New research into IVF to increase implantation rates
Hello all,
On the ABC radio program 'AM' on Wed 16th April 2008, there was a news story on new research undertaken by the Uni of Adelaide. While it seems that human trials are a little way off, it might be something that people are interested on keeping an eye on.
FG
Haxton N (2008) New research could boost IVF success rates, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. viewed on the ABC 'AM' web site <www.abc.net.au/am>, 16/4/2008
TONY EASTLEY: Australian researchers have devised a new method that could double the success rate of IVF pregnancies by choosing the embryo which has the best chance of development. Researchers at the University of Adelaide believe their new technique will slash the number of miscarriages and other complications.
So far, the team has only used its formula on mice but it has seen significant improvements in embryo implantation rates. Human trials are expected to begin in 18 months.
Lead researcher, Associate Professor Claire Roberts, is speaking here with Nance Haxton in Adelaide.
CLAIRE ROBERTS: Well, our research to date shows that this new formulation doubles the implantation rate of embryos that have been cultured in this formula.
NANCE HAXTON: Can you explain? It sounds like this could be quite pivotal, that it could also lead to progress in the area of just implanting one embryo.
CLAIRE ROBERTS: That's correct because we result ? if our treatment results in a better quality embryo, we know that just transferring a single embryo with a better chance of implanting, we?re more likely to have a successful pregnancy.
The problem in the past has been that multiple embryos have been transferred and that results in multiple pregnancies. That is, more than one baby, and that?s a problem for the health of the babies; for example if you have triplets, they are much more likely to be sick and even die.
NANCE HAXTON: And you are hopeful that this formula could also reduce some of the pregnancy complications from IVF as well?
CLAIRE ROBERTS: Yes, in a normal general population there are several pregnancy complications that are actually relatively common, but the incidence of these in IVF pregnancies is either doubled or even tripled.
And so by promoting a better development of the embryo and better implantation, we promote better downstream effects on the health of the placenta and of the baby, and that has an effect on the health of the mother. So we see this treatment as having the downstream effect of reducing pregnancy complications.
NANCE HAXTON: So, it sounds like it is really changing the focus almost of IVF from trying to facilitate conception to actually helping that embryo to implant.
CLAIRE ROBERTS: Absolutely. The focus of IVF in the past really has been to facilitate conception but what we've been interested in doing is to make better embryos better able to implant more successfully, but most importantly, to make better placentas down the track of development.
And its things that go wrong in the placenta that are associated with most of the pregnancy complications that we see.
NANCE HAXTON: So hopefully this could make IVF a much less stressful process for couples who embark on that procedure?
CLAIRE ROBERTS: Oh certainly, hopefully. What we would like to see is a reduction in the number of IVF cycles that women have to undertake, so that we get a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby taken home sooner rather than later.
TONY EASTLEY: Associate Professor Claire Roberts speaking to Nance Haxton in Adelaide.
