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New test to dramatically increase chance of IVF success | New test to dramatically increase chance of IVF success |
(about 14 hours later) | |
By Pamela Rutherford Reporter, BBC News | By Pamela Rutherford Reporter, BBC News |
A new screening technique to test embryos could dramatically increase the chances of having a baby from IVF. | A new screening technique to test embryos could dramatically increase the chances of having a baby from IVF. |
The test allows for any chromosomal abnormalities, the biggest cause of early pregnancy loss, to be picked up in embryos before they are reimplanted. | The test allows for any chromosomal abnormalities, the biggest cause of early pregnancy loss, to be picked up in embryos before they are reimplanted. |
The UK-based researchers expect the technique to double or triple current IVF success rates. | The UK-based researchers expect the technique to double or triple current IVF success rates. |
Trials of the technique are being lead by fertility specialists at CARE Fertility in Manchester. | Trials of the technique are being lead by fertility specialists at CARE Fertility in Manchester. |
Three British women in their late 30s are due to give birth in late December after using the pioneering technique. | Three British women in their late 30s are due to give birth in late December after using the pioneering technique. |
Chromosomal abnormalities are the biggest cause of early pregnancy loss, responsible for 70% of pregnancies not carrying on to term. | Chromosomal abnormalities are the biggest cause of early pregnancy loss, responsible for 70% of pregnancies not carrying on to term. |
Those kinds of abnormalities are a significant cause of pregnancy failures in all pregnancies including those in IVF. | Those kinds of abnormalities are a significant cause of pregnancy failures in all pregnancies including those in IVF. |
Now this new technique allows the viability of embroys to be tested without damaging them. | Now this new technique allows the viability of embroys to be tested without damaging them. |
CARE director Simon Fishel told Claudia Hammond from the BBC's Health Check that the test allows for significant improvement on current methods. | CARE director Simon Fishel told Claudia Hammond from the BBC's Health Check that the test allows for significant improvement on current methods. |
So now they can reimplant embryos that will go on to achieve a successful, sustainable pregnancy. | So now they can reimplant embryos that will go on to achieve a successful, sustainable pregnancy. |
"Stupendous difference" | "Stupendous difference" |
"Before we would look down a microscope and see five, six, maybe 10 embryos knowing that half are chromosomally abnormal but there's no way of testing it. | "Before we would look down a microscope and see five, six, maybe 10 embryos knowing that half are chromosomally abnormal but there's no way of testing it. |
"We now we have an objective test that is related to the health of the pregnancy," he told the BBC. | "We now we have an objective test that is related to the health of the pregnancy," he told the BBC. |
In IVF the embryo reaches a stage called the blastocyst at day five. | In IVF the embryo reaches a stage called the blastocyst at day five. |
This is a day or so before it would normally implant in the womb and when it is reimplanted in IVF. | This is a day or so before it would normally implant in the womb and when it is reimplanted in IVF. |
"At this stage, the embryo has two parts," said Mr Fishel. "A tiny ball of cells which will become the baby and an outer layer of cells that becomes the placenta. | "At this stage, the embryo has two parts," said Mr Fishel. "A tiny ball of cells which will become the baby and an outer layer of cells that becomes the placenta. |
"At this stage we can do a tiny biopsy of those placental cells. So we don't even touch the cells that are going to become the baby itself. | "At this stage we can do a tiny biopsy of those placental cells. So we don't even touch the cells that are going to become the baby itself. |
"We can then analyse all the chromosomes that would tell us about the cells that make the baby at the latest time before it goes back into the womb. | |
"This information seems to make a massive difference up to a doubling or tripling of pregnancy rates. And more importantly the implantation rates. | "This information seems to make a massive difference up to a doubling or tripling of pregnancy rates. And more importantly the implantation rates. |
"In other words, each embryo is much more efficient at implanting and maintaining that pregnancy," Mr Fishel told the BBC. | "In other words, each embryo is much more efficient at implanting and maintaining that pregnancy," Mr Fishel told the BBC. |
"Currently IVF success rates are related entirely to the woman's age. So at the moment a woman of 40 who had a 10% chance of pregnancy will probably be as high as 30% so that's trebling that pregnancy rate. | "Currently IVF success rates are related entirely to the woman's age. So at the moment a woman of 40 who had a 10% chance of pregnancy will probably be as high as 30% so that's trebling that pregnancy rate. |
"If she was 30, we may be getting her pregnancy rates up from 30 or 40% to doubling that to even maybe as high as 70 or 80%. It's making a stupendous difference. | "If she was 30, we may be getting her pregnancy rates up from 30 or 40% to doubling that to even maybe as high as 70 or 80%. It's making a stupendous difference. |
"We will see a paradigm shift in what we're doing in IVF I believe in the coming years, due to work that's now maturing in the next 6 to 12 months." | "We will see a paradigm shift in what we're doing in IVF I believe in the coming years, due to work that's now maturing in the next 6 to 12 months." |
You can hear more about the research on Health Check on the BBC World Service. | You can hear more about the research on Health Check on the BBC World Service. |
Or listen to the programme later on the href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00bqtws#p00c0jdl " >BBC iPlayer. |
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