Day 5 Transfer? Only one "good quality" egg left...Is this good or too risky?

[Anonymous]

I just did my first round of IVF (I'm a poor responder, only produced 3 eggs). I just received a call from my re's office telling me that only one of the eggs made it to Day 3 and that they would like to take the egg to Day 5 before they transfer. Is this a good sign? (Meaning the egg quality is good) Or is it too risky to do considering I only have one egg left? Thank you for your input in advance!

[Anonymous]

It only takes one egg. If the one remaining egg still looks good at 5 days you have a good chance. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Who the heck is your doctor?

This is crazy! They need to get that embryo back in you asap. There's nothing to gain by keeping it out of your body for another 2 days. The uterine environment is better than the dish. Many practices will even put back embryos back on day 2 if there are 3 or fewer eggs. They'd rather get them all back asap then stress any of them out with more time outside of the body.

Day 5 transfers are done when there are a number (generally at least 5) embryos on day 3 that are either 1) all great looking or 2) all similar looking where 1 or 2 are not easily determined to be the front runners. The thinking is that between days 3 and 5 the weaker embryos will slow down/die and therefore be weeded out. Some of those which die will have genetic abnormalities, etc. but some will simply die due to the stress of being outside of the body. Would they have made it had they been in the body since day 3? Some yes, some no. But the thinking is that the very best embryos would make it regardless.

I almost wonder if your practice has given up on your cycle and is hoping that you have nothing to transfer. Then you go on their stats as a "failure to transfer" and not a failed cycle. Otherwise this makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who the heck is your doctor?

This is crazy! They need to get that embryo back in you asap. There's nothing to gain by keeping it out of your body for another 2 days. The uterine environment is better than the dish. Many practices will even put back embryos back on day 2 if there are 3 or fewer eggs. They'd rather get them all back asap then stress any of them out with more time outside of the body.

Day 5 transfers are done when there are a number (generally at least 5) embryos on day 3 that are either 1) all great looking or 2) all similar looking where 1 or 2 are not easily determined to be the front runners. The thinking is that between days 3 and 5 the weaker embryos will slow down/die and therefore be weeded out. Some of those which die will have genetic abnormalities, etc. but some will simply die due to the stress of being outside of the body. Would they have made it had they been in the body since day 3? Some yes, some no. But the thinking is that the very best embryos would make it regardless.

I almost wonder if your practice has given up on your cycle and is hoping that you have nothing to transfer. Then you go on their stats as a "failure to transfer" and not a failed cycle. Otherwise this makes no sense.

OP here...I really agree with you and now I'm even more worried. A uterine environment is definitely better than a petri dish. I'm in contact with my RE. Thank you all for your input!