Embryo Grade Explainer
Decode a day-3 or blastocyst grade in plain English. What it means, what it does not, and good questions for your embryologist.

Your embryo
When was your embryo graded?
Day 3 grade
Blastocyst grade
Most clinics use the Gardner scale, e.g. "4AB". The number is expansion, the first letter is the inner cell mass (ICM), the second letter is the trophectoderm (TE).
Grade is descriptive, not deterministic. Higher grades are generally associated with better odds, but grade is not a guarantee. Lower-graded embryos regularly become healthy babies.
Your report
Your Embryo Grade, Explained
A plain-English breakdown. Not a verdict on outcome.
Your grade
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What each part means
A picture
Honest, gentle context
Questions to ask your embryologist
- How does this grade affect the chance of implantation, in your experience?
- Was this embryo biopsied for PGT-A? If so, what did it show?
- If we have multiple embryos, what is the recommended transfer order?
- How does the embryo look on day 6 if it has not been transferred or frozen yet?
- Is there anything about the grading you would want me to know?
This is educational information, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Always confirm anything here with your own clinician or clinic. If the tool ever contradicts what they have told you, your clinic is right.