Advanced ART techniques are playing a significant role in preventing repeated IVF Failure

Technologies like Blastocyst culture, PGD & PGS have significantly helped reduce the number of repeated IVF failures in Surat

Infertility is the inability to conceive despite engaging in unprotected sexual intercourse. Infertility has become a growing concern in India with about 4 – 17% of Indian couples diagnosed as infertile. An unsuccessful IVF cycle can be emotionally and financially devastating. About a third of the time, infertility failed can be traced to the woman. In another third of cases, it is because of the man. The rest of the time, it is because of both partners. However, only 1% of the affected couples have opted for IVF (in-vitro fertilization) or other treatments that help conceive.

In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of assistive reproductive technology (ART) which involves retrieving eggs from a woman’s ovaries and fertilizing them with sperms. The fertilized egg is known as an embryo, which is the frozen for storage or transferred to a woman’s uterus. However, given that the average success rate of IVF is 40-50%, there are instances where IVF cycles could fail repeatedly, termed as Repeated IVF Failure (RIF).

Repeated IVF Failure (RIF) is determined when embryos of good quality fail to implant following several in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycles. Implantation failure is related to either maternal factors or embryonic causes. Discussing the major causes for Repeated IVF Failure at a press meet held today, Dr. Mona Shroff, Fertility Consultant, Nova IVF Fertility, Surat commented, “Recurrent implantation failure is an important cause of repeated IVF failure. It is estimated that approximately 10% of women seeking IVF treatment will experience this particular problem. Various uterine pathologies, such as thin endometrium, altered expression of adhesive molecules and immunological factors, may decrease endometrial receptivity. On the other hand, genetic abnormalities of the male or female partner, sperm defects, embryonic aneuploidy or zona hardening are among the embryonic reasons that contribute to failure.”

Understanding the reasons for IVF failure

With an average success rate of 50%, 5 million babies are born worldwide through every cycle of IVF. This means that almost half the people have unsuccessful IVF and fail to conceive. Here are detailed reasons why IVF could fail:

Decreased Endometrial Receptivity:

If the endometrium (lining of the uterus) is not thick enough for the embryo to be attached or if it does not provide the necessary nutrients for the embryo to develop in the first few days, the embryo fails to implant to the uterine wall. A weak endometrium is often a result of conditions like fibroids, endometrial polyps, congenital anomalies, intrauterine adhesions, hydrosarpinx. The ideal measurement of an uterine lining should be greater than 8mm when a patient is having fertility treatment, however optimal would be considered 11-12 millimetres.

Embryo Quality

The health of the embryo depends on the quality of the gametes; i.e the oocyte and sperm quality, in cases with advanced maternal age the oocyte quality can be compromised affecting implantation and success of IVF. If the quality of the Embryo is compromised due to alterations in the number of chromosomes or if the shell surrounding the embryo is thin, of in instances where the cells that are developing in the embryo itself are irregular or when there is a significant degree of cell debris around the embryo (known as fragmentation) it is thought that implantation could be compromised.

Technologies used for better IVF success rate

The field of Assisted Reproductive Technology is rapidly progressing with many new advances since the last decade. The future of reproductive technology holds great potential to allow biological birth for those who might not otherwise have been capable of it.

PRE-GENETIC DIAGNOSIS & SCREENING

Genetics contribute up to 10 per cent of recurrent pregnancy losses in couples. Embryos with an incorrect number of chromosomes fail to implant or miscarriage during the first trimester of pregnancy. Reproductive genetics help in screening the embryos and select the healthy embryo for implantation. PGS is a last generation genetic test that allows screening for chromosomal abnormalities in embryos during an IVF cycle. All 24 types of chromosomes are analyzed using PGS in order to detect aneuploidies (alterations in the number of chromosomes) which are the leading cause of miscarriages and implantation failure.

Commenting on how ART technology has helped reduce repeated IVF failures, Dr Mona Shroff added, “Since the birth of the first IVF baby in the year 1978, the industry has seen tremendous advancements. Both technology and healthcare have always advanced simultaneously. Assisted Reproductive Techniques such as Blastocyst culture, Time-lapse screening, PGD & PGS have greatly increased the number of live births in each stimulated IVF cycle.”

BLASTOCYST CULTURE

Blastocyst Culture is a technique in which an embryo is developed in the laboratory for 4-6 days after fertilization before being placed in womb. The embryo gains many cells as a result of being developed for so many days. The embryos developed for 4-6 days are much more advanced than the ones developed for just three days. This enables embryologists to select from the more advanced embryos with better potential for implantation.

About Nova IVF Fertility

Nova IVF Fertility (NIF) is the among the largest service providers in the fertility space. NIF aims to bring advanced Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) to India in partnership with IVF of Spain. The partnership has resulted in a substantial addition to Nova's IVF services and technology, including proprietary software, training, and quality management. With IVF's know-how and vast international expertise, NIF brings the same exceptional standard of processes, protocols, and policies to India.

In addition to providing core procedures such as IUI, IVF, and Andrology services, NIF offers several state-of-the-art technologies such as Vitrification for preserving embryos and eggs, ERA to find out the timing of the uterus' capacity to accept embryos, PGS and PGD for the transfer of genetically normal embryos – all procedures that significantly improve the chances of a pregnancy following IVF-ICSI, even in patients with multiple previous failures. NIF currently operates 20 fertility centres in India (Ahmedabad (2), Bengaluru (3), Chennai, Coimbatore, Hisar, Hyderabad, Indore, Jalandhar, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai (2), New Delhi (2), Pune, Surat, and Vijayawada).

For further information, visit www.novaivifertility.com