Prolonged In Vitro Culture (Blastocyste culture)

Some IVF Centres offer transfers of embryos at the blastocyste stage, 5 or 6 days after the OPU. During this prolonged culture it is possible to:

• ·Select the embryos that reach the blastocyste stage
• ·Wait for a better synchronization between the uterus and the embryo
• ·Renounce to transfer non viable embryos

Embryo at the expanded blastocyste stage (144h following the insemination)

This hopegiving technique enables the choice of the best embryos for fresh transfer.  Carefully applied, this approach permits to reduce the number of embryos transferred and hence reducing the multiple pregnancy risks (twins).  In Belgium, a financial implication (refunded cycle - the transfer of 1 single embryo) has made remarkable progress in the selection criteria.  Unfortunately, by not authorizing this practice, the Swiss law creates an unexplainable handicap by refusing the introduction of this technique in our country.  In the absence of embryo selection (not authorized in Switzerland) the prolonged culture misses its objective with the exception of very precise cases.

Indications (in Switzerland): repeated implantation failures following the transfer of good quality embryos