Embryos are grown in the laboratory to day five rather than day three. Embryos that reach this stage have passed a further natural filter, which makes choosing between several of them more informative.
When it helps, and when it does not
Blastocyst culture is most useful where there are several embryos to choose between. Where there are only one or two, growing them on adds little information and carries the risk that none survives to day five, leaving nothing to transfer.
The decision is made with you on day three, once we can see how many embryos there are and how they are developing.
What it costs
| Item | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Blastocyst culture | Included | Decided on day three. Not charged as an extra. |
Charges at Pearl Women's Super Speciality Hospital and IVF/ICSI Center as of September 2026. You are told what anything costs before it is done, and nothing is billed that you have not agreed to.
Questions we are asked most
What if no embryo reaches day five?
It happens, and it is the main reason we do not do this for everyone. If it does, we will talk through what it suggests about the cycle and what to change next time. We tell you the risk before you agree to it, not after.