Poor Embryo Quality IVF Success

If you are facing poor embryo quality, success rates may be at the top of your mind.

There are options for you no matter your embryo quality, and understanding the implications of embryo grading and the associated success rates is important for anyone who wants to grow their family through IVF.

If you have low-graded embryos, talk to your fertility specialist about whether surrogacy may increase your chances of successful pregnancy. Contact a surrogacy professional now or learn more about low graded embryos learn more here. If you have embryos ready, you can be matched with a surrogate in an average of 1 - 6 months.

Continue reading to learn about the success rates of IVF with poor quality embryos and what constitutes poor quality, and explore potential options, including surrogacy.

IVF Success with Low Quality Embryos

IVF success with low quality embryos averages about 10-20%, depending on various factors. While poor embryo quality IVF success rates are generally lower, there are still possibilities for success.  

Having low quality embryos doesn’t mean that you can’t have a healthy baby, but as you consider your options, knowing your odds can help you make good decisions for your family. Having low-quality embryos may mean more rounds of IVF, as well as additional medical treatment.

In the end, low quality embryos may mean that your IVF journey is more costly to achieve pregnancy, and you may have lower odds of pregnancy.

Factors Impacting Poor Quality Embryo Success Rates

Several factors can influence the success of IVF, even when working with poor quality embryos:

• Age: Younger women often experience higher success rates due to increased reproductive health.
• Hormonal Levels: Proper hormonal balance is crucial for successful implantation. Hormonal imbalances can significantly affect the chances of success.
• Uterine Health: A healthy uterine environment is essential for embryo implantation. Any abnormalities in the uterus can hinder the chances of a successful pregnancy.

If you have low-graded embryos, surrogacy may optimize your chances of successful pregnancy when you find a pre-screened surrogate who has a history of successful pregnancy. Contact a surrogacy professional now or learn more about transfer success rates here.

Understanding Poor Embryo Quality in IVF

Poor embryo quality typically refers to embryos that have suboptimal characteristics according to grading systems used by fertility clinics.

Grading systems can vary, but generally they evaluate embryos on specific criteria based on the day of development:

Day 3 Embryo Grading

On day 3, embryos are typically graded on a scale of 1 to 4:

• Grade 1: Excellent quality, evenly sized cells.
• Grade 2: Good quality, but some fragmentation may be present.
• Grade 3: Poor quality, more fragmentation, and uneven cell division.
• Grade 4: Very poor quality, with significant fragmentation.

Day 5 Embryo Grading (Blastocyst Stage)

Embryos on day 5 are graded on three components:

• Number: Embryo expansion: How far along the embryo is in its development.
• First letter: Inner cell mass (ICM): This is part of the embryo that will become the fetus.
• Second letter: Trophectoderm (TE): This is the part of the embryo that will become the placenta.

For example: 6AA or 4BC. Read more about embryo grading here.

Embryo expansion is graded from 1-6, with 6 being the most expanded.

For the letter components of the embryo grade, A is considered the best quality.

• A: High quality, well-formed blastocyst.
• B: Moderate quality, some irregularities.
• C: Poor quality, likely to have issues with implantation.

Poor quality embryo success rate is often lower than that of higher-grade embryos, but it’s important to note that even lower-grade embryos can sometimes lead to successful pregnancies.

Options for Enhancing Success Rates

If you are faced with poor quality embryos, there are options to consider that may improve your chances of success:

Lifestyle Choices

Making healthy lifestyle choices can lead to an overall improvement in health and possible improvements in reproductive health. In some cases doing things like eating a healthy diet, exercising, avoiding things like cigarettes and alcohol, and reducing overall stress can improve your health.

But in some cases, reproductive health factors may be out of your control.

Medical Treatments

A fertility specialist can sometimes offer additional treatments that may improve your chances of carrying a pregnancy yourself. Things like medical tests, medications, and uterine procedures can help fertility specialists find and treat some causes of low fertility.

Surrogacy as an Option

Beyond medical treatments, surrogacy can provide a pathway to parenthood for those struggling with poor quality embryos. This process involves another woman carrying the pregnancy, allowing for potential success despite the challenges posed by lower grade embryos.

This option can be especially helpful for families that have lower-graded embryos and a low chance of pregnancy due to things like age or uterine environment.

Why Surrogacy?

Surrogacy can optimize your chances of success because pre-screened surrogates have undergone health evaluations and had previous successful pregnancies. This can mean:

• Uterine Environment: A surrogate may have a healthier uterine environment, which can enhance implantation chances.
• Time Efficiency: Surrogacy can often expedite the process of achieving a successful pregnancy, particularly for couples who have faced multiple IVF failures or have a low chance of success with IVF.
• Lower Risk of Health Complications: If you are at higher risk due to your health, a surrogate can sometimes mean lower risk of health complications both for the carrier and the baby. Because surrogates have had previous healthy pregnancies and are screened for health, there may be fewer risks.

If you have embryos ready, you can be matched with a surrogate in an average of 1 - 6 months. Learn more about available surrogates or get connected to a surrogacy professional now.

While poor embryo quality can present challenges during IVF, understanding the grading system and exploring options like surrogacy can enhance your chances of a successful pregnancy.

View success stories here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can average quality embryos become healthy babies?

Yes, average quality embryos can and do lead to healthy pregnancies and babies, although pregnancy success rates may be lower compared to high-quality embryos.

What is a “failed” embryo quality?

A “failed” embryo quality typically refers to embryos that do not develop as expected or do not lead to a successful pregnancy. These embryos may have poor grading or exhibit significant fragmentation.

Can a poor quality egg implant?

Yes, a poor quality egg can form into an embryo and implant, but the likelihood of success is reduced. Many factors influence this, including the uterine environment and hormonal levels.

What is the success rate of CB embryos?

Success rates for CB embryos can vary, as this is a fair/poor quality embryo grading, the likelihood of success may fall between 10%-30%.