Consecutive transfer of day 3 embryos and of day 5-6 blastocysts increases overall pregnancy rates associated with blastocyst culture.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the consecutive embryo transfer of day 3 embryos and of blastocyst protects against failure to reach embryo transfer and provides additional pregnancies.


METHODS
An embryo transfer was performed on day 3 following which all remaining embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage for a possible second transfer.


RESULTS
One hundred and forty-two patients were selected for extended culture. Thirty-two of these patients did not develop blastocysts in culture, however, there were 12 pregnancies achieved in this group.


CONCLUSIONS
The consecutive transfer of day 3 embryos and blastocysts can prevent the total loss of a cycle when embryos fail to develop to the blastocyst stage in culture and thereby provide additional pregnancies.
Phillips
Simon J
SJ
McGill Reproductive Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Royal Victoria Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. siphillips@clmiquesvo.com
Dean
Nicola L
NL
Buckett
William M
WM
Tan
Seang Lin
SL
D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000502:physiology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D018873:Pregnancy Rate