I just had a discussion with my doctor and they are recommending a transfer on Day 3 instead of waiting until Day 5. This wasn’t the original plan we had discussed, and I can’t help but feel a bit worried. Has anyone else gone through a similar situation? Any insights or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!
Day 3 transfers were once standard practice, especially for women with a low number of follicles. However, there is a risk of none surviving if pushed to day 5. Day 5 transfers have a higher success rate, but good embryos are often present at day 3 as well. Some embryos thrive better in the uterus than in a petri dish. Your doctor’s advice may recommend a day 3 transfer for a fresh transfer. If you choose to test embryos, they must reach the blastocyst stage. The decision to transfer two embryos is personal; risks of multiples and complications are associated. For older individuals or those with a history of loss or failed transfers, transferring multiples may be appropriate, especially if embryos are not tested. Personally, I have frozen day 3 embryos and will transfer only one euploid embryo at a time.
After experiencing a subpar cycle, I had two day 2 embryos transferred and one successfully survived. Despite the uncertain odds, I believe that transferring to the uterus offers a better chance of success, almost like a last resort that can sometimes work miracles. It’s important to trust the advice of your reproductive endocrinologist.
I had a day 3 transfer instead of the planned day 5 due to not all embryos being of great quality, but luckily it worked out as I got 4 blasts out of the 6 fertilized.
If you have a low egg count, a fresh day 3 transfer is a common and recommended option.
Day 5 is the best opportunity for transfer, but if you have limited embryos that may not make it, day 3 can still be a viable option.