Blastocyst quality affects the success of blastocyst-stage embryo transfer.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between blastocyst quality and the results of embryo transfer at the blastocyst stage. DESIGN: Retrospective case analysis. SETTING: Tertiary care private hospital IVF center. PATIENT(S) A total of 350 blastocyst-stage embryo transfer cycles. INTERVENTION(S) In vitro culture to the blastocyst stage was undertaken in 350 ICSI cycles where four or more cleavage-stage embryos were available on day 3. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Relationship between blastocyst quality and implantation and clinical and multiple pregnancy rates. RESULT(S) Transfer of at least one grade 1 or grade 2 blastocyst or one hatching blastocyst was associated with very high implantation and pregnancy rates. However, transfer of grade 3 blastocysts yielded very low implantation and pregnancy rates. CONCLUSION(S) There appears to be a strong correlation between blastocyst quality and success of blastocyst transfer.