Case Report: Sequential blastocyst transfer for women with unexplained recurrent implantation failure: a case series.
- 1Medical Affairs, Guangzhou Kapok Medical Investment Co., Ltd., Yuncheng/Guangzhou, China.
- 2Reproductive Center, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of Kapok, Qionghai, Hainan, China.
Abstract
Background
Repeated implantation failure (RIF) is a frustrating situation for patients and medical physicians. In spite of extensive research, the underlying mechanisms of RIF are not fully understood. Endometrial receptivity is considered a critical factor for embryo implantation, particularly in patients with unexplained RIF who have usable embryos. Sequential embryo transfer (ET) has been demonstrated to improve clinical pregnancy rates in RIF patients by optimizing embryo-endometrium synchronization and interaction. In this study, we propose a strategy of sequential blastocyst transfer within a single frozen embryo transfer cycle to improve in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in unexplained RIF patients who have failed conventional sequential cleavage/blastocyst ET.Case presentation
Three women under 40 years of age had undergone repeated failed embryo transfer cycles in our hospital. Based on ESHRE recommendations for RIF investigation, no significant causative or contributory factors were identified, apart from mild intrauterine adhesion or chronic endometritis, treated before embryo transfer. Further embryo transfers still failed, even with regular sequential cleavage/blastocyst transfer. However, all three patients achieved positive clinical pregnancies with sequential blastocyst embryo transfer. Two of the patients had live births and the remaining patient experienced an early spontaneous miscarriage for which a pathogenic deletion of chromosome 21 was identified.Conclusion
Repeated implantation failure is a complex, challenging, and burdensome condition, which causes considerable psychological and physical suffering for patients and reproductive specialists. Sequential blastocyst transfer is a potential option for patients with unexplained RIF undergoing IVF.
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BibTeX
@article{yin2026case,
title = {{Case Report: Sequential blastocyst transfer for women with unexplained recurrent implantation failure: a case series.}},
author = {Ping Yin and Yuanyuan Wu and Min Jiang and Yan Li},
journal = {Frontiers in reproductive health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/frph.2026.1942865},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908593},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Case Report: Sequential blastocyst transfer for women with unexplained recurrent implantation failure: a case series.
AU - Ping Yin
AU - Yuanyuan Wu
AU - Min Jiang
AU - Yan Li
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/07
JO - Frontiers in reproductive health
DO - 10.3389/frph.2026.1942865
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42908593
AB - Background Repeated implantation failure (RIF) is a frustrating situation for patients and medical physicians. In spite of extensive research, the underlying mechanisms of RIF are not fully understood. Endometrial receptivity is considered a critical factor for embryo implantation, particularly in patients with unexplained RIF who have usable embryos. Sequential embryo transfer (ET) has been demonstrated to improve clinical pregnancy rates in RIF patients by optimizing embryo-endometrium synchronization and interaction. In this study, we propose a strategy of sequential blastocyst transfer within a single frozen embryo transfer cycle to improve in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes in unexplained RIF patients who have failed conventional sequential cleavage/blastocyst ET.Case presentation Three women under 40 years of age had undergone repeated failed embryo transfer cycles in our hospital. Based on ESHRE recommendations for RIF investigation, no significant causative or contributory factors were identified, apart from mild intrauterine adhesion or chronic endometritis, treated before embryo transfer. Further embryo transfers still failed, even with regular sequential cleavage/blastocyst transfer. However, all three patients achieved positive clinical pregnancies with sequential blastocyst embryo transfer. Two of the patients had live births and the remaining patient experienced an early spontaneous miscarriage for which a pathogenic deletion of chromosome 21 was identified.Conclusion Repeated implantation failure is a complex, challenging, and burdensome condition, which causes considerable psychological and physical suffering for patients and reproductive specialists. Sequential blastocyst transfer is a potential option for patients with unexplained RIF undergoing IVF.
SN - 2673-3153
ER -