Tuesday 11 November 2008
New embryo screening method doubles IVF success, achieving rates higher than the national average for non IVF couples.
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Oxford Fertility Unit plans to be one of the first in the UK to offer this
One of the factors influencing the success of IVF is in the screening of embryos before implantation. In order to achieve a high pregnancy rate it is essential that the embryos chosen for transfer to the womb are those with the greatest chance of producing a baby. The number of chromosomes is one of the most important aspects of embryo health and viability but, to date, it has only been possible to look at half of the chromosomes in an embryo before it is transferred.
A new method has been pioneered that enables all chromosomes to be analysed. This has been proven to more than double the success for couples undergoing IVF treatment in America.
This new approach has been tested in 17 women aged 37 on average with a history of failed IVF attempts. Being able to look at all of the chromosomes (1), enabled doctors to identify problems in 43% of embryos before implantation, vastly improving the selection of the best embryos for implantation. The tests achieved a 70% success rate following implantation. This is actually a higher success rate than experienced in women of a similar age not requiring IVF (this being 60%).
Oxford Fertility Unit has applied to the government run Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) for permission to offer this technique.
(1) 100% chromosome screening was achieved in 91% of tests
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