Embryo transfer
Egg placement, also called transfer, is usually a very simple procedure. For most, however, it is a very special moment in their fertility treatment, when they get a fertilized egg placed in the woman’s uterus. Pregnancy can begin.
When are eggs deposited?
Once the eggs are removed from the woman’s ovary, they are immediately fertilized in the laboratory by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Then they are placed in an incubator (heating cabinet) and begin to divide. The following happens here:
- On the first day they are in the prenucleus stage (pronucleus or PN stage),
- Second day of the 2- to 4-cell stage,
- Third day of the 8-cell stage,
- Fourth day of the morula stage and
- Fifth day of the blastocyst stage.
We usually lay the egg on the fifth day, – i.e. in the blastocyst stage.
What are the benefits of blastocyst placement?
By allowing the fertilized eggs to develop into blastocysts, we can better choose the egg(s) that have the greatest chance of pregnancy. The chance of pregnancy for laying down the blastocysts depends on the age of the woman and the quality of the fertilized egg.
What happens during the egg laying (transfer)?
Procedure only takes a few minutes. It is a routine procedure that can be performed without anesthesia. A soft catheter is used for the placement. At this stage, the fertilized egg cannot be seen with the naked eye and is located in a very small drop of medium – and it is this small drop that is usually completely painlessly deposited in the uterus.
As soon as the fertilized egg is in the uterus, it can attach itself to the uterine lining and continue to develop. You can go home immediately after the procedure.
Risks of embryo transfer
There is virtually no risk associated with egg transfer.
What can I do myself after embryo transfer?
There are no special precautions after egg laying. Research has not shown that you have a greater chance of pregnancy by being bedridden. The recommendation is that you move as you normally do. However, you must avoid swimming in a swimming pool or the sea on the same day as the egg laying, due to the risk of infection. Some studies recommend that you do not engage in vigorous exercise right around the time of ovulation, but you can easily go for a walk or run at a slow pace. It is also possible to have sex without reducing the chance of pregnancy. You must of course avoid smoking, alcohol and drugs, but focus on a healthy lifestyle. The chance of pregnancy depends on the potential of the fertilized egg to attach itself to the mucous membrane and develop further. We examine this with a pregnancy test approx. 11-14 days after egg laying.