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Consecutive Transfer of Day 3 Embryos and of Day 5–6 Blastocysts Increases Overall Pregnancy Rates Associated with Blastocyst Culture

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Abstract

Purpose : To investigate whether the consecutive embryo transfer of day 3 embryos and of blastocyst protects against failure to reach embryo transfer and provides additional pregnancies.

Methods : An embryo transfer was performed on day 3 following which all remaining embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage for a possible second transfer.

Results : One hundred and forty-two patients were selected for extended culture. Thirty-two of these patients did not develop blastocysts in culture, however, there were 12 pregnancies achieved in this group.

Conclusions : The consecutive transfer of day 3 embryos and blastocysts can prevent the total loss of a cycle when embryos fail to develop to the blastocyst stage in culture and thereby provide additional pregnancies.

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Phillips, S.J., Dean, N.L., Buckett, W.M. et al. Consecutive Transfer of Day 3 Embryos and of Day 5–6 Blastocysts Increases Overall Pregnancy Rates Associated with Blastocyst Culture. J Assist Reprod Genet 20, 461–464 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JARG.0000006708.26464.23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JARG.0000006708.26464.23

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