New hope for Kiwi couples battling infertility

– Part 1 in a Herald series

New technology now being offered in New Zealand could improve the chance of women in their late 30s getting pregnant using IVF by up to 25 per cent, a study has shown.

The results of a study into pre-implantation genetic screening using nextgeneration sequencing were presented to the American Society of Reproductive Medicine conference in Texas yesterday and showed an improved pregnancy rate of between a third and a half.

Of the 267 women in the trial aged between 35 and 40 who had a single embryo implanted, 50.8 per cent of those who used the technology were still pregnant at 20 weeks compared with 37.2 per cent in the control group.

The miscarriage rate also fell by about 25 per cent using the technology, from 11 per cent in the control group to 8.2 per cent of those screened.

New-generation sequencing is now being used by two NZ clinics for pre-implantation genetic screening of embryos in IVF treatment.

Scientists examine a biopsy of the embryo to make sure it has the correct, balanced number of chromosomes, gauging which embryos are most likely to result in a successful pregnancy and healthy baby.

ReproMed was the first NZ clinic to use next-generation screening technology, according to director Guy Gudex.

Initially samples were sent to a laboratory in Australia but since the beginning of the year tests have been done in Auckland with the help of Auckland University’s Genomic Centre.

Fertility Plus also offered the test using the new technology but still sent samples to Australia for analysis, he said.

Other NZ facilities offered older forms of pre-implantation genetic screening which were between 90 and 95 per cent accurate but the new sequencing raised accuracy to about 95 per cent, Gudex said.

Fertility Associates scientific director Dr Dean Morbeck said the clinic was switching to the new technology next year.

Gudex said the results from the new study were hugely important because it was the first randomised controlled study with a large sample size which used next-generation sequencing and modern biopsy techniques.

He said the average age of women being treated using IVF was now about 36 or 37 so the study was hugely important for fertility clinics.

“It’s been pretty clearly proven in this study that if you’re in that age group and you use genetic screening of your embryos to basically ... pick the best one it definitely improves your chance of getting pregnant.”

Each year NZ has about 5000 first-time fertility clinic appointments and close to 6000 assisted reproductive technology treatment cycles.

Gudex said the screening helped speed up the process

If you’re in that age group and you use genetic screening of your embryos . . . it definitely improves your chance of getting pregnant. Guy Gudex, ReproMed

because picking the healthy embryos usually meant fewer rounds of IVF were needed.

“Although miscarriage is still possible, it’s significantly less likely.”

One patient, who agreed to share her story anonymously, had five miscarriages before she and her partner decided to try IVF. They were offered the chance to have pre-implantation genetic screening with next-generation sequencing and jumped at the idea because they were desperate to avoid more heartbreak.

The test allowed the couple to have certainty there was nothing wrong with the embryo before it was implanted.

“I think it’s the most amazing thing. It gives you that peace of mind that they have already checked all the chromosomes are right. At least you know going in that everything’s okay.”

She had the first embryo implanted and is now 31 weeks pregnant with a healthy baby.