Updated by the Progyny Clinical Team — June 2025.
You’ve finished your egg retrieval, and your eggs have been fertilized. Now it’s time to think about your embryo transfer. You might be asking about what happens next and how you can give yourself the best chance of having a healthy baby.
Fertility providers usually recommend transferring one embryo at a time. This is called a single embryo transfer. It helps lower the risk of problems for both the mother and the baby. Carrying more than one baby can lead to health issues like high blood pressure, diabetes, early delivery, or needing a C-section. Babies born as twins or more are also more likely to be born early, have low birth weight, or have trouble with their lungs or brain development.
Because of these risks, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) updated its guidelines in 2021. They now recommend transferring just one embryo in most cases.
The decision depends on a few things:
- Embryo stage: Is the embryo at day 3 (early stage) or day 5 (more developed)?
- Chromosome health: Has the embryo been tested and found to have the right number of chromosomes? This is called an euploid embryo, and the test is called preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A).
- Patient history: Have you had a healthy baby from IVF before, or do you have high-quality embryos?
If you have an euploid embryo, ASRM recommends doing a single embryo transfer. Research shows that PGT-A testing can improve your chances of getting pregnant and having a healthy baby, while also lowering the risk of miscarriage.
Some people think transferring two embryos will double their chances of success. But studies show that’s not true. A 2015 study found that transferring one or two embryos gives about the same chance of success, but transferring two greatly increases the chance of twins and health problems. That’s why transferring one embryo is usually the safer option.
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Disclaimer: The information provided by Progyny is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical guidance.