Embryo transfer

Embryo transfer is the process of placing the fertilized and cleaved embryos in the woman’s uterus. It is performed 2-5 days after egg retrieval. It is a simple and painless procedure, does not require anesthesia and takes only a few minutes. Using a fine and flexible catheter and a small syringe, the embryos are selected by the embryologist and aspired in a small quantity of culture fluid. The physician inserts the catheter through the vagina and cervix into the uterine cavity where the embryos are deposited with the assistance of ultrasound monitoring, where necessary.

Usually, two to three embryos are transferred. The number of embryos transferred depends on their quality (according to the morphological criteria mentioned previously), the woman’s age and the number of attempts the couple has undergone. Internationally, there is a noted trend to reduce the number of embryos transferred, in order to reduce multiple births and the perinatal complications these entail.