The IVF Process — Step 6: Embryo Development & Grading
Following successful fertilization, your eggs transition into the highly structured cultivation window. At Akanksha IVF Centre, frequently highlighted as the best IVF centre in Delhi for clinical embryology standards, your developing embryos are housed in specialized tri-gas incubators that mimic the physiological conditions of the human womb.
The Daily Milestones of Cell Division
Over a span of 3 to 5 days, our laboratory team carefully tracks structural cellular growth patterns as the embryos grow from single cells into complex multi-cell structures:
- Cleavage Stage (Days 2 to 3): The fertilized egg undergoes rapid cell splitting, dividing from 2 cells into 4, and reaching an 8-cell stage by Day 3. Our embryologists carefully check the shape of these cells and look for any fragmentation (tiny pieces of cellular material that break away during division).
- Morula Stage (Day 4): The individual cells press tightly together to form a solid, structured 16-to-32 cell cluster resembling a mulberry, officially known as a morula.
- Blastocyst Stage (Day 5 to 6): The embryo develops a fluid-filled cavity and separates into two distinct parts: an Inner Cell Mass (which becomes the baby) and an outer layer called the Trophoblast (which forms the placenta). This advanced multi-cell structure is a blastocyst.
Advanced Selection and Blastocyst Grading Protocols
Not every fertilized egg will successfully reach the blastocyst stage. Culturing embryos to Day 5 allows our laboratory team to naturally identify the strongest, most viable candidates for your upcoming transfer.
We grade blastocysts using standardized medical systems that score the expansion of the cavity along with the cellular density of both the inner cell mass and the outer placental layer. This rigorous grading process helps our medical specialists choose the absolute highest-quality embryo to maximize your implantation success.