Blastocyst Embryo Transfer | CHA Fertility Center, Los Angeles CA

A blastocyst is a more developed embryo that has a higher chance of implantation. By transferring into the uterus these more developed embryos, ie blastocycts, fewer are needed in order to minimize the possibility of multiple pregnancies that can result from the implantation of several embryos during the in vitro fertilization process.

The first week of fertilization of an egg by a sperm is an exciting time in the development of the new embryo, and our embryologists at CHA Fertility Center are committed to ensuring the excitement continues as your embryo’s cells continue to divide. Why are those first few days so crucial? It is during that time that the transformation from egg to fertilized egg (zygote) to embryo to blastocyst takes place. A blastocyst is simply an embryo that has had enough growth time—usually five or six days— and cellular division to display two separate types of cells: placenta-forming cells and fetal-forming cells.

The embryo is incubated in our laboratory and transferred to the uterus only after its viability is no longer in question. The blastocyst is hollow, with the outer layers becoming the placenta. The inner layer of cells will go on to form the fetus itself.

Blastocysts represent the most viable, fully functioning embryos and hold the greatest chance of full development once reintroduced back into the uterus. As only a blastocyst can attach itself to the uterine wall, having one already formed for the implantation dramatically increases the chance of a proper attachment. By allowing these retrieved embryos to incubate for a few more days, CFC’s embryologists can also genetically determine exactly which embryos are most likely to result in a successful pregnancy.

It is during this time that Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis/Screening (PGD/PGS) can be performed. PGD/PGS enables you to screen for genetic defects, enabling you to choose only the healthiest embryos for implantation. These more highly formed and healthy embryos are then reintroduced into the uterus.

During the Blastocyst Transfer, our highly skilled doctor will pass a very thin tube called a catheter gently through the cervix into the uterus and deposit the embryos into the uterine cavity along with an extremely small amount of fluid. This procedure usually does not require anesthesia, and the patient usually leaves the office after a brief recovery period.

Blastocyst Transfer not only raises the chances of a successful treatment, but also minimizes the likelihood of multiple pregnancies when only one embryo is transferred. The remaining embryos can then be frozen and stored at CFC’s world-renowned cryopreservation bank for future frozen embryo transfer cycles.