Days Post 3-Day Transfer (DP3DT)

Published: September 6, 2017

What Does Days Post 3-Day Transfer (DP3DT) Mean?

Days post 3-day transfer (DP3DT) is a term and acronym used to indicate the number of days that have passed since an embryo that had grown in a lab for 3 days was transferred into a uterus as part of an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure.

In this case, it is a 3-day embryo that is transferred (as opposed to a 5-day embryo). For example, 5DP3DT would indicate that it had been five days since a 3-day embryo was transferred.

The number of days post transfer is generally tracked to identify the optimal day to take a pregnancy test to determine if the transfer was successful or not.

FertilitySmarts Explains Days Post 3-Day Transfer (DP3DT)

During the process of IVF, eggs are retrieved, fertilized by sperm in a laboratory, and the resulting zygotes are allowed to mature in a lab setting. Embryos are generally transferred to a uterus at either 3 or 5 days after fertilization, depending on a number of factors.

When only a small number of embryos are dividing and growing as expected in the lab, it is usually evident after only three days which ones are the highest quality. Therefore, a transfer can be done after three days to provide these embryos with the ideal environment inside the uterus in order for them to grow, develop, and hopefully implant properly. See this iimplantation timeline for more info.

Here is a breakdown of the events that follow a 3-day embryo transfer, if successful:

  • 1DP3DT: At 1-day post-3-day transfer, the embryo continues to grow and develop.
  • 2DP3DT: At 2 days post-3-day transfer, the embryo develops into a blastocyst.
  • 3DP3DT: At 3 days post-3-day transfer, hatching occurs, where the blastocyst hatches out of its outer shell.
  • 4DP3DT: At 4 days post-3-day transfer, the blastocyst attaches to a point on the lining of the uterus.
  • 5DP3DT: At 5 days post-3-day transfer, the blastocyst begins to dig into the uterine lining, starting the process of implantation.
  • 6DP3DT: At 6 days post-3-day transfer, implantation continues, with the blastocyst burying deeper.
  • 7DP3DT: At 7 days post-3-day transfer, implantation is generally complete and the blastocyst has divided into fetal cells and placental cells.
  • 8DP3DT: At 8 days post-3-day transfer, the cells making up the placenta start to secrete human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) – this is the hormone that is detected by pregnancy tests.
  • 11DP3DT: At 11 days post-3-day transfer, hCG in the bloodstream reaches a level high enough to be detected by a home pregnancy test, although another should be done 2 days later to be sure. A blood test can also be done, which is more accurate and reliable.

Implantation timeline after a 3 day transfer.

Share This Term

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Related Reading

Trending Articles

Go back to top