Australian fertility experts have developed a new culture fluid (a solution that allows embryos created in vitro to develop), which is said to mimic natural conditions better than any of its predecessors. According to data from a trial that involved 6000 embryos created to 1200 patients between August 2016 and March 2017, using the new fluid in conjunction with a specialized incubator led to an amazing 46.7 per cent increase in number of high-quality blastocysts (day-5 embryos) per cycle.
This development will hopefully allow for more embryos to be created per treatment cycle, improving overall success rates. It is also set to lower the number of IVF cycles couples have to undergo, reducing both the psychological and the financial burdens prospective parents face. Additionally, it will make it possible for women to cryopreserve more embryos, saving them from having to undergo further stimulation should they decide to have another child later on.
According to the team that developed the new medium, it provides an optimal environment for all embryo stages. The specialized time-lapse incubator allows IVF doctors to continuously monitor their development without having to disturb them (by removing them for assessment).
Clinics around the globe have already expressed interest in the new technique, however experts warn that further research that takes into account pregnancy outcome data as well is needed before a final verdict regarding the invention’s efficacy can be delivered.
