A new method of looking for chromosomal abnormalities in embryos can increase the chance of successful IVF implantation, a recent study has shown.
Aneuploidy is the biggest cause of miscarriage and is more likely to occur in the eggs of older women. The technique, known as array comparative genome hybridisation (CGH), allows scientists to detect chromosomal abnormalities that can be missed under the microscope. Scientists can then transfer the healthiest embryos, increasing the chance of a successful implantation.
An increase in live birth rate of 24.1 percent per embryo transfer was observed in patients undergoing CGH, compared to two groups where the test was not used, where the live birth rate was 16.7 percent and 12.5 percent per embryo transfer. The women involved in the study had a median age of 41 and had all undergone IVF before without success.
Professor Simon Fishel, lead author of the study said: 'We know that chromosome abnormality is a major cause of miscarriage and IVF failure'.
'Some clinics do keep putting patients through repeated IVF cycles when they could actually benefit from this test', he added.
The researchers are hoping that the test, which costs around £2,400, could be put into widespread use for those receiving IVF.
Experts such as Dr Dagan Wells, a senior research fellow in reproductive genetics at the University of Oxford are cautious about overestimating the benefits of this test, but agree that chromosome screening could reduce risks of miscarriage and Down's syndrome.
'The method provides patients with useful information about the number of healthy eggs they produce', said Dr Wells. 'Unfortunately, some will learn that they don't produce any viable eggs. This is a disappointing result, but is still very valuable as it lets them know that IVF is unlikely to work for them, potentially saving them from the heartache, stress and expense of undergoing multiple unsuccessful treatments'.
The study was published in the journal Fertilisation In Vitro.
Sources and References
-
All IVF couples should screen eggs to boost chances of baby: researchers
-
Assessment of 19,803 Paired Chromosomes and Clinical Outcome from First 150 Cycles using Array CGH of the First Polar Body for Embryo Selection and Transfer
-
BlueGnome's aneuploidy screening platform, 24sure, improves implantation rates three-fold
-
Chromosome test 'boosts IVF chance'
Related Articles
Chromosome screening may increase IVF success in older mothers
Using a new IVF technique could considerably increase older women's chances of pregnancy, a small clinical trial presented at a fertility conference suggests...
Scratching the womb lining may increase IVF success
Scratching the womb lining may increase a woman's chances of successful IVF treatment, say UK scientists...
'Super-fertility' to blame for some recurrent miscarriages, study suggests
Women who repeatedly reject pregnancies may be 'too good' at carrying, research indicates...
Under right conditions, IVF approaches birth rates of natural conception
For the first time, researchers in the USA have calculated cumulative success rates of infertility treatments that use IVF or assisted reproductive technologies (ART), and have showed that overall success rates come close to that of natural conception....
Cut IVF multiple births to 10 percent, says HFEA
The rate of multiple births resulting from IVF treatment is to be no more than ten percent, announced the Human Fertility and Embryology Authority (HFEA), in the final stage of its policy to reduce IVF multiple birth rates in the UK....
Progress Educational Trust conference: Making the grade
The third session of the Progress Educational Trust's annual conference 'The Best Possible Start in Life: The Robust and Responsive Embryo' boasted a redoubtable roll-call of eminent clinicians and researchers as speakers...
New embryo test to improve IVF success rate
Researchers at Oxford University have developed a test that may help to improve IVF success rates by checking the health of embryos. The team, led by Dr Dagan Wells, has apparently developed a test which checks embryos during IVF for abnormal numbers of chromosomes...
What next for preimplantation genetic screening (PGS)?
Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) for aneuploidy was first reported by Verlinsky et al (1995) and Munne et al (1995). Both of these initial studies analysed polar bodies. The aim of the technique is to help determine the best IVF embryo for transfer on the grounds of the polar body or embryo's chromosomes, by performing biopsy and analysis of the chromosomes using fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH). There have been hundreds of papers on the use of PGS. It is well known that for pa...
Embryo screening test could double IVF success rates
UK researchers are planning a trial of a new test for identifying which IVF embryos are most likely to result in a healthy pregnancy. The technique has already been used to achieve seven successful pregnancies in women who had previously been unable to become pregnant with or without IVF....
New screening technique developed in UK clinic may improve IVF success rate
By Nadeem Shaikh:.A British fertility clinic has revealed they have developed a new method of screening eggs for IVF treatment. The CARE clinic in Nottingham, UK, has used the novel Comparative Genomic Hybridisation (CGH) method to assist a 41 year old woman to become pregnant. Currently, only one in...
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.