Hi all, I’ve spoken to consultants, embryologists and women who have gone through IVF. I’m almost 41 and can’t get my head around why the standard protocol is to implant on Day 3 versus wait until Day 5 to undergo PGT. I know the theory of implanting Day 3 embryos as the womb is the best place for them, but the embryologists theory is that if the embryos won’t make it to Day 5 blastocysts, then they won’t make it in the womb either … just wondering what others have heard from their experience. Don’t mean to cause controversy (and hopefully not sound too thick!) but genuinely interested in points of view .
Thank you and it helps so much knowing you are going through this too! ✨ 💕
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Gingerluv2021
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I’m receiving a batch of frozen embryos that are over 10 years old and were frozen at Day 2. These are going to be thawed and grown to blastocyst (day 5) before one is transferred and any remaining are frozen. I have my fingers crossed that at least 3 of the 10 make it to blastocyst.
My clinic will only transfer embryos that make it to day 5. In the past, they grew embryos to day 2 or 3 because they did not yet have the technology to grow them to blastocyst. Now that they do, it's the standard.
I actually wrote a question on here about the younger embryos before I asked my doctor at the clinic and got the answer above. Personally, I’m really happy to be growing them to day 5, because I do not have the money or mental strength for unnecessary failed transfers. In saying that, plenty of women have had success with day 3 embryos. They only knew how to grow them to that age until relatively recently.
My clinics did only day 5 transfers. Reasoning being their labs are just as good as womb and so if embryo didn't make it to day 5, it would just be a waste of a transfer and 2ww. Keep in mind not every clinic has the same top of the line lab, so some clinics throw it in on day 3 just to be on the safe side.
I used one in the USA, one is Slovakia and one in the Czech Republic. The doctors explained it to us about technology they use but I don't remember specifics.
I think this is a good question. Without going over the same old debate of the womb being a better environment vs any embryo that can’t make it in a lab would not make it in the uterus; I think it usually comes down to personal preference/choice and the clinic’s policy. From my research into this, the number of embryos you have to play with, can also determine whether a day 3 or day 5 transfer is preferable.
Some IVF clinics will say if you have less than 3 embryos at the day 3 stage, then perhaps an earlier transfer should be considered. More embryos means you could push to day 5.
Then again I have seen women with only 1 or 2 embryos wait till day 5 to see if the embryos will make it. So again-personal preference which is sometimes influenced by the clinic’s policy.
Some women may not be willing to risk not having anything to transfer on day 5 whilst others may not be willing to transfer an embryo that has not “proved” itself as a lot of embryos arrest between day 3 and 5. For this reason most clinics advice to have a day 5 transfer. They can also grade them better on day 5. Then again, nothing is an exact science as some women get pregnant with lower graded embryos.
I personally had success with a day 3 transfer of 2 embryos which I insisted on. My first FET with a day 5 blastocyst was a BFN. The embryo that stuck might have become blastocyst anyway but we will never know. I am just glad to be pregnant.
I am sure you will make a decision that works for you. All the best x
I had a day 3 transfer. I had a low egg production and only 3 were collected. Out of those, only one was viable. They chose day 3 cause it gets it back into the womb where it’s best to be.
My understanding is that my clinic will choose day 3 or 5 based on how many eggs are collected. By waiting to day 5 they can see which embryo is best and most developed, but you need plenty of eggs to be able to pick and choose which one is best. Not all live to day 5.
My clinic only does day 5 transfers when there are plenty of embryos, so it doesn’t matter if some die and they can then see more development and choose the best. But if you don’t have many, day 3 is best so they aren’t gambling with your embryo.
Does that make sense? It took me some time to work out the difference but it’s basically a numbers game. If you don’t have many, it’s better to go with day 3 so they’re back where they should be. Day 5 is for when you have lots so they can pick and choose the best developed ones.
Hi Gingerluv. All I can say, is that when I first started out in infertility, we only did Day 3 transfers, sometimes Day 2, as we didn't have the expertise to grow them on to Day 5, so couldn't have know if they would make it or not. We oftyen said that a developing embryo was better off in the womb where it belonged, and we did get loads of successes. Diane
This is so helpful. I had the fertilization on Monday and was told all 4 eggs got fertilized. So I should come in on Thursday for the transfer.Had a call on Thursday to be told 3 out if the 4 are doing well and hence they would prefer I come on Saturday which is the day 5.
I know understand what all that means.
This is my first attempt. Got my egg collected done two years ago.
Keeping my fingers crossed for a successful transfer and 2ww.
I'm glad you asked this question and that there have been very informative responses. I recently finished my second round (first round none of my eggs fertilised) and had 6 eggs collected, 3 mature. 2 fertilised and we're implanted on day 3 as there were my only embryos and they wanted to give them the best chance given my age (41 in October). I been panicking intermittently since none of them have been tested so I'm hoping for the best outcome. The others are right in that most clinics who perform testing will only do so if you have a large number of embryos and its important to understand some do not survive the wait till day 5/6 or testing. I do think it's better to be inside your body as I don't think any lab is sophisticated enough to replicate conditions for your embryos. At the end of the day none of this is an exact science and mostly comes down to trial and error but at our age we don't have room for error.
I'm due to test this coming Thursday and trying to remain positive xx
Sending mountains of good vibes your way ✨ 💕 I’ve been taking lots of walks to keep my mind settled and trying to avoid panic! I have some podcasts ready to go when I wake in the middle of the night too … that’s the worst!!! Remember that you aren’t alone - I’m turning 41 in September!
For IVF:I was recommended Big Fat Negative and Rainbow Baby - they both have a good number of episodes that you can listen to depending on your situation.
Non-IVF:
This is Love (episode 31: Something Large and Wild is lovely), Criminal, Serial, S-Town, This American Life, the Infinite Monkey Cage, Radio 2’s Confessions (they stopped doing it but I think you can listen to the old ones - some are hysterical!), the Drop Out, Parenting Hell is really funny - but led by two dudes about children in lockdown so mindful of potential sensitivity. As you can tell, I enjoy a crime drama!!! 😂
Thank you. I previously listened to BFN but wasn't a big fan as I found they just waffled a lot about their own cycles and the only snippets of useful information were left to the last 5 minutes. Thanks for the other recommendations, I've been listening to UK true crime podcast on Spotify so it'll be nice to true a few others.
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