Boost for IVF fertility rate

Scientists in embryo breakthrough

AUSTRALIAN scientists have pioneered a breakthrough in IVF treatment that is seeing a 46.7 per cent increase in the number of viable high-grade embryos per cycle.

The cutting-edge process allows embryos to grow in a Petri dish undisturbed for five to six days mirroring the journey in the mother’s fallopian tubes before implantation in the uterus.

It’s the closest process yet to inside the mother’s womb.

Scientists at Australian IVF clinic Genea have come up with a new version of continuous culture fluid — closer to that found in the human body — that when used in conjunction with a unique timelapse incubator is having a dramatic impact on the number of highgrade embryos per cycle.

A study of 1200 Australian patients and 6000 embryos from August 2016 to March 2017 showed the process of using the new fluid and incubator together resulted in a 46.7 per cent increase when compared to a traditional culture and medium system.

International clinics in Europe, Japan, Canada, China and the US are now vying to get their hands on the new system.

The new culture medium can be used across all stages of embryo growth — enabling undisturbed growth and reducing unfavourable exposure to the elements.

The timelapse incubator means scientists no longer have to remove growing embryos from their optimum environment for monitoring.

In the Genea Geri incubator each individual family’s embryos are housed in their own unique chamber — unlike other traditional embryogrowth storage where all cycles being conducted are held together, so when one needs attending all get disturbed.

Genea’s medical director Mark Bowman said the study showed the new system could result in more babies being born in Australia and globally.

“(This) presents a significant cost and emotional benefit to patients and a saving for the government,” he said.

Michael Chapman, president of the Fertility Society of Australia and specialist with rival clinic IVF Australia, questioned if the process was a breakthrough until pregnancy data could be shown.

“I admire them for keeping the science moving forward but the most important thing is not having more embryos, it is having high-quality pregnancy data at the end of it,” Mr Chapman said.

“(This) presents a significant cost and emotional benefit to patients and a saving for the government.” ASSOC PROFESSOR MARK BOWMAN