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Blastocyst transfer at TFP Fertility
Blastocyst transfer is offered by TFP Fertility as part of in vitro-fertilisation (IVF) treatment and is recommended as standard procedure.
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During IVF, one or more embryos (an egg that has been fertilised with sperm) are placed into the womb after they have developed in the laboratory for some time.
This can be at either day two or three of development, or day five, known as the blastocyst stage.
A two or three-day delay might not seem like much, but for a rapidly growing embryo, those extra days of development turns the embryo into a complex and highly developed blastocyst.
Our embryologists can choose which embryos have the highest chance of success more easily at the blastocyst stage by its appearance and how it has developed in the laboratory.
Through this procedure, IVF with blastocyst transfers often has higher birth rates.
At TFP Fertility, we specialise in IVF. We combine 35 years of fertility experience with exceptional patient care and empathy.
As part of a network of clinics across Europe, we have access to a world of fertility expertise and knowledge to provide treatment plans carefully tailored to you.
When you come to us, we’ll take the time to get to know you, understand your medical history, and discuss what options could help you.
There’s no experience like this, and we’re here with you every step of the way.
How does blastocyst transfer work?
During IVF blastocyst transfer, an egg is fertilised by sperm in a lab.
The resulting embryo is carefully grown for five or six days until it reaches the blastocyst stage and is then placed inside the womb to develop.
If you’re a woman having a blastocyst transfer, the procedure will typically follow these steps:
1 - Fertilising the eggs
Eggs are combined with sperm in a laboratory to fertilise them.
If necessary, each egg may be injected with a single sperm by our specialist.
This is known as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and is recommended in cases where sperm count or quality is lower than ideal.
2 - Incubation period
The fertilised eggs, now called embryos, are incubated for five to six days until the embryo becomes a blastocyst.
Some of our clinics use a special incubator with built-in cameras called an EmbryoscopeTM to create a time-lapse video showing embryo development.
This helps us assess which embryos are strongest and most likely to implant successfully.
3 - Identifying the best embryos
The best one or two embryo(s) are chosen to ensure the highest chance of success.
Any other healthy embryos can be frozen for future use.
4 - Embryo transfer
Using a thin tube that is passed through your vagina, the blastocysts are then transferred into the womb to develop.
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FAQs
Is blastocyst transfer right for you?
Assisted hatching is not recommended in all cases.
Blastocyst transfer may increase the success rate of IVF but is not right for everyone.
It may be best suited for younger women with good quality embryos and high chances of getting pregnant through IVF.
Women with low egg counts might not be best suited for this treatment.
Your TFP Fertility experts will decide if it’s right for you. When you come to us, we’ll take the time to get to know you, understand your medical history, and discuss what the best options are for you and your individual case.
We can provide more information and advice about whether this treatment is right for you – just contact us today and we’ll help answer your questions.
Women with low egg counts might not be best suited for this treatment.
Your TFP Fertility experts will decide if it’s right for you. When you come to us, we’ll take the time to get to know you, understand your medical history, and discuss what the best options are for you and your individual case.
We can provide more information and advice about whether this treatment is right for you – just contact us today and we’ll help answer your questions.
It’s particularly recommended for IVF and ICSI patients:
Over the age of 38
Who have had multiple unsuccessful attempts of IVF of ICSI with no known cause
Who are using frozen embryos that may have developed a thickened zona
Our experienced clinicians at TFP Fertility clinics will discuss whether assisted hatching is right for you in an individual consultation.
Are there any risks with a blastocyst transfer?
Not all embryos that are grown in a lab will develop into blastocysts.
There’s a chance the embryo will stop developing and become unsuitable to be transferred to the womb.
We can provide more information and advice on the risks of blastocyst transfer, and whether this treatment is right for you – just contact us today and we’ll help answer your questions.
What are the advantages of blastocyst transfer?
If blastocyst transfer is the right choice for you, there can be great advantages to choosing this treatment pathway for your IVF.
Decreases the chance of being pregnant with more than one baby
As blastocyst transfer has a greater chance of implantation, less embryos are transferred, reducing your risk of developing multiple pregnancy.
The rest of the embryos grown can be frozen and stored to be used in the future.
Increases pregnancy and birth rates
Studies have shown that allowing the embryos to hatch and develop to the blastocyst stage before they’re transferred increases the chance that the embryo will implant to the womb and continue to grow.
Also, the freezing of the blastocysts that aren’t transferred have a high rate of surviving the freezing and thawing process.
What happens day by day after your blastocyst transfer?
After blastocyst transfer is complete, it takes around nine days for your hormone levels to rise and the pregnancy to be detected.
You may be eager to find out what’s happening in your body during that time, here’s what to expect each day post transfer:
Day 1: The blastocyst begins a process called hatching. The blastocyst is surrounded by a thin shell and begins to hatch out of it, preparing to implant to your womb.
Day 2: The blastocyst, still hatching, begins to attach itself to your womb. This is when the blastocyst beings the process of implanting itself onto your uterus.
Day 3 and 4: The blastocyst starts to implant itself onto your womb and attaches itself deeper to your uterus
Day 5: The implantation should now be done. Your foetus and the placenta have now started to develop.
Day 6: A hormone called human Chorionic Gonadotropic (hCG) is now starting to be released into your bloodstream. This is the hormone that’s detected to indicate that you’re pregnant.
Day 7 and 8: Your foetus continues to grow and the hormone hCG is continuously released into your blood.
From day 11: Your hCG levels have become high enough to be picked up in a blood or urine test that can confirm that you are now pregnant.
What happens day by day after your blastocyst transfer?
After blastocyst transfer is complete, it takes around nine days for your hormone levels to rise and the pregnancy to be detected.
You may be eager to find out what’s happening in your body during that time, here’s what to expect each day post transfer:
Day 1: The blastocyst begins a process called hatching. The blastocyst is surrounded by a thin shell and begins to hatch out of it, preparing to implant to your womb.
Day 2: The blastocyst, still hatching, begins to attach itself to your womb. This is when the blastocyst beings the process of implanting itself onto your uterus.
Day 3 and 4: The blastocyst starts to implant itself onto your womb and attaches itself deeper to your uterus
Day 5: The implantation should now be done. Your foetus and the placenta have now started to develop.
Day 6: A hormone called human Chorionic Gonadotropic (hCG) is now starting to be released into your bloodstream. This is the hormone that’s detected to indicate that you’re pregnant.
Day 7 and 8: Your foetus continues to grow and the hormone hCG is continuously released into your blood.
From day 11: Your hCG levels have become high enough to be picked up in a blood or urine test that can confirm that you are now pregnant.
Can I use donor sperm?
You can use donor sperm for IVF, for example, where the man has a very low or no sperm count or if you’re a single woman or a lesbian couple.
If you’d like to know more about using donor sperm, visit our TFP Fertility sperm donor page.
We offer this service in:
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TFP Nurture Fertility
Unit 8, 25 Business Park Bostocks Lane, Sandiacre, Nottingham, NG10 5QG
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TFP Simply Fertility
Essex Healthcare Park, West Hanningfield Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM2 8FR
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TFP Thames Valley Fertility
Ground Floor, Clarion House, Norreys Drive, Maidenhead, UK SL6 4BY
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TFP Wessex Fertility
Berrywood Business Village, Tollbar Way, Hedge End, Southampton, SO30 2UN
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TFP Oxford Fertility
Institute of Reproductive Sciences Oxford Business Park North, Oxford , OX4 2HW
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