Blastocyst quality affects the success of blastocyst-stage embryo transfer

Objective: To determine the relationship between blastocyst quality and the results of embryo transfer at the blastocyst stage. Design: Retrospective case analysis. Setting: Tertiary care private hospital IVF center. Patient(s): A total of 350 blastocyst-stage embryo transfer cycles. Intervention(s): In vitro culture to the blastocyst stage was undertaken in 350 ICSI cycles where four or more cleavage-stage embryos were available on day 3. Main Outcome Measure(s): Relationship between blastocyst quality and implantation and clinical and multiple pregnancy rates. Result(s): Transfer of at least one grade 1 or grade 2 blastocyst or one hatching blastocyst was associated with very high implantation and pregnancy rates. However, transfer of grade 3 blastocysts yielded very low implantation and pregnancy rates. Conclusion(s): There appears to be a strong correlation between blastocyst quality and success of blastocyst transfer. (C) 2000 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.