Expecting blog

Day 5 versus day 6 embryo in IVF
Fertility

What Is the Difference Between a Day 5 and Day 6 Embryo? - 5 min read

Short answer: A day 5 embryo and a day 6 embryo are usually both blastocysts. The difference is how quickly they reached that stage after fertilization. A day 5 blastocyst developed sooner; a day 6 blastocyst needed one additional day. Day 6 does not automatically mean poor quality, and transfer decisions should also consider chromosome screening, embryo grade, egg age, and the clinic laboratory's experience.…

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Can one embryo split into twins after transfer?
Fertility

Can One Embryo Split Into Twins After Transfer? - 5 min read

Short answer: Yes. A single embryo transferred during IVF can occasionally split and develop into identical twins. This is uncommon, but it means that single-embryo transfer greatly reduces - rather than completely eliminates - the chance of a twin pregnancy. How can one embryo become two babies? When one fertilized egg divides into two embryos, the result is a monozygotic, or identical, twin pregnancy. The…

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Do Frozen Embryos Expire? Expecting Answers
Fertility

Do Frozen Embryos Expire? - 6 min read

Short answer: Frozen embryos do not have a simple expiration date. When embryos remain continuously stored under properly controlled cryogenic conditions, they may remain usable for many years. However, whether a particular embryo can be transferred depends on more than time alone, including how it was frozen, embryo quality, laboratory records, storage conditions, the receiving clinic's policies, consent documents, and the medical plan for the…

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Should You Do PGT-A With Donor Eggs?
Fertility

Should You Do PGT-A With Donor Eggs? - 5 min read

Short answer: PGT-A can be performed on embryos created with donor eggs, but using donor eggs does not automatically mean the test is needed. Because egg donors are usually young and carefully screened, embryos made from donor eggs may already have a lower risk of age-related chromosome errors than embryos made with eggs from an older patient. The decision should be individualized with your fertility…

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Can You Use Both Donor Eggs and Donor Sperm for IVF?
Fertility

Can You Use Both Donor Eggs and Donor Sperm for IVF? - 6 min read

Short answer: Yes. IVF can use both donor eggs and donor sperm to create embryos. This is sometimes called double-donor IVF or double gamete donation. The intended parent or parents are not genetically related to the resulting embryo, but they direct the family-building process and, when applicable, one intended parent may carry the pregnancy. The exact medical, legal and counseling steps depend on the clinic,…

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What embryo grading means and whether a low-grade embryo can succeed
Fertility

What Does Embryo Grading Mean, and Can a Low-Grade Embryo Succeed? - 5 min read

Short answer: Embryo grading is a laboratory assessment of how an embryo looks and develops. It helps embryologists prioritize embryos for transfer or freezing, but it is not a genetic test and cannot predict pregnancy or live birth with certainty. A lower-grade embryo may still implant and result in a healthy birth. What is embryo grading in IVF? During IVF, embryologists monitor embryos as they…

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Global Fertility Trends on Surrogacy
Fertility

Impact of Global Fertility Trends on Surrogacy Demand - 4 min read

Over the past decade, global fertility patterns have been shifting in ways that directly impact how families are formed. From delayed parenthood to rising infertility rates, these changes are reshaping the demand for assisted reproductive technologies, including surrogacy. Understanding these global trends can provide valuable context for intended parents and help explain why surrogacy has become an increasingly common path to parenthood. Rising Infertility Rates…

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Impact of Age on Fertility
Fertility

Impact of Age on Fertility Options - 4 min read

Age is one of the most important factors influencing fertility and family-building decisions. For many intended parents, understanding how age affects reproductive options can help clarify the path forward and reduce uncertainty. While fertility changes over time, today there are multiple ways to build a family, even when natural conception becomes more challenging. How Age Affects Fertility Fertility gradually declines with age, particularly for women.…

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Baby is looking up
Fertility

An Emotional Toolbox for Fertility Treatment - 5 min read

Key points Stress caused by fertility treatment can create obstacles in the process of family building.It is difficult to digest information and make clear decisions when you are stressed.Stress can affect your health, relationships and is one of the main reasons people drop out of treatment.It is important to summon stress reduction strategies that work well for you. Fertility treatment often creates a cycle of…

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