A sophisticated new microscope allows fertility doctors to monitor fertilised eggs in utero for up to five days – and proponents claim it has boosted pregnancy rates by 50%.

A sophisticated new microscope allows fertility doctors to monitor fertilised eggs in vitro for up to five days – and proponents claim it has boosted pregnancy rates by 50%. It allows doctors to see any abnormal changes and thereby discard defective embryos so that only the best quality ones will be transferred into the womb. Doctors say the microscope has led to 1 in 2 couples having a successful pregnancy.

At present, clinicians have to remove the growing embryos from their incubators, which can only be done once each day. This may lead to crucial problems and abnormal developmental changes being overlooked, thereby jeopardising chances of successful pregnancy.

Care, the UK’s largest private provider of fertility services, installed the “Embryoscope” at its Manchester clinic. To date, over 1,500 embryos from 200 patients have been screened using the device, and it has increased pregnancy rates. Embryoscope monitoring is currently priced at £750 per cycle. A standard cycle of IVF costs about £5,000. ~ London Telegraph, Apr 20

New fertility microscope boosts rates of successful birth
Jared Yee
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IVF
UK