Embryo Transfer

Three to five days after egg collection, the embryos are placed inside the woman's uterus. The embryologist loads the embryos into a very soft catheter along with a small volume of the culture media in which they are growing.

The physician then inserts the catheter through the cervix and injects the embryos inside the uterine cavity during a speculum examination. The process is similar to an insemination, although it is done under abdominal ultrasound guidance in order to ensure that the catheter is in the proper position prior to transferring the embryos. The number of embryos transferred depends upon the age of the patient, the quality of the embryos and the stage of their development.  In some patients with a good prognosis, a single embryo transfer is an option and may decrease the chance of twin or triplet pregnancies.

After egg retrieval, patients are given progesterone and estrogen medications to help create a uterine lining that is optimal for embryo implantation. Two weeks after the egg retrieval, a pregnancy test (hCG level) tells us if we were successful. Pregnant patients have a repeat hCG test after 2 days to ensure that the hormone is rising appropriately. An ultrasound study is performed approximately 4 weeks after the egg collection to document fetal number and viability.