In order for in vitro fertilization to be a success, an embryo has to implant into the uterus and continue to grow for close to nine months without miscarriage. They key here is selecting the best embryo that is up to the task. These are exciting times in the world of fertility treatment. It seemed to me that all the buzz at the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Conference this year was about increasing pregnancy and live birth rates and reduced miscarriage rates through chromosomal screening of embryos.
Although there are distinctions, chromosomal screening is known as Preimplantation Genetic Screening (PGS), Comprehensive Chromosomal Screening (CSS), and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). In the past we’ve always heard that selecting the best embryo to transfer in IVF fertility treatment was more art than science. New research is now tilting that equation more towards the science. We talked about these very exciting developments on this week’s Creating a Family radio show.
Benefits for Single Embryo Transfer in IVF
One of the best things about being able to select an embryo with the highest chance of implanting and growing into a baby is that it we hope it will make increase single embryo transfer. Dr. Marcy Maguire said on our show that they are approaching live birth rates when transferring one chromosome screened embryo in infertility patients that rival live birth rates when transferring two embryos, with a much reduced rate of multiple births. A step in the right direction.
*Our guest to talk about Increasing Success with IVF was Dr. Marcy Maguire, a Reproductive Endocrinologist at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey and Clinical Assistant Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
Image credit: The Guardian
It is great that there are huge advancements in embryo selection and it is very exciting. But many the additional cost to use these technologies make it prohibitive for many of us who are already stretched out thin in the IVF process. I’m afraid to ask our doctor how much these tests would cost…
AnonT, I’m so glad that you’ve brought up the topic of cost because it is so important to many/most infertility patients. We talked about cost on this show. The doctor acknowledged the cost but said (and I’m paraphrasing so you should listen to her actual words) that in the long run with the increase in success these tests save infertility patients money.