The blastocyst culture technique is available as a routine clinical embryology technique at Monash IVF. Your doctor will advise you of the treatment options available to you and whether this technique is suitable for you.
Advances in embryo culture techniques have resulted in improved conditions for embryo development in vitro. A now common laboratory procedure allows for extended culture to day 4, 5 or 6 post fertilisation to assist in the selection of the best quality embryos for transfer.
The blastocyst is an early preimplantation embryo, which by day 5 has begun to differentiate and consists of a sphere of cells with an inner and outer layer surrounding a fluid filled cavity. The outer layer of cells, the trophectoderm, give rise to the placenta and extra-cellular tissues, and the inner group of cells, the inner cell mass, give rise to the foetus.
With extended culture or blastocyst embryo transfer we can increase the harmony between embryonic development and uterine environment while reducing risks of multiple pregnancy by single embryo transfer with greater selection. Data shows that pregnancy rates are maintained with increased time in culture and may actually augment chance of success.