Proudly part of the City Fertility Network
Proudly part of the City Fertility Network
Embryo development is a fascinating process, especially for those undergoing fertility treatment. Embryos are the earliest stage of life and they really are incredible.
Embryo development is the growth of an embryo from a fertilised egg that undergoes a series of cell divisions to form a blastocyst. The process plays a crucial role in the success of IVF treatment as the quality of an embryo influences the chance for a successful pregnancy.
Many factors influence embryo development and the conditions in the laboratory are optimised for their development. Specialised growth media, advanced equipment and meticulously controlled environments are all used to give every embryo the best chance for healthy growth and increase the chance of pregnancy.
There are several key stages of embryo development. Our highly skilled embryologists carefully monitor every embryo’s growth to make sure each one reaches its developmental milestones. At each stage, they are assessed to identify which embryos have the best potential to result in a pregnancy. Each stage of embryo development is unique and critical to ensure successful implantation when the time comes for transfer.
Day 1 – Fertilisation – Successful fertilisation is the union of egg and sperm which is identified by the presence of two pronuclei – one containing DNA from the egg and one with DNA from the sperm.
Day 2-3 – Cleavage Stage: There is rapid cell division in this stage. Embryologists are looking for the ideal development of 5-10 cells that are uniform in size with very little fragmentation.
Day 4-7 – Blastocyst stage: After the cleavage stage, the cells compact into a single mass called a morula, within which cell membranes disappear and differentiation of cell types occurs. By Day 5 we are looking for a clear, compact inner cell mass (foetal cells that become a baby) and a cohesive layer of outer (placental) cells. A skilled embryologist will assess both components and give the embryo a grading. It is at this stage that we can ascertain if embryos are suitable for transfer or freezing. Embryos that reach this stage have a higher chance of implantation.
There are three milestones in embryo development that our embryologists assess.
Embryo quality is an important factor influencing IVF success. Below are some of the factors that influence embryo development:
Your embryos are taken care of by our highly skilled embryologists, providing the best possible controlled environment, using state-of-the-art equipment and culture media from world class manufacturers. Our scientists use techniques that have been tested and proven to provide optimal embryo development. If you have any questions about how we take care of your embryos, our scientists are always happy to talk to you and we welcome you to make an appointment.
Embryo development is remarkable. Fertilisation is the initial stage of development followed by the initial division or cleavage stage from Day 2-3. Days 4-6 are the blastocyst stage, where the embryo is developing into an embryo capable of implantation. The stages of embryo development are important to people undergoing IVF treatment. Understanding how embryos grow provides insight into the process and helps people make informed decisions about their treatment and set realistic expectations. Unfortunately, not all embryos will reach the blastocyst stage or be viable. Our embryologists are supportive and welcome questions from patients about the development of their embryos.
Embryos begin development at fertilisation. Ideally, embryos should have reached the stage where they are ready for transfer or freezing five days later, however, freezing may also be done on Day 6.
Each stage is critical for embryo development. This is why our laboratories use advanced equipment and processes that optimise lab conditions to maximise the opportunity for embryos to reach their full potential.
