Reasons for 3 day versus 5 day transfer

I’m 43 and I’m in my first cycle of ivf. I’m just entering the second week of waiting..but have a nagging doubt

Amazingly 13 out of my 15 eggs fertilised. I was told it was likely I would have a 5 day transfer but I was provisionally booked for a 3 day as three eggs were ready at size 10,8 and 7. I ended up having all three implanted as I had two potentials for freezing.

I ended up with none to freeze so not sure I did the right thing but there’s no looking back now...

Anyway I’m still not sure why they transferred after 3 days. It seems like day 5 is more preferable so I guess I’m worrying if this might mean the quality or likelihood of success will be less particularly bearing in mind the others didn’t make it?

Just wondering if anyone on here is more clued up than me.

[Lynnr54]

So my understanding is that clinics usually prefer to transfer as soon as they have a clear idea of which embryos are best quality, just so that they are back in their natural environment. The reason they get left to Day 5 is that on day 4 they go through a major transformation to become blastocysts and it tends to clearly distinguish the best ones at the end of that. It sounds like by day 3 you had some clear front runners so the clinic decided not to wait.

In terms of whether you did the right thing as you had none to freeze, my personal view is that if an embryo doesn’t survive to day 5 on the outside there is very little chance of it surviving inside you either. It’s possible that one or more of the embryos inside you would have made it to freezing quality but you’re using it now, so if it would have been a successful frostie then chances are it will be successful now. Good luck with the 2ww. It does tend to make you analyse things doesn’t it!

[G_H_C]

At 42, i had 2 eggs transferred back on day 3 and have a 6 mth old son to show for it 😀.

Good luck! 🍀

[lolita83]

So I had 7 top quality embryos on day 3 so decided to take them to day 5 to see what ones were strongest and only two made Blast. I pushed for BLAST, my clinic actually prefer to put them back on day 3 as they believe they survive better in their natural environment. I think you def did the right thing as if they would go to blast outside they will def go to blast inside and if they need to be in their own environment you have given them all the best chance I think!! I wonder if I’d gone with the clinic advice of day 3 I may not have lost 5. Keep positive and believe!! Xx

[emu2016]

I transferred at day 3 last time and will this time... my clinic prefer to do day 3 as Lolita mentioned. Every clinic is different but their judgements are based on their own experiences. It’s so hard to not worry; but try and go with it with a positive outlook x

[Hidden]

Thanks everyone. I’m sure they did what’s best I guess I’m just trying to second guess as I went into this a bit ignorant. For some reason my brain didn’t want to research everything, as I think I was fearful about getting too excited. But now my brain has caught up with me. This is the first time I’ve been on a forum and now I’m thinking how ill prepared I was!

[Asweetpea in reply to Hidden]

I found researching the process quite stressful. It started to freak me out. I decided to just go with the flow and the advice of my clinic. They do this all the time. They know what they're looking for and they want to do it right to get the results for you. Don’t beat yourself up with the should I have done this or that. Sometimes going on the advice of experts and your gut instinct is the best. The rest is down to luck, I am starting to think. Wish you the best of luck.xxx

[Lizzielizzielizzie]

Day five just lets them see which ones look more viable. It sounds to me as though the two they didn’t implant wouldn’t have been chosen at five days anyway if they ended up not good enough to freeze, so they probably would have picked the same three.

There’s no intrinsic benefit to them being outside the womb for five days rather than three, in fact my clinic said they’re better off inside you as you have the perfect environment, the lab is trying to mimic your womb. It’s literally just so they can pick the most likely one.

[Hidden in reply to Lizzielizzielizzie]

Thanks that’s really helpful

[Hidden]

Thats a good number of eggs Loudles for your age. I only got 5 on the highest dose at the age of 39. Poor responder i guess mine must be sleepy eggs haha! I had a double embryo 3 day transfer but got a BFN, sometimes i wonder whether i should have had the scratch and a 5 day transfer whether things would have turned out differently. The thing is in natural pregnancy we wouldnt have the scratch and if they are going to implant they will do. Its all down to mother nature. Good luck in your 2 ww X

[Patty74]

Is it a clinic abroad as I thought the UK was only allowed to transfer 2? Congrats on bfp try and stay relaced. I'm 43 also and 17 weeks pregnant xx

[Hidden]

UK

You’re allowed if you’re over 40

I got a positive yesterday so it worked!

But I do now ha e the slight triplet fear !