{"id":74980,"date":"2016-11-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-11-26T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fertilitysmarts.com\/2016\/11\/26\/embryo-and-blastocyst-grading-how-does-it-work"},"modified":"2021-04-28T23:00:26","modified_gmt":"2023-11-04T17:44:20","slug":"embryo-and-blastocyst-grading-how-does-it-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fertilitysmarts.com\/embryo-and-blastocyst-grading-how-does-it-work\/2\/749","title":{"rendered":"Embryo and Blastocyst Grading – How Does it Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you have undergone or are planning to undergo a cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF)<\/a>, you will likely have heard that any embryos created through the process are likely to undergo a process of grading. This assessment is done by an embryologist<\/a> in the lab to assess embryo quality once the cells of the embryo start to divide.<\/p>\n

Please note that there isn't one standard method of grading embryos<\/strong>. Each clinic has its own grading system. You will need to ask your clinic how the grading of your embryos is described.<\/p>\n

That said, there is some technical terminology involved in understanding the basics of how embryos are graded. We hope this guide can provide you with the knowledge needed to understand how this process may be done at your clinic.<\/p>\n

Read: <\/strong>16 Tips to Prepare for IVF<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Why Are Embryos Graded?<\/h2>\n

Embryo grading is done primarily to assess the overall quality of the embryos<\/strong> and so the doctor can give you information about your IVF cycle both during and after the cycle. It is a way to assign a scientific "value" to each embryo and allows the embryologist to choose the best ones for transfer and freezing.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Embryos with a higher grade are more likely to implant with the uterine lining, most likely because these embryos have a higher chance of being chromosomally normal<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

In other words, not all embryos are created equally, and grading helps to select the genetically normal embryos that are more likely to grow<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Read: From Eggs to Blastocysts: Understanding IVF Attrition <\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

What if My Embryos Have a Poor Grading?<\/h2>\n

Most people have a range of grades within their group of embryos<\/strong> from an IVF cycle, and the embryologist will pick the best ones out of that particular group. We have seen babies born from different grades of embryos<\/strong>, so try not to focus on the numbers too much.<\/p>\n

Although lower grade embryos have less chance of implanting than their more handsome counterparts, it’s s<\/strong>till possible to achieve a pregnancy from embryos that are not ideal<\/strong> when viewed under a microscope.<\/p>\n

Remember that the grading isn't totally predictive of implantation, and no scientist can tell for sure<\/a> if an embryo is going to implant and grow just by looking down the microscope.<\/p>\n

Biology Basics: How Embryos Grow<\/h2>\n

To understand embryo grading, it helps to first understand the biology behind embryo growth. When an egg is fertilized by a sperm, it becomes a zygote<\/a> and is at the 1 cell stage.<\/p>\n

To grow, the zygote does not get bigger, but rather it goes through a process of cell division (called meiosis) by dividing from 1 cell into 2 cells, then 4, 8, 16, 32 cells, etc.<\/p>\n

\"EmbryoCell Division<\/sup>
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Related:<\/strong><\/p>\n