Blastocyst Formation

Nakshatra Clinic

Your Trusted Partner in the Journey to Parenthood

Blastocyst Formation

Overview

At Nakshatra Clinic, we culture embryos to the blastocyst stage (typically Day 5 or Day 6 after fertilization) when appropriate. A blastocyst is an advanced embryo with two distinct parts: the inner cell mass (which becomes the baby) and the trophectoderm (which forms the placenta). Growing embryos to this stage often enables better selection for embryo transfer and can improve implantation rates in selected patients.

About Blastocyst Formation

Blastocyst Formation

Improved selection: Reaching the blastocyst stage indicates robust embryo development, allowing us to choose embryos with higher implantation potential.
Better embryo-uterine timing: The uterus is naturally most receptive to a Day‑5 embryo, aligning transfer with the body’s physiology.
Single Embryo Transfer (SET): Higher confidence in embryo potential supports SET, reducing multiple pregnancy risks.
Optional advanced testing: Blastocysts can be biopsied for genetic testing (if indicated) prior to transfer.

Blastocyst culture can be considered for:
Couples with a good number of fertilized eggs/cleavage-stage embryos
Previous failed IVF cycles where embryo selection may help
Patients planning frozen embryo transfer (FET) for optimal endometrial preparation
Cases where preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is indicated

Note: Not every case is suited for blastocyst culture. In some situations, earlier transfer (Day‑3) may be recommended to maximize chances.

Egg Retrieval & Fertilization: Following ovarian stimulation, eggs are collected and fertilized via IVF or ICSI.
Embryo Culture: Embryos are carefully cultured in advanced incubators with stable temperature, pH, and gas conditions.
Monitoring & Grading: Our embryology team assesses cell division, morphology, and progression toward blastocyst.
Selection: High‑quality blastocysts are selected for fresh transfer or vitrification (freezing) for future FET.
Transfer: A gentle, ultrasound‑guided transfer of a single blastocyst is preferred in most cases.
Safety, Risks & Considerations
Embryo attrition: Not all embryos reach blastocyst; numbers may reduce by Day‑5/6.
Multiple pregnancy risk: Lower with SET, but still possible if more than one embryo is transferred.
Emotional aspects: Waiting to Day‑5 may feel stressful; our team supports you through the process.

While success depends on multiple factors (age, egg/sperm quality, uterine receptivity, and medical history), extended culture often helps identify embryos with higher potential. Your specialist will discuss personalized expectations based on your case.

Before transfer: Follow medication schedules precisely; maintain a balanced diet and hydration.
After transfer: Light activity is fine; avoid heavy exertion. Continue prescribed medications and attend follow‑up blood tests/ultrasounds.
When to Choose Blastocyst Transfer at Nakshatra Clinic
You have multiple good‑quality embryos on Day‑3
You want to minimize twins/triplets via Single Embryo Transfer
You plan PGT or a Frozen Embryo Transfer strategy

Several Therapies and medications to cure the problem of RIF are further listed below and can be broadly divided into 4 following parts:

1. Uterine Medications
Uterine Medication can be performed by a doctor when an international endometrial injury can be spotted including hysteroscopy. This form of medication also includes endometrial sampling for histology and microbiological investigations and endometritis treatment; atosiban administration; copper intrauterine device placement.

2. Laboratory and Procedural Technologies and medications
This further includes the sequential ET process where the ET medium is enriched with hyaluronic acid that is further provided by the doctor. The doctor also looks into some other factors to perform the Laboratory and Procedural Technology. Moreover, the process includes things like autologous embryo-cumulus cells co-culture relation including intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI); blastocyst stage ET; zygote intrafallopian tube transfer (ZIFT); assisted hatching (AH); preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A)).

All the above techniques can be valuable and can provide good results if performed by a good and experienced doctor.

3. Immunomodulatory Therapies
Performing Immunomodulatory Therapy can be daunting and this needs a good efficiency of doctors as well. To perform the Immunomodulatory Therapy some basic things are also performed by the doctor that further includes the intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG); intrauterine peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) infusion; tacrolimus; subcutaneous or intrauterine granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) administration; intrauterine autologous platelet-rich plasma (PRP) infusion; intravenous intralipid; intrauterine human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection; low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH); aspirin; prednisolone)

4. Endometrial Receptivity
This is the final process related to treatments glorifying the endometrial receptivity or technologies. This, in addition, is performed by the doctor to identify the endometrial gap window of Implantation (WOI). For instance, the trimascular growth hormone (GH), vaginal sildenafil; endometrial receptivity array (ERA) are some good examples of this strategy.

Sometimes home remedies can help to improve the production of sperm. Besides eating healthy and drinking a lot of water, male partners should consider changing their lifestyles. It is important to talk with the doctor and ask for home therapies that can help.
Some things that you can try to prevent azoospermia might include:

  • Eat a whole meal of nutrient-rich foods to improve sperm production.
  • Perform exercises and workouts regularly to boost your testosterone levels. 
  • Yoga and mediations are also great to decrease stress levels. Also, Cortisol (stress hormone) can hamper the production of testosterone.
  • Tribulus terrestris trusted Source, black seed, Coenzyme Q10, folic acid, horse chestnut, L-carnitine, Panax ginseng, and zinc are some natural herbs and supplements that you can also ask from your doctor. 

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Day‑3 and Day‑5 transfer?

Day‑3 embryos are at the cleavage stage; Day‑5/6 embryos are blastocysts with more cells and structure. Blastocysts allow improved selection in suitable cases.

No. It improves selection but does not guarantee implantation or pregnancy.

This varies widely based on age and egg/sperm quality. Some patients may have none; others may have several.

Yes. Vitrification is a rapid-freezing method with high survival rates after thawing under expert protocols.

Routine bed rest is not required. Normal light activity is generally fine unless advised otherwise by your doctor.