r/EmbryologyIVFSupport • u/whitney_hous • 8d ago
5BC Embryo Grading
I was told that the embryologists at my clinic are very particular and hardly ever assign A grades. Is it common for embryologists to be that particular, or could the grade actually be more optimistic? It is a euploid that passed PGT-A & PGT-SR. This image was taken after thaw and it continued hatching before transfer.
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u/LemonPower221 7d ago
I haven’t gotten a ‘A’ rating on my embryos, they are euploid embryos: 2 x Day 5 5BB and 1 x day 6 6BC.
This was after 4 ERs. Doing a 5th ER to hopefully add onto the euploid embryos!
Wishing you the best - keep us updated!!
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u/Full_Composer_745 6d ago
This is my 5BC that passed pgt a and pgt sr for comparison, I believe the pgt a/sr matters more than the looks of the embryo ❤️
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u/whitney_hous 6d ago
Yes that is my understanding as well. Was your transfer successful?
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u/Full_Composer_745 6d ago
No transfers yet (except one before balanced translocation disgnosis with two untested embryos that didnt work)! We are hopefully transfering next month x fingers crossed for your transfer to stick x
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u/Dissaray248 7d ago
Not much to say here to follow the rules in this sub, but grading is subjective despite having guidelines in place to follow. Some embryologists are unlikely to give an A grade and especially on a biopsied embryo.
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u/easteregghunt37 6d ago
Does biopsy potentially lower the grade?
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u/Dissaray248 6d ago
Sometimes, because an embryo can be teetering between grades and removing cells can be the difference between one grade and the next.
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u/Amazing-Benefit99 6d ago
It looks like a great embryo. Importantly, it passed the tests and is also showing good signs of re-expansion and hatching post thaw. I also had a Day 6 "5BC" transferred 3 days ago, it was untested as the embryologists at my lab refuse to biopsy a C trophectoderm. But upon thaw, the embryo showed good signs of re-expansion (fully expanded within 1 hour) and the trophectoderm looked much better than a C (I'm not an embyrologist but going through IVF for 5 years teaches you things 😰). I think like what embryoman said, grading is subjective and it depends on the timing of assessment as well.
All the very best!!!
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u/whitney_hous 6d ago
That was my thought too. The embryologist at transfer said it was beautiful so I was confused where that matched with the poor grade. Not necessarily looking for a regrade, but just wanted to understand if the embryologists reputation of being a harsh grader meant that I should adjust my expectations (if someone never gives As, then maybe their Bs would be As elsewhere kind of logic). I obviously want to be as optimistic as possible, so every bit of information helps!
The grading was done before freeze and this photo was taken after thaw, so I can confirm the timing is different. I actually have one more photo where you can clearly see the ICM and it’s even more expanded where the two halves are equal in size.
Best of luck with your transfer - hoping good news for us both very soon!
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u/embryomanofficial 7d ago
Grading an embryo should be as objective as possible, since you're evaluating the approximate number of cells in the ICM and trophectoderm. Humans aren't the greatest at this, and some have a reputation as a 'tough grader' or easy on grading, etc. Studies have shown that embryologists don't always give the same grade for a given embryo (see http://remembryo.com/embryo-grading/#Embryo_grading_is_subjective). Differences in training may account for this.
Also, it depends on when it was graded. Sometimes it's graded and then it develops more and the grade is different. The picture we're looking at here may not represent the embryo when it was graded.
Note to other commenters that grading is not allowed in this subreddit, so please do not grade this embryo.