Day 3 transfers vs. Day 5 transfers

[sunshine.12]

the ivf coordinator in my clinic told that they almost always do 3 day transfer and 5 day transfer is done to only a few who produce lot of eggs. last time i did not produce many eggs and my old clinic did a 2.5-3 day transfer which didnt work for me. so i was hoping to go for 5 day transfer this time. but looking at my clinic's policy i dnt think i will be chosen for a 5 day transfer if i get low number of eggs. i am little disappointed with that approach. do you think there is any use in talking to my RE or embryologist? i am really counting on this cycle to work but i dnt want to transfer an embryo that wont make it to day 5, and then wait for another 1-2 weeks hoping and dreaming that i might be pregnant when the embryo might have already stopped growing before day 5. i prefer not to do an embryo transfer if none of my embryos survive till day 5, as it will at least spare me an extra week of anticipation and false hope and i would like to come in terms with reality as early as possible.Now this is a very reputed center in NYC. Should I go by their advice, assuming they have more experience than me in this whole matter? Is there any study that support day 3 transfer over day 5 at least for some patients?

[Ghost]

the ivf coordinator in my clinic told that they almost always do 3 day transfer and 5 day transfer is done to only a few who produce lot of eggs. last time i did not produce many eggs and my old clinic did a 2.5-3 day transfer which didnt work for me. so i was hoping to go for 5 day transfer this time. but looking at my clinic's policy i dnt think i will be chosen for a 5 day transfer if i get low number of eggs. i am little disappointed with that approach. do you think there is any use in talking to my RE or embryologist? i am really counting on this cycle to work but i dnt want to transfer an embryo that wont make it to day 5, and then wait for another 1-2 weeks hoping and dreaming that i might be pregnant when the embryo might have already stopped growing before day 5. i prefer not to do an embryo transfer if none of my embryos survive till day 5, as it will at least spare me an extra week of anticipation and false hope and i would like to come in terms with reality as early as possible.Now this is a very reputed center in NYC. Should I go by their advice, assuming they have more experience than me in this whole matter? Is there any study that support day 3 transfer over day 5 at least for some patients?

One advantage of blastocyst ("day 5") transfer is that it eliminates embryos that won't develop that far, because those embryos don't get transferred. Many clinics therefore think of blast transfer as an embryo screening technique. If that is the only purpose for it, then they see little value in it when few embryos are present. In other words, if you have only one good day 3 embryo, then they know which one to transfer. No need to screen them further. On top of that, some believe the uterine environment is better than lab culture. So under those assumptions, it makes sense to do some day 3 transfer when few embryos are present. But there's more to it. If the embryos are all cultured to day 5, and none of the embryos develop to blast, then perhaps that is good information to know. Day 5 transfer would also prevent some useless day 3 transfers, false hope, and heartbreak.

My clinic would transfer at whatever stage you choose, after we explain the advantages and disadvantages of each, but we'd recommend blast. I don't know if other clinics are flexible.

[sunshine.12]

thanks ghost and SDtrying#2 for the quick response.

ghost, after reading your post, it makes more sense why some choose day 3 and others choose day 5 and also how one is better than other depending on number of embryos available.

if uterine environment is better than the culture, then i guess i might go with my RE's opinion, and do a day 3 transfer if i end up with only 1 or 2 embryos and may be lower my expectations a little this time to prevent heart break and hope for the best outcome. but i really hope i get some good number of eggs this time for a change.

[txcplforivf]

Hey yall! I dont get online much but wanted to let everyone know what is going on. I had my ER Wed Dec 15th. They got 23 eggs and 16 fertilized. My day 3 report yesterday he said that 9 were 8-10 cell grade A embryos and 7 were 6-8 cell grade B?? but he said they all looked good and strong. We go back tomorrow for the blastocyst transfer at noon. We will put 2 in and freeze the others. Wish us luck. This is our first try and were very nervous. Any tips for after the transfer please???? can i sleep on my tummy? should i lay on the couch and not move for two weeks? lol ...yall are gonna laugh but im scared to go pee im afraid they will fall out!!!!!!!! LOL im so nervous!!! Beta should be Dec 29th

[brit1612]

My RE seems to decide three day vs. five day depending on how many embryos you have. The more you have the more likely you are to do a five day. I got pregnant twice with day 3 embies, both resulted in miscarriage, but that didn't have anything to do with what day the transfer was. Good luck!

[LilyBug1]

I just wanted to come on and wish you the best of luck and tons of sticky dust! We had done three embroyos on a 5 day transfer with my daughter and we only ended up pregnant with her. Granted we had to sign papers stating we were aware of the risk of multiples and the risks of a high risk pregnancy and advised against doing three but it was our decision and the best one I made - granted I was also 36 at the time and my doctor advised he wouldn't have let me do that many if I was under 35.

[HopeIsAllIHave]

LilyBug, first of all, congrats on your baby girl! Secondly, thank you and everyone else for sharing your personal stories. I am still waiting to start my first IVF. My AF should be due any day now after which I start my BCP's for a few days and then on to Lupron. Have been hearing not so pleasant stories about Lupron, so I really hope everything works out for the best. Freaking out JUST a tad.

[wannabeamum]

Good luck hun im the same scared as hell!!!!
you going for 1 or 2 embies?

With love Sam x

[HopeIsAllIHave]

Hey Sam,

Nice to see you on here. I think DH and I decided on 2 embies (hopefully blasts).
What are you thinking?