Xtra
Optimising Tech
for Embryo Selection
Various technological advances make selecting the healthiest
embryo possible
14
T
HE CORE method of any In
Vitro Fertilisation(IVF) treatment
involves the common practice
of inseminating the egg and the
sperm together. This method does not differ
much from one centre to another.
Common misconception patients often
have is that the number of eggs extracted
does not reflect the chances of a pregnancy.
As more often than not, only one third of
embryos will have the potential of offering
the chance of a pregnancy.
Sunfert International Fertility Centre’s
fertility specialist Dr Eeson Sinthamoney
explained that doctors can now perform
embryo selection thanks to the evolution of
technology over the years.
“The whole concept that’s been worked
on the last couple of years is about embryo
selection, which is the ability to identify the
embryo with the chance of implantation to
give you a shorter time to pregnancy and a
reduced risk of miscarriage.”
“This is a part of the NextGen IVF
approach where innovation incorporates
the latest technological advances to select
the most optimal embryo to implant,” Eeson
explained.
NEW STRATEGIES FOR DIAGNOSING
EMBRYO IMPLANTATION
Over the last couple of years, methods
such as Time-Lapse embryo imaging and
pre-implantation genetic screening were
incorporated to further increase the chances
for a successful pregnancy.
The Time-Lapse embryo imaging is a
non-invasive embryo selection method that
allows pictures of the embryo growth to be
taken round the clock during the incubation
period. This has further allowed embryol-
ogists to study the milestones of embryo
development and characteristics.
Sunfert International Fertility Centre,
Fertility Specialist, Dr Eeson Sinthamoney.
Another method in the NextGen IVF
series is the Preimplantation Genetic
Diagnosis (PGD). In an instance where one
or even both parents are found to be carriers
of a genetic abnormality, PGD will then be
performed on the embryo to determine if it
also carries the same abnormality.
Hopes for a
Leeway of
Funding
ACCORDING to Sunfert
International Fertility Centre’s
fertility specialist Dr Eeson
Sinthamoney, NextGen IVF allows
doctors to select the most viable
embryo in order to avoid multiple
transfers resulting in shorter time
towards pregnancy.
Meanwhile, as Preimplantation
Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) has only
been done in recent years, he
hopes for further advancement of
the technology.
“This will allow doctors to
identify and detect small defects
as well, as the current method only
allows them to detect big changes.
Furthermore, there is still a lack
of understanding in certain areas
of the fertility treatment which
can only be solved with significant
progress in the field,” says Eeson.
With fertility treatments
gaining traction, cost is still a major
obstacle for patients to obtain the
best level of treatment. As public
funded programmes often result in
longer waiting lists, several groups
of patients find it a struggle to turn
to private centres due to the cost
of treatments.
As cost will not see a decrease
in the coming years, he hopes for a
leeway of funding for patients such
as EPF that will allow them to take
out funding for treatments under
certain criteria.
This method subsequently allows doctors
to transfer an embryo that is free of that
genetic abnormality. The PGD method is
available to couples with any inheritable
single-gene disorders such as haemophilia
and thalassemia.