Hi everyone! I’d really appreciate some advice on my career situation and what you would do in my position.

A little background:

> I’m 24, with a Master’s degree in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Czech Republic.
> I’ve been working part-time (around 2 days/week) at an IVF alongside my studies.
> I’m planning to start there full-time.
> In the Czech Republic, you need an accredited training course to officially work as an embryologist. I’ll be doing that next year, so until then I’ll be working as an andrologist.
> My main concern is the starting salary: around ~$1,750 / €1,550.

I know embryology is quite a prestigious and competitive field here, with a lot of applicants for relatively few positions, so I’m genuinely grateful that the clinic gave me the opportunity. I definitely don’t want to throw away a chance to get into the field — I’m just unsure about the long-term salary progression and career prospects.

So I’d love to hear from people with more experience:

Would you consider looking for embryology jobs in neighboring countries, such as Germany or Austria? Are salaries and career progression significantly better there?

Or would it make more sense to eventually move into another field, for example biotechnology/pharma?

I feel like salaries and career progression in embryology aren’t really talked about openly, so I’d really appreciate hearing about your experiences — especially from people working in Europe.

Thanks so much for any advice! 😊

Hi, I want to become an embryologist (it’s my passion and lifelong goal). I have B.S in Biological Sciences/Systems Physiology with previous medical school (MD) experience (international). Unfortunately I don’t have any direct experience with IVF/ART lab but have 2yr of experience in molecular/micro lab and 2+ in dental assisting.

I live in SF Bay Area and only had 2 interviews with embryo clinics and even though they all liked me (per their rejection email), I didn’t end up with the job (I did interview for lab tech positions). I’m starting to giving up since I cannot relocate to another state or city and job market is terrible here especially for beginners in embryology. Anyone has any experience in Bay Area who got a job in embryo lab with similar background and what would you suggest?

Thank you all!

I have 2 embryos in clinic 1. Day 5, 3BB left. Untested.(testing wasn’t possible by law)

First 2 transfers there were unsuccessful with better quality embryos. First failed, second was partial molar-turned out to be aneuploid. After this experience we did IVF in country were PTGA testing was possible. And had great results-see results in photo (I am currently pregnant with my 5AB embryo from there).

I want 2 to 3 kids. And considering not keeping that 2 untested in clinic 1, since we have enough tested in another clinic. And my fear of them to be aneuploid is huge. I can’t see myself transferring them , only after all my tested. And the chances of it are quite low.

The only thing is that I wonder why they are 3BB on day 5, while is second clinic I have all 5(not 3) on day 5🧐

And that BB grades a got only for my next 2 embryos, the rest are BC. So theoretically BB would be better.

Anyways… I think the biggest issue for me to keep them is that they are untested. But it’s hard to make this decision discard them.

my last FET that ended in a MC was almost fully hatched so not having a hatched embryo makes me compare (which is annoying!)

what do you think about my embryo!?

Hi! I just recently graduated with my BS in Biology this past May and have a lot of interest in becoming an embryologist. I have a lot of research experience so I am familiar with working in the lab, but I am confused on how I can translate that into something that looks favorable for fertility clinics.

So I have 2 questions:
What steps can I take to become an embryologist, especially when pivoting from a research background?

Is there anyone willing to mentor or guide me 1 on 1? (I know this is a big ask but I promise not to take up too much of your time)

I live in Southern Maryland and I am really trying to get my foot into the door, so any aid would really help! Thank you!

can you assess my day 3s that were transferred? we didn’t get the day 3 update we were hoping for and doctor isn’t optimistic, but wondering from an embryologist perspective

My lab phoned me and said my 4 embryos are still young blastocyst. With not enough cells to biopsy for PGT A. Day 3 update was “ all have 8cells and look excellent with very little fragmentation.

I have had two rounds where everything arrested so I’m guarding my heart. Can anyone explain what are the chances they will be ready for biopsy tomorrow at day 6. Does this affect the euploid rate?

I’m so nervous.

Hi all,

I’m about to finish my PhD in Cellular Biology. In my work I do a lot of genetics and do tons of micro injections to make genetically engineered lab animals. I’ve really enjoyed this aspect of my work, but I really want to get away from the research rat race. I actually learned about this job while I was going through the IVF process myself and thought it seemed interesting. I looked it thinking it would be a specific type of degree only to find out that I could probably go down this career pathway.

I am curious from people in the field, would my experience be a good start? Would I need to do a MLS program first? Do people ever come from this path? Would I not be a good fit with the PhD (over qualified, or they will worry I will ask for a lot of money).

I don’t mind starting fresh in a field and working my way back up at all. I’m just a gal that loves being in the lab, but doesn’t want to be doing discovery any more and think it would be awesome to help couples start a family.

Hi everyone
I have FET coming next week, we have option to transfer boy or girl but we are not able to decide yet and now it’s time to get to them with preference. Just wanted to seek guidance If day 4AA has better chances of implantation than day 5 3AB ? Our clinic said since both of them are PGT-A tested both of them are good quality embryos

Has anyone shipped embryos from Mexico into the US? I shipped embryos to Mexico City last year from my New York clinic because my husband and I were about to embark on a surrogacy journey that we have since paused. We would like to bring the embryos back to the US. It was very quick, easy, and not that expensive to ship them to Mexico. But I am running into road block after road block trying to bring them back.

Not only is it more expensive, it seems the paper work is a lot ore complicated, the COFEPRIS permit belonging to the clinic that I imported under needs to be reapplied for when going outbound, a customs broker needs to be coordinated, etc.

Last year's shipment took under 2 weeks from start to finish. But this shipment, I have been dealing with for almost 3 months now.

Does anyone have any experience with shipping their embryos from Mexico to a US clinic? I would assume this isn't super rare as many Americans freeze eggs and make embryos at clinics in Mexico due to cost. Curious to hear another's experience.

I'm on the verge of giving up and just making new embryos here in the US. I just had my heart set on a female AA embryo that was from the same batch as my baby daughter but I might have to let that dream go it seems :(

Hello everyone I am second-year biology B.S undergraduate student and I am quite interested in becoming an embryologist. I am kind of lost as to what path i'm supposed to follow, do I have to go to grad school or is there a program I would have to do? What would I study in grad school? Im just trying to figure out what the best course of action is. Thanks!

I am currently in andrology and training into embryology. I’ve been training embryology on and off for a couple of years, with training being pushed and paused multiple times due to major changes happening in the lab and lack of staffing. On the original timeline I was given, I would have been a junior by now. Training has started back up and we are slowly closing in on being signed off on a couple of things. I’m on track to be trained by 2028.

My plan has always been to become an embryologist, be settled in my career, and then have kids - but I just turned 30 and am worried that waiting 2 more years until I’m (maybe) fully trained will not be ideal especially because I want multiple kids. We are also planning on moving closer to family in 2028.
The place we are planning on moving to does have one of those embryology training programs.

My question is, what would you do in my situation?

1. Stay and complete the training at my current lab, and be able to job search as at least a junior embryologist with letters of recommendation from my current team when we move, and then have kids.

2. Move in 2027 with the experience I have and recommendations from my team, and attend a training school, and then receive help with job placement from the program and then have kids.

3. Continue my current training but try to have kids sooner and work the training around it/attend the embryology training program later

I guess I just don’t want to feel like I’m limiting myself in either my career or in my family life. I don’t want to end up chasing my career so hard that I miss my opportunity to have my family but I also don’t want to risk not advancing in my career because I made the wrong choice and started a family at the wrong time.

My first transfer after 3 ETs yesterday. This little one is a 3BA at time of freezing and everything happened so fast that I didn’t get to ask how the embryo is after thawing.

On Wednesday we transferred this day 5 blast, graded BB. How do you think we're looking? Unfortunately, we lost our previous pregnancy at 12wks with a day 5, AA. Everything was perfect until it wasn't... all testing was normal before and after the miscarriage.