By Chioma Umeha
Around two or three days before the embryo
transfer, the doctor will choose the best eggs to transfer to the womb.
There are many processes available to aid
selection, though non-invasive methods such as metabolomic profiling are
becoming favoured. Metabolomic profiling is the process of selecting the most
beneficial eggs based on a number of different factors. This limits the need
for invasive procedures and increases the number of useful eggs.
These eggs will then be fertilized in a lab and
left to culture for one to two days. If many good quality embryos develop, the
ones that are not going to be transferred can be frozen.
The process of an embryo transfer
The embryo transfer process is similar to the
process for a pap smear. The doctor will insert a speculum into the woman’s
vagina to keep the vaginal walls open.
Using ultrasound for accuracy, the doctor will
then pass a catheter through the cervix and into the womb. From there, the
embryos are passed through the tube and into the womb.
The process is usually pain free and rarely
requires any sedatives. Some women may feel discomfort as a result of having
the speculum inserted or from having a full bladder, which is required for
ultrasound. The process is short, and the bladder can be emptied immediately
after.
After the embryo transfer
The doctor may recommend lots of rest following
the procedure. This may help ensure that the embryo sticks to the wall of the
womb, which may result in pregnancy.
A follow-up appointment two weeks later to check
if the embryo has implanted will show if the transfer was successful.
After the procedure, women may experience some
cramping, bloating, and vaginal discharge.
Types of embryo transfer
In order to extract and fertilize the eggs during
IVF, doctors generally follow the same process every time. Once fertilization
has occurred, there are a few different options available for embryo transfer:
Fresh embryo transfer: Once eggs have been
fertilized, they are cultured for one to two days. The best eggs are chosen to
transfer directly to the woman’s uterus.
Frozen embryo transfer: Any healthy embryos that
were not used in the first transfer can be frozen and stored for future use.
These can be thawed and transferred to the uterus.
Blastocyst embryo transfer: If many healthy
embryos develop after the fertilization, doctors may recommend that the woman
wait to see if the embryos develop into blastocysts. According to a study in
the Indian Journal of Clinical Practice, blastocyst embryo transfer has a
higher success rate than the standard embryo transfer on day 3.
