Final Report

We received the final report before we get our grades. As a reminder, the blastocysts are graded on symmetry, size and other criteria. This is a little odd because the criteria to be considered a blastocyst are fairly strict, so there is not much difference in statistical odds between and “A” and a “D” embryo. Nonetheless, the grading system exists.
 

But back to our results…
 

Quantity	Cell Count
2	Eleven-Cell
5	Eight-Cell
2	Six-Cell
1	Five-Cell

Again, the clinic has told us the five morulae with eight cells are the best “textbook” formations. The good news from this is we still have ten potential candidates, including the oddball pronuclei one. However, now comes the next 48 hours of silence, where they are in the incubator and no one looks at them until grading them right before transfer.
 

To clarify, there are two times to transfer: Day 3 or Day 5. Obviously, we are not doing a Day 3 transfer. In the early days of IVF a Day 3 transfer was the standard procedure, but with advances in IVF, waiting for Day 5 offers better odds. However, Day 3 transfers are still performed, but this is usually only done if the young zygotes are not growing as expected. Then several are transferred for the hope that one of them will survive and implant.
 

What all that means is our ten little multi-celled blobs look good enough to trust that at least some of them will develop into blastocysts, which have more than 50 cells and are ready to implant. And that is a blessing until itself. At this point we have to count each blessing that occurs.
 

Another interesting piece of advanced biology we learned today is about what happens after the 72-hour mark. Up to this point, all the cell-division has been by the egg itself. The egg is fertilized and has combined DNA from its earliest zygote existence, but the DNA instructions from the egg are the only ones being executed for the first 72 hours. Only after this point does the DNA portion from the sperm kick it and start contributing to development.
 

[Insert joke here about the woman doing all the work while the man sits in his recliner for three days before realizing she’s been doing anything.]
 

The part of this information that creates anxiety for us is last time we had seven viable morulae on Day 3, which only resulted in one blastocyst two days later at transfer. Applying deductive reasoning, it is possible to conclude the issue with proper development between Day 3 and Day 5 is due to the sperm cells not doing their genetic part properly.
 

While it’s impossible to know if this is the explanation or whether the last time was just not God’s timing, this knowledge has introduced a new wrinkle in the situation. And even then, last time we did get a healthy blastocyst, so we know my sperm is not totally invalid. However, they are using MESA sperm, which means they are a little young in their own growth cycle when fertilizing the egg and might impact the potency to a minor degree. So, I’ve been giving “the boys” a pep talk!
 

But in all seriousness, our conclusion is – we just don’t know. There are so many variables. IVF can only control some of them. So much is still up to fate, chance or Divine intervention. We will know more soon. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers.