During embryo replacement, or embryo transfer, one or more embryos are inserted into the uterus with a fine catheter.
The number of embryos replaced is fixed by law.
Standard transfer policy: In a first and fresh cycle a transfer will be performed on a day 3 stage or day 5 stage. The remaining good quality embryo's will remain in culture until day 5 or 6 and will be frozen if the reach the blastocyst stage.
| attempt no. | <36 yr | 36-39 yr | 40 <48 yr |
| first attempt | max 1 | max 2. | unspecified |
| second attempt | 1 or 2 dep. on quality | max 2 | unspecified |
| more | max 2 | max 2 | unspecified |
The table above shows the legal maximum. In consultation with the patient or sometimes on medical advice (to avoid a twin pregnancy) a decision may be taken to replace fewer than the maximum number of embryos.
Practical info : You should report to the Leuven University Fertility Center (LUFC) at UZ Leuven as arranged with a half-full bladder. Before replacement begins, your name and date of birth will be checked with you (see safety in the lab). These appear on the dish in which your embryos are being stored. The midwife will monitor the catheter that is inserted into your uterus via the ultrasound probe. It is very important that the embryos are positioned correctly in the uterus. You can follow this procedure with us with your partner sitting next to you. If there are several good-quality embryos at the time of the transfer, these will be frozen. You will be told this by your doctor at the time of the transfer or receive a telephone call afterwards.