First Irish delivery following sequential, two-stage embryo and blastocyst transfer

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Medicine
• Embryology
• In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Background:

• The optimal timing for embryo transfer (ET) in in vitro fertilization (IVF) remains debated, lacking clear guidelines for selecting day-3 or blastocyst transfers.
• Blastocyst transfer is often preferred, but few patients undergo both day-3 and blastocyst transfers within the same IVF cycle.

Observation:

• A case report details a 35.5-year-old female with tubal factor infertility undergoing IVF.
• The procedure involved a unique two-stage/dual catheter transfer: a fresh day-3 embryo and a thawed day-6 blastocyst on separate days.
• This dual transfer strategy resulted in a healthy term singleton livebirth.

Findings:

• Successful pregnancy and livebirth achieved through a coordinated two-stage embryo transfer.
• Demonstrates the feasibility of transferring both a day-3 embryo and a blastocyst in a single IVF treatment cycle.

Implications:

• This case highlights a potentially effective strategy for optimizing IVF success rates.
• Suggests that coordinated two-stage embryo transfer can be a valuable approach in specific infertility cases.
• Presents the first documented successful application of this combined transfer technique in Ireland.