Finding a way to make in vitro fertilization (IVF) successful is a major topic for researchers. More women between the ages of 30-40 are trying to get pregnant, and IVF often becomes an option. However, IVF success rates generally are not very high, with only 1 in 4 being successful. Researchers from Cambridge University may have changed that by discovering a promising technique that could increase the IVF success rate by as much as 3 times.
Video Technique That Could Increase IVF Success Rate by 3 Times
Researchers from Cambridge University in the UK have developed a video technique that could increase the success rate of IVF. The study involves IVF and mice, and the researchers believe it could possibly be used successful in human trials. Professor Zernicka-Goetz, the lead researcher, even believes it could be used in 2 leading IVF clinics in the UK within months.
The technique uses particle-imaging velocitometry, a time lapse, video technique that records movement in an embryo’s cytoplasm.
Professor Zernicka-Goetz discovered that a way to find strong, potentially fertile embryos is by observing the cytoplasm. The cytoplasm is the “white”, jelly area around the egg. She found that when pulses were sent through the jelly 2 hours after fertilization, the most fertile eggs pulsated the fastest.
When they tested this theory on mice embryos, the eggs that pulsated the fastest had an 87.5% success rate in producing a birth. This is 3 times greater than the usual success rate for IVF. The embryos with slower pulses only had a 32% success rate.
Less Unsuccessful Trials
IVF success rates are low, and constant unsuccessful attempts in taxing in many ways. The emotional peaks of hope and then the drops after failures often are exhausting for women attempting to become pregnant. The hope is that a higher success rate in IVF would spare many mothers-to-be a great deal of psychological burden.
IVF is also very expensive, considering how often it isn’t successful. Estimates are that IVF costs 12,400 US dollars for every cycle.
Other Factors That Influence IVF Success Rates
Many women repeatedly have to try IVF several times, in order to counteract factors that are working against them.
The biggest determining factor is age. The success rate drops to 47% for a woman that is 35 years old, while it drops by 2% for someone who is 45. The factors that can affect the success rate is if a woman is attempting IVF with her own eggs, whether she has had a child before, and how many IVF cycles she has already attempted. Generally, the success rate drops after the first attempt and many tests have been developed to help women understand their chances for success after the first attempt.
Sources:
In Vitro Fertilization: Video Tests
In Vitro Fertilization: Costs and Emotional Burden
In Vitro Fertilization: Chances of Success After A Failed Try