3dt vs 5dt Q's

SNB2B

Hi,

I'm new to the IVF thing and am wondering about protocol etc. Does your RE tell you what they think the best protocol is for you including a 3dt or 5dt? What is the difference (obviously other than the number of days) is there a benefit to either choice? Is there a good informative website about IVF that answers questions like this? Is there a way to reduce the risk of high order multiples? Ok. I think that's it. Thanks so much!

roxydaisy

At my office, if you have several good quality embryos at 3 days, they'll let you go to 5 days to see which are looking best at that point.  I know lots of offices are different though.  I'm not sure if the outcome is better with a 5 days rather than a 3 though.  I've heard lots of success stories from both groups. 

GL!

blossom

You will not find out about a 3 day or 5 day transfer until after the egg retrieval and fertilization. The embryologist will grade the embryos and based on the # and quality, the doctor will decide on a 3 day or 5 day transfer. If you have a larger quantity of good embryos you'll likely do a 5 day. If you have a smaller # like 2 of less, then a 3 day.

5 day transfers are seen as stronger & more viable as they've had more time to grow.

check out ivfconnections for more info

lovemymonkey

hi there,

typically, my clinic doesn't make a decision for 3dt or 5dt until after retrieval and fertilization. If you have more than X good-looking embryos (sorry, can't remember what the cut-off # for my clinic is) on day 2, they will push you to a 5dt. If you only have a few, they'll do a 3dt.

In my case (I'm a multiple IVFer), I did 5dts for my first 3 IVF cycles, then did a 3dt for my 4th just b/c my RE wanted to try something different. For my current (5th) cycle, we did a 3dt b/c I only had 2 embryos fertilize.

the benefit to a 5dt is that the embryologist can observe the embryos longer in the lab. Think of it as "survival of the fittest" so by day 5, they can get a good feel of which embryos are the most likely to be viable based on how good they look to the embryologist (how evenly its dividing, how much fragmentation it has, etc.)

the benefit fo a 3dt is that the embryo is placed back in its natural environment sooner. And some clinics just prefer 3dt over 5dt.

to reduce the risk of HOM, you should just transfer one good embryo.

good luck to you!

jcombs

At my RE they only do 3dt for a first time IVF patient.  Their reasoning is you get a better chance of having more make it to freeze and then a better chance with a FET in the future if the IVF doesn't work.  I think there is good evidence on either side for doing either a 3 or 5 dt.