If you’ve chosen a frozen embryo transfer with PGT-A and/or PGT-M testing, here’s a timeline of what to expect.

Day 1: Retrieval Day Eggs are retrieved, and fertilization happens today.

Day 2: Fertilization Report You’ll receive a fertilization report. Not all retrieved eggs will be mature, and not all mature eggs will fertilize—this is normal.

Days 2-6: Embryo Development Fertilized eggs, now called zygotes, will start dividing. By Day 3, a healthy embryo typically reaches the 8-cell stage. By Day 5 or 6, the cells should form a blastocyst—a structure with a fluid-filled cavity, an inner cell mass, and a trophectoderm. Many clinics will monitor embryos until Day 7.

Days 5-7: Blastocyst Freezing and Biopsy You’ll get a report during this time. Embryos that reach the blastocyst stage are frozen and biopsied. The biopsy samples, taken from the trophectoderm, are sent for testing.

PGT-A Results Results usually take 7-14 days, depending on the lab.

*Note that there can often be nuance when it comes to genetic testing and embryo grading. Grading can vary across clinics, and it can be subjective. If you have questions about your embryo grades or PGT-A results, it's best to speak to your embryology team and genetic counselor.