Key Roles of Embryology in the IVF Process
Embryology is key to pregnancy success through In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology because it is the study of an embryo from the first stage of fertilization through fetal development. High quality embryos have the highest chance of implantation into a woman’s uterine lining resulting in a successful pregnancy. After egg retrieval, one or two healthy embryos are transferred after a fresh IVF cycle. Excess embryos culturing in vitro are cryopreserved for future pregnancies through Frozen Embryo Transfers (FET).
Embryology Roles in the IVF Process
- HRSS – High Resolution Sperm Selection
- ICSI – Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
- Assisted Hatching
- In Vitro Maturation
- EmbryoScope
Ancillary Procedures During the IVF Process
Embryologists at New Hope Fertility NYC choose the healthiest sperm to fertilize an egg in vitro. Cutting edge technology provides embryos culturing in vitro with an optimum environment for healthy development prior to fresh transfer and/or cryopreservation.
HRSS
High Resolution Sperm Injection (HRSS). This is the technology providing embryologists with the ability to view sperm at 6000 x magnification using Differential Interference Contrast (DIC) microscopy. Through HRSS, an embryologist can view the physical details of each sperm – shape, size – looking for good morphological appearance. Normal chromosomes and less fragmentation in DNA are key factors playing a significant role in the quality of an embryo resulting from an egg’s fertilization with healthy sperm.
ICSI
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is an in vitro laboratory procedure helping to resolve male-factor infertility due to low sperm count or poor sperm quality. ICSI is a micromanipulation of fertilizing an egg by injecting a single sperm directly into the cytoplasm of a mature egg using a pipette (glass needle).
Assisted Hatching
A computer-assisted laser procedure – known as Assisted Hatching helps the mass of cells inside an embryo escape during transfer for better uterine lining implantation success. A tiny opening is made in the Zona Pellucida through a computer-assisted laser after the embryo has cultured for up to five days.
In Vitro Maturation
Through In Vitro Maturation (IVM) – also known as IVF/M or in vitro fertilization with maturation – immature eggs are retrieved for maturation in vitro and fertilization using ICSI.
EmbryoScope Technology and IVF
The rare opportunity for patients to benefit from EmbryoScope technology at New Hope Fertility NYC provides time-lapsed information and monitoring of every embryo’s development without disruption of the culturing process.
