Embryo arrest describes an embryo that stops dividing at some point during laboratory culture, before it reaches the cleavage, morula or blastocyst stage that would otherwise be expected. It can happen at any stage and is thought to relate to a mix of chromosomal, cellular and other factors that are not always identifiable in an individual embryo. Embryo arrest is common and expected in IVF; it reflects how that particular embryo developed under laboratory conditions and is not something caused by anything a patient did or did not do.
Also known as: embryos stop developing, arrested embryo
Related India guides
Sources
- ICMR Standard Treatment Workflows (icmr.gov.in/standard-treatment-workflows-stws)
- Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India (fogsi.org)
Last reviewed: 9 September 2026. Written by the Antega Editorial Team. General information only — always follow the advice of your own clinic, doctor or pharmacist.