IVF—In-vitro Fertilization is an assisted reproductive technology that helps couples conceive. Over the last few years, the success rates of IVF have been steadily increasing. This shows that not only is technology advancing, but people are also trusting this technology more than before to help them realise their dream of a biological family.
IVF treatment is continuously evolving from the start. So, what are the new advances in this treatment in recent years? What do you need to know if you are considering going the IVF route? Read on to find out.
IVF is a breakthrough in technology and science that helps many couples with fertility issues to conceive and have a baby successfully. Why change something that is already successful? Where is the need for advancement in this technology?
As more and more older individuals and couples with fertility challenges turn to IVF, the need to find newer ways to increase the success rate is increasing. The advancement in IVF treatments is helping more individuals have children despite a variety of challenges.
If you are considering IVF, it is essential to know about the recent advances in this field. Gathering all information can help you make a sound decision. This is not limited to the technical aspect of IVF alone but includes the legal aspects. In the recent years, IVF treatment has seen the following advances:
The use of AI in IVF treatments is a major development in the fertility industry. AI helps achieve standardised results in IVF treatments in the following ways:
● Embryo Grading & Selection—In IVF, embryo transfer can happen on day 3 or day 5. The embryologist assesses the embryos on various aspects and gives them a rating. The embryos with the best ratings are transferred to increase the chances of pregnancy. In this method, the final decision lies with the embryologist. The grading is very subjective and will vary from clinic to clinic.
Using AI in embryo grading and selecting will standardise the entire process and remove the risk of influenced opinions. Automated and objective embryo selection can have better results.
In vitro gametogenesis is a very advanced use of science and technology to help couples conceive. While IVF retrieves the female partner’s eggs and the male partner’s sperm, IVG only retrieves some cells from both partners’ bodies. With these cells, the new technology can develop eggs and sperm.
If this technology provides positive results in the long run, doctors can even try reversing the impact of age on a person’s fertility. Such a breakthrough can eliminate the need for women to start planning for a family or preserve eggs during their fertile years, However, this is still in the research phase and studies are yet to conclude the efficacy of the same.
Earlier, the embryologist had to remove the dish or culture with the embryos to assess their development. Today, the TLI systems include a built-in camera that takes images of the culture every few minutes. Now, the embryologist has to analyse these images to understand how far the embryos have developed and whether they are ready for transfer. The cultural conditions of the embryos need not be disturbed when using this technology, this reduces the exposure of embryo to external environment.
Vitrification is rapidly cooling down the embryos or eggs for cryopreservation. Earlier, the eggs or embryos were preserved using the slow freezing method, which had a high risk of ice crystal formation. Vitrification removes this risk completely, thus increasing the survival rate to 95%.
Compared to slow freezing, vitrification is less expensive, takes less time, and reduces the chances of damage caused by thawing. These vitrified embryos can develop further when kept in the culture after warming. The cryoprotectant agent used in vitrification is also less concentrated, thus reducing the toxic effect on eggs and embryos.
This new process helps increase the chances of implantation. Using a laser, the doctor creates a small crack in the embryo zona pellucida before transferring it into the uterus. This helps with implantation and increases the chances of a successful pregnancy.
The professional will eye the egg through a camera, move the robot with a controller, and inject the sperm into the egg. Knowing how to operate the robot is enough to perform this part of the IVF treatment, this is however an upcoming advances In the field of fertility.
The advancements in IVF treatments are helping more individuals conceive and have a successful pregnancy, it aides in improving the success rate.
Embryo freezing—Cryopreservation is a method of freezing embryos for future use. Once a sperm successfully fertilises an egg, it becomes an embryo, These embryos can be frozen and used when the couple in ready for pregnancy. In recent years, fertility clinics have been using the vitrification method instead of slow freezing to freeze the embryos. This has improved the post-thaw survival and successful pregnancy rates in IVF.
In recent years, with the use of newer technology, IVF success rates have significantly improved, especially for women in their 30s. Younger women have a better success rate than older women. The post-thaw survival of embryos and ovum has also increased.
Egg freezing is the method of freezing a single (unmarried) woman’s eggs before fertilisation. She will be given medications to stimulate her ovaries to release more eggs. These eggs are extracted and frozen at a specific temperature for future use. women can choose to use these eggs even after a few years and conceive through IVF, if they are not able to conceive naturally
Yes, IVF treatments can be personalised to increase the rate of successful outcomes. Diagnostic testing, genetic testing, and biomarker screening can help determine the best course of treatment for that couple to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.
