The difference of operation steps between frozen embryo and blastocyst of test tube baby
IVF is a method to help infertile couples achieve fertility through artificial assisted reproduction technology. In the process of IVF, frozen embryos and blastocysts are common ways of embryo storage. Frozen embryo refers to the freezing of fertilized eggs or early embryos, while blastocyst refers to the freezing of embryos after they are cultured to the blastocyst stage. Although both have gone through the process of embryo culture and freezing, there are some differences in the operation steps.
1. Culture of fertilized eggs
The operation steps of IVF frozen embryos and blastocysts start from the culture of fertilized eggs. The purpose of cultivating fertilized eggs is to let them develop into blastocysts, which is the key stage of successful implantation in the uterus. In the frozen embryo procedure, the culture time of fertilized eggs is usually controlled within 3-5 days, during which the embryos with the best development potential will be selected for cryopreservation. In the blastocyst procedure, the culture time of the fertilized eggs should be extended to 5-6 days, so that the embryos can be frozen when they develop to a higher quality blastocyst stage.
In Hospital A, the implementation steps of frozen embryos and blastocysts are the same as those of the world famous IVF center.
2. Freezing stage
Freezing is a method of storing embryos in IVF program. Frozen embryos and blastocysts have different steps in the freezing stage. In the frozen embryo procedure, after the fertilized eggs are cultured, the fertilized eggs with good quality and advantages are selected for cryopreservation. Embryos are exposed to a specific liquid for a short time, and then rapidly cooled to a very low temperature. However, in the blastocyst procedure, the freezing operation is relatively complex. Since the blastocyst has developed to a higher stage, it is necessary to gradually replace the culture medium with a liquid containing cryoprotectant, and the embryo is gradually exposed to low temperature before freezing.
3. Thawing procedure
Thawing is the process of recovering frozen embryos from low temperature to normal temperature. In the frozen embryo program and the blastocyst program, the steps of thawing are different. For frozen embryos, the speed of thawing is generally fast. By putting the embryos into a specific culture medium, they can quickly return to their normal temperature. However, the thawing process of blastocysts is more complicated and takes a longer time. Under the guidance of doctors, the embryos were gradually exposed to different concentrations of culture medium, and slowly returned to normal temperature.
4. Transplantation and pregnancy
After thawing, frozen embryos and blastocysts need embryo transfer to achieve pregnancy. The procedure of embryo transfer is similar in both procedures. Doctors use long, thin tubes to implant embryos into a woman's uterus. In the next few weeks, pregnancy testing and monitoring will be carried out to determine whether the pregnancy is successful.
In general, the operation steps of IVF frozen embryos and blastocysts are mainly different in the culture of fertilized eggs, freezing stage, thawing procedures, and transplantation and pregnancy. In the frozen embryo procedure, the culture time of the fertilized egg is shorter and the embryo development degree is lower; In the blastocyst procedure, the culture time of fertilized eggs is longer and the degree of embryo development is higher. In the freezing stage, the operation steps of blastocysts are more complicated than those of frozen embryos, requiring more processing. In the thawing procedure, the thawing process of frozen embryos is relatively fast, while the recovery of blastocysts takes longer. Whether frozen embryo or blastocyst, the procedure of embryo transfer is similar, and follow-up monitoring and inspection are carried out after pregnancy.
To sum up, there are some differences between frozen embryos and blastocysts in the operation steps of IVF procedure, involving fertilized egg culture, freezing stage, thawing procedure, transplantation and pregnancy. The difference of these steps makes frozen embryos and blastocysts available for selection in different situations to meet the needs of patients. According to the doctor's suggestions and actual needs, couples can choose the most suitable method to achieve IVF.
