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Elite Embryo strives to give you an elite experience through the TVA/ICSI process

11/04/2026

If your mare had 15 follicles aspirated, does that mean we should recover 15 oocytes?

Not necessarily.

During TVA/OPU, follicles are aspirated with the goal of recovering the oocyte within them—but recovery from every follicle is not guaranteed.

There are multiple factors involved in whether an oocyte is successfully recovered, and biological variability is a normal part of equine reproduction.

That’s why follicle count and recovered-oocyte count are two different numbers.

It’s also why the number of follicles we see at the beginning of the process shouldn’t be viewed as a prediction of how many embryos a cycle will ultimately produce.

Each step has its own outcome: follicles are aspirated, oocytes may be recovered, recovered oocytes are evaluated and matured, and eligible oocytes can then move forward to ICSI.

Understanding those individual checkpoints gives you a much better picture of an ICSI cycle than any one number alone.

11/02/2026

Follicle. Oocyte. Embryo.

You’ll hear all three terms when talking about OPU, ICSI, and equine reproduction—but they don’t mean the same thing.

A follicle is a structure on the mare’s o***y.

An oocyte is the reproductive cell we hope to recover when a follicle is aspirated.

An embryo is a later developmental stage that may be reached after a mature oocyte undergoes ICSI and continues developing successfully.

That distinction matters because one does not automatically equal the next.

The number of follicles present is not necessarily the number of oocytes recovered, and the number of oocytes recovered is not necessarily the number of embryos ultimately produced.

Understanding each step can make conversations about your mare, your ICSI cycle, and your breeding goals a whole lot clearer.

Save this post for the next time you hear these terms during a breeding conversation.

10/30/2026

November. December. January. February. We're still in the lab. 🔬

When most people think about horse breeding, their minds immediately go to spring. But at Elite Embryo, advanced equine reproduction doesn't stop when the temperatures drop.

Our ICSI laboratory operates year-round, including fall and winter.

Through OPU/TVA (O**m Pick-Up/Transvaginal Aspiration), oocytes can be recovered from mares and evaluated for use in ICSI, where a single s***m cell is injected directly into a mature oocyte.

And when embryos successfully develop, cryopreservation may provide opportunities to preserve them for future breeding plans.

For mare owners and breeders, this means reproductive planning doesn't necessarily have to revolve around the traditional spring calendar.

Whether you're working with a performance mare, exploring options for valuable genetics, or thinking ahead to your next breeding goals, there may be opportunities worth discussing throughout the year.

Of course, every mare and breeding program is different, and the appropriate timing and approach should be determined with your reproductive veterinary team.

10/28/2026

No embryo doesn't automatically mean nothing worked.

When you're working toward a specific breeding goal, hearing that no embryos developed from an ICSI cycle can be disappointing. But in equine reproduction, there's an important distinction between an outcome and what happened throughout the process.

Every stage of ICSI involves complex reproductive biology, and each step provides valuable information.

Here's what that means:

• Not every aspirated follicle will yield a recoverable oocyte (egg).

• Not every recovered oocyte will reach the appropriate stage of maturity for ICSI.

• Not every injected oocyte will fertilize successfully.

• Not every fertilized oocyte will continue developing into an embryo.

This is known as biological attrition, and it's a normal part of equine reproduction, even under carefully controlled laboratory conditions.

While the ultimate goal may be to produce an embryo, the number of follicles aspirated, oocytes recovered, mature oocytes available, and embryos developed all contribute to understanding the process.

And one cycle doesn't necessarily tell the whole story.

Factors specific to the mare, semen, and individual reproductive circumstances can influence outcomes. That's why results should be evaluated with the appropriate veterinary and laboratory professionals, within the context of the broader breeding program.

At Elite Embryo, we believe transparency matters. Understanding what happens at every stage of the ICSI process helps breeders make more informed decisions about their next steps.

Reproductive biology isn't always predictable, but understanding the process makes a difference.

10/26/2026

You're looking at one of the smallest, yet most important parts of equine reproduction.

This is an oocyte, the mare's reproductive cell, commonly referred to as an egg.

An equine oocyte measures approximately 100–150 micrometers in diameter, depending on what structures are included in the measurement. For perspective, that's roughly the width of a human hair or slightly larger.

Now imagine identifying, handling, evaluating, and eventually injecting a single s***m cell into something that small.

That's exactly the level of precision involved in equine ICSI (Intracytoplasmic S***m Injection).

After oocytes are recovered from a mare through OPU/TVA, they undergo careful laboratory processing and evaluation. Those that reach the appropriate stage of maturity may move forward to ICSI, where a single s***m cell is injected directly into the oocyte.

Working at this microscopic scale requires specialized equipment, controlled laboratory conditions, and an experienced team.

It's a fascinating combination of reproductive biology, technology, and precision.

And it's just one part of what happens behind the scenes at Elite Embryo.

10/23/2026

Before the procedure comes the plan.

Advanced reproductive technology has opened up incredible possibilities for horse breeders, but just because a procedure is available doesn't automatically mean it's the right approach for every breeding program.

At Elite Embryo, we believe the conversation should start with your goals.

Before exploring ICSI (Intracytoplasmic S***m Injection), there are a few important questions worth asking:

🐴 What genetics are you hoping to preserve or produce?

🐴 What mare are you working with? Her age, reproductive history, and current circumstances can all play a role in determining your options.

🐴 What semen is available? Limited, frozen, or difficult-to-replace semen may influence which reproductive approach makes the most sense.

🐴 What does your long-term breeding program look like? Are you planning for one specific cross, preserving genetics for the future, or building toward multiple generations?

ICSI is an incredible tool in equine reproduction, but it's just one piece of a much larger picture.

The goal isn't simply to use advanced technology. It's to understand how that technology can support what you're working toward.

Whether you're exploring ICSI for the first time or planning your next breeding decision, our team is here to help you understand your options.

Let's start with your breeding goals.

10/21/2026

When semen is limited, every straw matters.

For breeders working with frozen semen from an older stallion, limited inventory, or genetics that are difficult to replace, every breeding decision carries a little more weight.

This is where ICSI (Intracytoplasmic S***m Injection) can offer a different approach to equine reproduction.

Rather than relying on a larger number of s***m cells for conventional fertilization, ICSI involves selecting a single s***m cell and injecting it directly into a mature oocyte (egg).

That distinction can be especially valuable when semen availability is limited or additional collections aren't possible.

But ICSI isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. Semen quality, oocyte maturity, and several other biological factors influence the process, and embryo development is never guaranteed.

At Elite Embryo, we believe the best breeding decisions start with understanding your options and building a plan around your individual goals.

Working with limited or irreplaceable semen? Let's talk about whether ICSI could be a good fit for your breeding program.

10/19/2026

OPU. TVA. ICSI. You’ll hear all three terms when talking about equine ICSI—but they aren’t interchangeable.

Here’s the simplest way to understand where they fit:

First: OPU/TVA happens at the mare.
Follicles are aspirated from the ovaries with the goal of recovering oocytes.

Then: ICSI happens in the lab.
After recovery and maturation, appropriately mature oocytes can move forward to ICSI, where a single s***m cell is injected directly into the oocyte.

So when we talk about an “ICSI cycle,” there are actually multiple steps happening in different places and at different times.

OPU/TVA → Oocyte Recovery & Maturation → ICSI → Development

Understanding that sequence makes the rest of the process a whole lot easier to follow.

Send this to someone who’s trying to learn how the equine ICSI process works.

10/12/2026

When it comes to ICSI, it’s easy to focus on one number.

How many follicles? How many oocytes were recovered? How many were mature? How many were injected? How many embryos developed?

But no single number tells the full story.

An ICSI cycle includes multiple biological checkpoints, and each number represents a different stage in the process. Attrition can happen along the way, which is why results are best understood in context—not by comparing one isolated number to another.

Every mare, every oocyte, and every cycle can be different.

Understanding the full process can help owners set realistic expectations and make more informed decisions for their breeding program.

Save this post as a reference when planning your next breeding cycle.

10/08/2026

You’ve seen the moment a single s***m cell is injected into an oocyte during ICSI.

But what happens immediately after?

The injection is only the beginning.

After ICSI, the injected oocyte enters a period of laboratory culture and monitoring. From there, development takes place over time as the lab evaluates whether it continues progressing.

And this is an important distinction: an injected oocyte is not automatically an embryo.

Not every oocyte that undergoes ICSI will continue developing, which is why each stage of the process matters when we talk about ICSI outcomes.

There’s a lot happening between the moment of injection and the development of an embryo—and we’d love to take you behind the scenes.

What part of the embryo-development process should we explain next?

Address

122 W 400 N
Saratoga Springs, UT
84045

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18013672743

Website

http://Elite-embryo.com/

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