cell stage on the culture’s second day. Some still reach the eight-cell stage on the third day in culture and even lesser develop into a blastocyst. In simple terms, only the healthier embryos can survive.

The second factor that limits the growth of embryos in culture is the culture media. Researchers have recognized the shortcomings of the in vitro culture environment and have developed new culture solutions- the blastocyst media. These are rich in life-supporting nutrients that give the embryos all possible chances to grow inherently.

As a result, from egg collection onwards, embryos get exposed to specific media made to meet the nutritional requirements of each growth stage.

Thirdly, even the embryos with the potential for good growth and better culture media need other factors. Some of them are the knowledge and skill of the laboratory embryologists handling this vital work is crucial to pulling off good blastocyst development. Hence, it is necessary to choose the best laboratory that has obtained maximum opportunities for patients in their IVF cycles to help build a family.

Involving embryo culture in IVF allows the identification of those embryos with the highest development efficiency. It also helps maintain embryonic age simulated with endometrium to allow early communication. This technique requires more than a single medium to assist the metabolic needs of the growing embryo.

1. Blastocyst transfer is more physiological as the human embryo undergoes various transformations. During the first four days of life, it operates from a fertilized oocyte to the Blastocyst stage. It shows changes in its nutrient requirements and utilization that support the formation of stage-specific culture media. It helps in the improvement of the embryo throughout the preimplantation period.

2. In Blastocyst transfer, the implantation rate is higher as the embryos get a longer time to develop in the laboratory. This makes it easier for the embryologist to choose the more suitable embryo to implant in the womb. As per the research, the success rate of blastocyst transfer according to the clinical pregnancy rate is 43.4% per blastocyst transfer.

3. Few embryos are transferred to the uterus in the blastocyst transfer reduces the chances of multiple pregnancies and further increases the success. Hence, only one or two embryos are shared in the uterus. In 25% of such cases, when two embryos are transferred, it results in multiple pregnancies as both the embryos start to develop.

4. It is easier to carry on the Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) on a blastocyst as more cells can be used for production and testing. The PGD tests help to eliminate the faulty embryos and ensure a good embryo without any genetic defects is transferred during the IVF procedure.