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

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.

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