A New Scientific Method CGH May Bring Increased Hope to Many Couples Undergoing IVF
An Oxford-based team of doctors conducted a trial that found that selecting embryos with a new technique “improves the chances of them implanting in the mother’s womb by nearly 2.5 times.” The original study found that 66% of women became pregnant after screening, which was twice as many women who fell pregnant without it (28%). Many of the women in this study were aged 39 and most had failed two cycles of IVF.
This is fantastic news for couples undergoing IVF
The new test Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) checks the chromosomes in the developing embryos (16 – 20 hours after fertilisation the egg is now known as an embryo) at the blastocyst stage (5 – 6 days after fertilisation) when the test is performed, thus the best, healthiest embryos are transferred back into the women’s womb. Since the embryos are known to be chromosomally normal they have the very best chances of success. The incidence of couples undergoing IVF with CGH of having a Down’s syndrome baby would be eradicated.
Up until now all apparently healthy eggs have been used, or frozen for a later date, are then transferred into the womb and those with abnormalities have not necessarily been detected prior to the transfer procedure. This may account for the failure for a successful pregnancy for some couples.
The consequences of this new test are that there may not be as many eggs to transfer BUT only the healthy ones with the best chance of success will be used.
The lead researcher, Dagan Wells, is a senior fellow at Oxford and Director of Reprogenetics UK, a company supplying pre-implantation genetic diagnostic services. He is quoted as saying that the study is biased towards success. This is because most women had more than one embryo transferred (therefore increasing the chances of implantation), and also had blastocysts transferred (embryos at a later stage of development).
However, he also said that “if we transfer one embryo, we would expect two-thirds of women to get pregnant
Embryos, Once Fertilized Can be Screened for Maximum Chance of Success
Unfortunately the CGH test will cost an extra £2,000 which makes an already expensive procedure (£3,000), into for some, prohibitively expensive. It is hoped that when the test is used it will be available for NHS treatment as well as for private treatment. This could increase the success for couples who have only one NHS IVF treatment opportunity as the transfer of one embryo having gone through CGH testing may mean that two thirds of women could experience a pregnancy.
This is also wonderful for older women who naturally are likely to have fewer eggs that are chromosomally normal, so with the CGH test it will ensure that only healthy eggs are transferred reducing the risk of miscarriage. Of course this will also maximize the success for younger women.
The foreseeable problems are that some embryos may not reach blastocyst stage, which is when the CGH test can be performed however some of these embryos have a chance of having a chromosomal abnormalities, which is why they didn’t go onto develop into a balstocyst, when indeed their health can be confirmed by CGH testing. Therefore having IVF with CGH testing and transfer of the embryo at blastocyst stage is offering couples a greater chance of succeeding at achieving a healthy pregnancy.
So these advances do not guarantee a pregnancy. There will still be the embryos that do not embed in the uterus successfully; much research is needed to see the results that are showing favorable signs as in the US so far, 36 of the 42 women treated (86%) have become pregnant. In a control group of women who did not receive CGH screening, 60% gave birth.
So what can be done for the couples whose embryos do go onto the blastocyst stage, when the CGH test can be performed? Even when transferring healthy eggs into the uterus/womb does not ensure that the embryos implant properly.
This was discussed in my recent article IVF Success Rates are Scientifically Shown to Improve Using Hypnosis (for reducing Stress) where I outlined the relationship between stress, adrenaline and cortisol and a favorable environment for the embryo to successfully embed. At the risk of repeating myself, I urge you to read or indeed re -ead the article and supporting research, which will enable you to have an impact on how well your womb receives your egg transfer, thus improving your overall success at IVF and achieving a successful pregnancy.
The research and my clinical findings and the success of my clients undergoing IVF, in my practice, have been the basis of our innervision title ‘Successful IVF’ which will enable you to reduce and rid yourself of the stress, with tools to use to enhance the success of your IVF experience and outcome.
Should you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me and I look forward to hearing from you.
References and further reading:
- http://www.hfea.gov.uk/IVF.html
- http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17999-chromosome-staining-boosts-ivf-success.html
- http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/oct/19/embryo-screening-trial-ivf-treatment
- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1221345/IVF-test-trebles-chance-having-baby-removes-Downs-risk-say-scientists.html
- http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/10October/Pages/New-IVF-test-trebles-chances.aspx
Related posts:
- IVF Success Rates are Scientifically Shown to Improve Using Hypnosis Scientific Research Shows IVF Success Rates are Significantly Increased with...
- Research Links Stress and IVF Success Rates In 2009, a Denmark Research team at the University of...
- Barbados Fertility Centre Recommends Successful IVF Here at innervision® we believe that the mind is the...
- Should Men Be At Their Child’s Birth To Support Their Wives? To say I was outraged to read Michel Odents article...
