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Join Our Team - Employment Opportunities Available Patient Forms Read Our BlogThe Muasher Center
for Fertility and IVF
8501 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 500
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
Ph. 703.542.3610
Fx. 703.876.6317
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Blastocyst Transfer
Embryos are traditionally cultured until day three, or the 6-8 cell stage, before they are transferred back to the uterus. Blastocysts are embryos that have been cultured to day 5-6 and have divided into many cells and two distinct cell types. There is an inner cell mass and an outer surface layer termed the trophectoderm.
"Weaker" embryos do not survive to the blastocyst stage. Blastocysts are heartier, have a higher implantation rate, and are more likely to survive. For these reasons in IVF two blastocyst embryos can usually be transferred to the uterus, which dramatically reduces the incidence of high order multiple births. Transferring 3 day three embryos creates a higher risk of multiple births.
Blastocysts cannot be used in all IVF cycles. The couple must have enough embryos to "risk" extending culture for additional days since embryos can be lost during culturing. A couple with two embryos on day two could ill afford to loose any by culturing to day five. However, a couple with 6 embryos might be a candidate for blastocyst transfer and cryopreservation. Dr. Muasher and the embryologists assess each case on an individual basis.