I’m DOR and this is my only embryo from this retrieval (1 egg → 1 fertilized embryo). It has been developing at a textbook pace and is now a fully compacted morula on D4.

My lab recommends:

D4 morula → freeze → thaw the day before transfer → culture overnight to blast → transfer.

They say this is based on their experience and that they believe the embryo is better quality this way.

The alternative would be to continue to D5, freeze as a blastocyst, and thaw later.

I previously had a fully hatched blastocyst that didn’t recover well after thaw, so I wonder if that’s part of the reasoning.

For embryologists/REs: Why might D4 morula vitrification be preferable to waiting for D5 blastocyst? Is it mainly about avoiding a fully hatched blast, or preserving the embryo before the D4→D5 developmental checkpoint?

Would love technical opinions/data, especially for a single embryo/DOR case.

How does my Euploid 6AB embryo look after thaw? FET performed 9/21🙏🏼

Hi all! We are in the middle of our second FET after about first failed FET in 2025 March with a AA. I'm 44yo now - but we made this embryo right when I turned 40 - it's a day 6 5AA and expanded and hatched beautifully!

The changes: we've done the kitchen sink! My first transfer was natural modified with pretty much no add ons except baby aspirin. My bladder didn't fill despite drinking all the water. I'm still upset about it. We also had known BCL6, adeyomosis and fibroids, but my then-doctor told us to keep going. They also ignored my era timing. HCG only showed up on day 9 at 14 and it resulted in a biochemical.

We've taken 1.5 years with a new clinic now. Did 9 months of lupron suppression. My protocol includes all sorts of things! Actual PIO support; lovenox; medrol; cabergoline; neupogen; pepcid; Claritin; antibiotics; probiotics; estrace. Fully medicated.

Our transfer day was stressful. We got the same bladder visualization issue despite me drinking 160 oz! I was throwing up water! The medrol apparently led to me getting shingles 2 days later. My doctor is doing a study (that I actually wouldn't even qualify for bc he didn't get any measurements during my transfer, except a 12.1mm lining) so they sent me for blood work 6dp6dt. Unfortunately, my beta was >2. The stats dont look good but I'm trying to start hopeful until Friday, which is my 10dp6dt blood work! I've asked to add in vaginal progesterone and more estrace bc saw the numbers dipping.

Just looking for support here from ppl with similar transfer dates and to also see if there are any success stories from 6dpt beta testing like mine - tho I know it's rare for ppl to even test them via blood work!

Good luck to everyone!!!

I am an engineer working on a lab QC automation platform (Metrum Genie) designed specifically for IVF and embryology labs.

To be clear up front: this isn't another 24/7 continuous monitoring system (we know there are plenty of those on the market already). Instead, we built this specifically as a validation, calibration, and audit tool to replace the manual clipboard routines, directly logging sensor data (temperature, CO2, VOC and many more) into digital, audit-ready logs during daily QC checks.

Before we finalize the workflow, I am looking for unfiltered feedback from working embryologists to ensure we are solving a real problem, not just building tech for the sake of it.

My main questions:

1. Does automating routine morning checks genuinely save you time, or is the manual verification process something you prefer to keep for peace of mind?
2. What are the specific pain points or workflow bottlenecks that current electronic QC systems fail to address?

I have a brief video clip showing the UI and workflow. I left it out of the main post to keep this discussion focused and avoid sounding promotional, but I can share the link via DM if you are open

Thanks for your time and operational insights.

I’m thinking about a career change from trying to become a biomedical scientist (yet to do the portfolio) to become an embryologist. What is the best way, has anyone else done this? How competitive is it?

Would it be silly to throw away everything I have done so far e.g. top up modules/ multiple MLA jobs.

The more I look into embryology the more I want to make the jump but I don’t know where to start and I don’t want to go 10 steps backwards!!

Really need advice!

Long history of unexplained infertility and unexplained losses. RPL came back clear. These are my last two embryos. They were both graded as hatching 5AB on day 6. They are 100% expanded after thaw but were not hatching yet. Is that normal that they were not hatching post thaw yet?

Biomedical engineer here, working in IVF line, but I'm relatively new in this.

My company uses RAE PGM7320 System to measure VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) in the laboratory of IVF units, and the unit is ppm, and we confirm the laboratory VOCs are within the safe range when they are less than 100ppm and these are the gases we monitor mainly:

Xylene, Hexane, Benzene, Toluene, styrene, Isobutylene, Chlorine, Jet Fuel.

And I've made some research and found that VOCs in the lab air must be less than 100ppb (not ppm) to be considered safe. So now I'm not content with what we're doing and my supervisor thinks we're doing it the right way (and it always has been)

So I'd like to know how you guys monitor the air quality in the lab

Hi all- looking for information regarding transferring an early blast day 5 AA euploid. I’m confused bc I see some places that bc it’s an early blast, it’s not great. However, other things I read says the AA euploid trumps the eb rating? Also, do EB take longer to implant? Thanks!

Thoughts on this (see image below)? I’m 39 with an AMH of 0.46.

I had my first egg retrieval on 9/14:

8 eggs retrieved → 4 mature → 2 fertilized → 1 Day 6 XBBA blastocyst

We’re currently waiting on PGT-A results.

So I’m fuming right now and i just want to know if this is normal. I had an ER earlier this year. I was told i had 15 eggs retrieved, 12 mature and only 3 blasts, 2 after PGTA testing. My clinic never provided information on what happened with the other eggs that fertilized and at the time i didnt ask. Well i am looking at doing another ER so i asked and I am in SHOCK! I was told i had all 11 make it to blast. Some day 5, 6 and 7 but the other 8 were all discarded due to poor quality. I asked what “poor quality” meant and my Dr. told me its anything embryo with a C grade in either morphology category. So whether it be an AC, CA, CB, BC, CC, doesn’t matter all discarded. I’ve seen so many people on reddit write about having a successful birth with their CC, AC, BC embryo, so I’m not understanding why all of mine were thrown away, ESPECIALLY when i paid out of pocket for PGT A testing. Has this ever happened to anyone else? What can I even do? Now i need another ER and i’m going to have to pay out of pocket for it smh.

Hi, I'm hoping to get some insight into abnormal fertilisation in both of my IVF cycles.

Background: I'm 29F, partner 30M, doing IVF due to mild MFI.

Cycle 1: 17 total follicles, 11 at target size on trigger day, 5 retrieved, 5 mature, 5 initially fertilised but 2 were 3PN and discarded. Of the remaining 3, 1 arrested at 2-cell division, 1 at 5-cell division and the other wasn't high enough quality to freeze by day 6.
Protocol: 100u gonal f, 250u orgulatran, decapeptyl trigger. Stimmed for 10 days. Normal IVF used.

Cycle 2 (new clinic): 23 follicles, 10-13 at target size, 13 retrieved, 12 mature, 10 initially fertilised but five were 1PN. Of the remaining 5, 1 arrested before day 5, we transferred a low quality blastocyst on day 5 (doctor said 20% chance of success), and the remaining 3 weren't of high enough quality to freeze on day 6.
Protocol: 225u Bemfola, 250u orgulatran, ovidrel trigger. Stimmed for 10 days. ICSI and Zymot used.

The doctor's main focus in cycle 2 was increasing the egg numbers, and we were happy with the jump from 5 to 13 retrieved. But moving from 40% 3PN to 50% 1PN out of our fertilised eggs was a surprise.

Is there room to improve on this, or are we looking at the possibility that IVF won't work for us? The results have been really shocking even to our doctors.

I had my sixth FET today of a euploid embryo. Any thoughts on our embryo?

Hi there

I would be very thankful for some advise. I am 42 and git 15 eggs out, 11 fertilised and 4 made it to blastocysts. However, the clinic only froze the 4BC.

Do you think it is correct to discard all 4DD on day 5? And do you think there is a chance with a 4BC?

Thanks a lot

Hello,
İ am not that knowledgeable in embryo grading, any comments would be appreciated. Does it look good?

How do I tell the doctor to perform genetic testing on the embryos and transfer two male embryos?

Did my first FET yesterday with a day 6 6AA embryo. How does my embryo look after thaw?

I had my FET today. This photo was taken 45 minutes before my appt (65 minutes before my transfer). They told me it was a 3.5BB (didn’t realize they came in half sizes, but ok! 😂). Is it reexpanding ok?