A team at the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has developed a new technology that may help improve the success of IVF. This technology allows for the visualization of the embryos’ metabolism, which makes deciding which embryo to implant easier. It’s more reliable and accurate than methods currently being used and can mean choosing an embryo that’s more likely to develop properly and make it to term.

The method is called METAPHOR, and it uses 3D imaging that shows the embryo’s colors. It’s completely non-invasive, and the goal is to look for specific naturally fluorescent compounds that are key to metabolic processes. This gives a better picture of the embryo’s health, so the strongest embryos can be chosen for implantation.

Because IVF is an expensive process and multiple rounds are often required to achieve success, finding new ways to make the process easier and select the healthiest embryos from the very beginning is extremely important. With a higher probability of success, the ‘time to pregnancy’ can be lower. This could potentially save individuals and couples a lot of money, and also reduce their stress and the length of time it takes to start or grow their families.

Right now the technology is still in the testing phase, but it has been very successful in mice. With some fine-tuning, the plan is to start testing it with human embryos shortly. Then, it could be rolled out to IVF clinics within the next few years. The current paper published on the technology indicated that there was an 80% accuracy rate when choosing viable embryos, which far exceeds what can be done with currently available methods.

Looking at the molecular signatures and being able to determine egg quality makes it far easier to determine whether an oocyte is likely to develop properly and whether it should be used to create an embryo for implantation. This gives increasing value and hope to those who want to be parents, but who need technological assistance due to reproductive issues. Shortly, there may be additional options that can make the process easier.

If you are considering starting or adding to your family through assisted reproductive technology, we can help. Contact our office today to learn more!