Fertilisation

Fertilisation:

Fertilisation is the next step of the IVF process and it can be a very nerve-wracking time for couples going through this procedure. During this time, there is nothing you can do but wait for the Embryologist from your Clinic to call you to advise you of the fertilisation results.

Individual outcomes are many and varied as are the individual couples themselves.

In a small number of cases, a couple may receive the devastating news that no eggs were fertilised.

In other cases a couple who had quite a number of eggs collected may also have a high fertilisation rate, however there are cases where 10 or more eggs are collected but none fertilised!

If you do get fertilisation, there are further decisions to make at this stage.

The time at which you have the embryos put back or transferred will depend on the number and quality of fertilised eggs (embryos).

If you get a reasonable fertilisation rate of 7-8 or more embryos, it may be that you choose to continue fertilisation in the lab until the 5^th day.  5-day embryos are called Blastocysts.  This means that natural selection will take place in the lab so essentially the fittest survive to this stage.

If you get a lower number of embryos, it will probably be recommended that you have your embryo transfer of one or two Day 3 embryos.

If you are lucky enough to have any embryos left over from your embryo transfer, these will be cryo-preserved in specially designed “straws” in case you choose or need to use these embryos at a later date.