In Vitro Fertilization
Day 4 human IVF embryo
Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago
Gurnee & Crystal Lake, Illinois
Morula stage embryos

High quality day 4 embryo from in vitro fertilization
This is a compacting morula
There are many cells and the cell borders are becoming fuzzy as the embryo "compacts"
A morula contains about 10 - 30 cells or so. The morula stage is the final stage prior to formation of a fluid filled cavity called the blastocoel cavity. Once the cavitation is recognizable we call the embryo an early blastocyst.
Embryo arrest at the morula stage is not uncommon, which is one reason that transfer at the blastocyst stage can be a beneficial IVF treatment strategy.
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