New Method for Selecting Embryos

By Kathleen

Researchers at the University of Bonn in Germany have developed a procedure for selecting the best embryos to transfer during an IVF cycle. Scientists observed a part of the ova called the ovule integument under a microscope using special software they developed- the ovule integument is a luminescent orange-red ring. The brighter this ring is and the more uniformly it shines, the greater the chance that the fertilized ova will implant in the uterus. Under natural conditions the ovule integument protects the embryo on its journey from the oviduct to the uterus. It seems that having this particularly uniform structure indicates that the cell has matured under good conditions. Transferring 2 "good" ova led to a pregnancy rate of 50% while transferring 2 "bad" ova had a success rate of 20%. They emphasize that these optimal ova are rare- only 1 in 10. Techniques like these will hopefully reduce multiple births which are associated with significant risks to both mother and babies.