Time-Lapse Imaging Technique Improves IVF Success by 56 Percent

Scientists have developed a new technique to improve chances of pregnancy among couples opting for in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

IVF is an artificial method known as Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) adopted by people who experience difficulties in conceiving naturally. It is the process of manually combining an egg and sperm in a laboratory.

By taking thousands of pictures of the developing embryos every 10 to 20 minutes, the time-lapsing technique (TLI) can properly guide scientists to choose the best technique and to avoid those having chromosome abnormalities, BBC reported.

The success of the new technique, which is getting ready to revolutionize IVF treatment, was confirmed by a team of scientists at the Care Fertility, one of the biggest private providers of fertility services in the U.K.

The study included 69 couples. Using the time-lapse imaging technique, the scientists monitored 88 embryos from the beginning of fertilization - when it is a single cell - until the fifth day, when it reaches the form of blastocysts containing 70 to 100 cells. During the experiment, the researchers noticed that embryos having chromosomal abnormalities, termed as aneuploidy, were taking more time to reach the blastocyst stage compared to the normal ones.

Based on the chromosome structure of the embryos provided by the images, researchers created separate groups: low-, medium- and high-risk groups. The pregnancy rate and birth outcome was higher among the low-risk group (61 percent) compared to the medium-risk group (19 percent), according to BBC.

Until date, an embryo has to be taken out of the incubator and subjected to biopsy to determine its quality. According to the background information provided in the study, embryos with abnormal chromosomes are not effective in providing a successful pregnancy, and traditional microscopy is not effective in identifying the defects.

The new technique will help doctors identify the risks of genetic abnormality without biopsy, monitor the fertilized eggs without disturbing it, and to select the best embryo for placing in the womb.

"This non-invasive model for the classification of chromosomal abnormality may be used to avoid selecting embryos with high risk of aneuploidy while selecting those with reduced risk," lead author Alison Campbell said in a news release.

The new technique is expected to increase rates of IVF pregnancy and live birth by 56 percent, ABC News reported.

The findings are reported in the journal Reproductive BioMedicine Online.