In in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments, prolonged culture to blastocysts has been used in the past few years. emerged as one of the most effective techniques for improving pregnancy rates. This process allows the embryos to develop in the laboratory for a longer period of time.a longer period of time, which facilitates This facilitates a better selection of the most viable embryos for transfer to the uterus. In this article, we will explore how this technique works, its advantages, and when it is The choice of prolonged cultivation is advisable, in addition to the analysis of statistics to support this recommendation.statistics that support its efficacy. its efficacy.
What is extended culture to blastocysts?
Prolonged culture to blastocysts is a technique used in in vitro fertilization to allow embryos to develop in the laboratory for five or six days after allow embryos to develop in the laboratory for five to six days after fertilization. of fertilization. Until a few years ago, the embryos were transferred to the uterus on day 3 of her development, when they have between 6 and 8 cells. However, with prolonged cultivation, the cells are embryos are allowed to grow to the blastocyst stage, which occurs around day 5 or 6. A blastocyst is a more advanced embryo that has undergone a process of differentiation. cell. This embryo has two main layers of cells: the inner cell masswhich will fetus, and the trophoblast trophoblastwhich will form the placenta. The fact that an embryo The fact that it reaches the blastocyst stage is a sign that it has a high capacity for implantation, as it has proven to be resistant to the early critical stages of development.
Advantages of prolonged culture to blastocysts
Prolonged culture offers several advantages that make it a key technique to improve the results of IVF treatments. improve the results of IVF treatments:
1. Higher implantation rate:
Allowing the embryos to reach the blastocyst stage facilitates improved selection of the most viable embryos. Those that survive to this point have a higher probability of implanting correctly in the uterus, as they are genetically geneticallyand have been shown to overcome the critical early stages of development. of development.
2. Synchronization with the uterus:
Blastocysts develop in the laboratory for approximately five days, This coincides with the time when the woman’s uterus is most receptive to blastocysts. implantation. This synchronization between the embryo and the uterus is crucial for increasing ar the probability of success.
3. Reduced risk of multiple pregnancies:
By transferring a single high quality blastocyst, success rates are comparable or higher than those of transferring several day 3 embryos. This makes it possible to reduce the number of transferred embryos, reducing the risk of multiple pregnancies, which can lead to complications for both mother and fetuses. complications for both the mother and the fetuses.
4. Better results in women with previous failures:
Prolonged culture is especially useful in women who have had multiple failures. implantation in previous IVF cycles. When selecting embryos that have blastocyst stage, the chance of success is improved in cases where the blastocyst stage has been reached.he previous treatments have not worked.
When is it advisable to opt for prolonged culture to blastocysts?
Prolonged culture is not a suitable technique for all cases, but it may be particularly beneficial in the following situations particularly beneficial in the following situations:
1. Young women with several embryos:
When an adequate number of good quality embryos are obtained, the culture of the embryos is The long term storage period allows the best ones to be selected for transfer. This is especially recommended in young women with a high ovarian response, where there are several embryos available to evaluate and choose from.
2. Cases of previous failures in implantation:
In patients who have experienced failure in previous IVF cycles, prolonged culture can identify the most viable embryos. In patients who have experienced failures in previous IVF cycles, prolonged culture can identify the most viable embryos, which can improve implantation and pregnancy rates. implantation and pregnancy rates.
3. Good quality embryos that did not implant previously:
In cases where day 3 embryos have failed to implant, prolonged culture may be an option to determine which embryos have the greatest potential to implant. may be an option to determine which have the greatest potential for success. success.
4. Need for preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD):
Blastocyst culture is also beneficial for patients who require the preimplantation genetic diagnosis. By obtaining more cells from the embryos in At this stage, PGD is more accurate without compromising the viability of the embryo.
Results and statistics: Why is prolonged cultivation more effective?
Statistics and studies support the efficacy of prolonged culture to blastocysts. At In general, blastocysts have a significantly higher implantation rate compared to day 3 embryos. compared to day 3 embryos:
– Implementation rate:
Studies have shown that blastocysts have between 50–60% implantation implantation rate, compared to 30–40% of day 3 embryos.
– Clinical pregnancy rate:
The clinical pregnancy rate with blastocysts is considerably higher, which means that not only implantation is achieved, but also that the pregnancy continues. not only implantation is achieved, but the pregnancy continues to develop healthily. healthy development of the pregnancy.
– Reduction of multiple pregnancies:
Thanks to the high success rate of blastocyst transfer, the transfer of a single high quality embryo is sufficient to achieve pregnancy, thus reducing the number of pregnancies. transfer of a single high quality embryo is sufficient to achieve pregnancy, thus reducing the risk of multiple pregnancies. risk of multiple pregnancies.
These statistics show that prolonged culture to blastocysts is an advanced technique that offers better results in many cases, especially in patients with advanced technique that offers better results in many cases, especially in patients with multiple failed multiple unsuccessful attempts or with a significant number of available embryos.available embryos.
Prolonged culture to blastocysts has proven to be a key tool to improve significantly the pregnancy rates in in vitro fertilization treatments. At to allow a better selection of the most viable embryos and by synchronizing transfer withtransfer to the optimal time of the uterine the optimal timing of the uterine cycle, this technique offers an advanced and effective option to increase the chances of success. For many couples seeking to achieve the dream of being parents, prolonged culture to blastocysts may be the key to may be the key to ultimately achieving a successful successful pregnancy.