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Esther Eleboh: A Collapsed Blastocyst Does Not Necessarily Mean a Bad Embryo

Esther Eleboh/LinkedIn

Sep 8, 2026, 16:24

Esther Eleboh: A Collapsed Blastocyst Does Not Necessarily Mean a Bad Embryo

Esther Eleboh, Reproductive Health Nurse (Head of Nursing Department) at Viva Fertility Clinic, shared on LinkedIn:

”A Collapsed Blastocyst Does Not Necessarily Mean a Bad Embryo.

One of the things that can cause anxiety during IVF is seeing a blastocyst that has collapsed.

But here is the important message:

A collapsed blastocyst can still have implantation potential and can result in a pregnancy.

Blastocysts naturally expand and contract. During freezing and thawing, they may also appear collapsed before re-expanding.

So, collapse alone should not be used to label an embryo as ‘bad.’ What matters is the bigger picture – embryo morphology, developmental stage, re-expansion after warming, and other clinical and laboratory factors.

And this is where embryology gets fascinating. In selected situations, techniques such as assisted hatching may be considered to help the embryo interact with or escape the zona pellucida. However, assisted hatching is not a guarantee of implantation or pregnancy and is not routinely necessary for every collapsed blastocyst.

The lesson?

Don’t judge an embryo by one snapshot under the microscope.

Sometimes, what looks like a ‘collapsed’ embryo may still have the potential to become a pregnancy.

Have you ever seen a collapsed blastocyst that went on to achieve a pregnancy?

Let’s hear your experience in the comments.”

Esther Eleboh: A Collapsed Blastocyst Does Not Necessarily Mean a Bad Embryo