With cases of infertility on the rise, several couples are rushing to IVF clinics to have a baby. Though this procedure is expensive, the success rate depends on various factors. The latest technological advancement in this field is a device called the embryoscope - a video microscope - which is supposed to drastically increase the chances of conceiving. Dr Aniruddha Malpani, a leading IVF specialist, tells us more about this technique and whether this it is mere hype or the real deal. Read on...
What is an embryoscope?
The embryoscope is basically a video microscope which allows the embryologist to take multiple images of each embryo over a period of time using time-lapse videography. It is thus possible to review exactly how the embryo has developed over the period of 3 to 5 days which it spends in vitro in the incubator.
How is it different/better than the current IVF procedure?
The great thing about the embryoscope is that it provides some gorgeous pictures! It's very useful in training new embryologists, so they can learn exactly how and when embryo cleavage occurs in the IVF lab. Logically, such a devise makes a lot of sense. It gives us more precise information on how each embryo is growing, and therefore holds out the promise that it will allow us to select the best embryos the one which are dividing more rapidly , and are therefore presumably of better quality. (Read: Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan: All your questions about IVF and surrogacy answered)
Does it have any shortcomings?
Just because something is logical does not mean it works in real life. There is a difference between theory and practice in clinical medicine. The utility of the embryoscope in clinical practice still remains to be proven. If there are many embryos, all of which look equally good at a particular point in time, then reviewing the images provided by the embryoscope may give more information about how each embryo has reached that point. The embryologist can look retrospectively, to see how each embryo has developed so that he may then be able to select which embryo is better.
However, for most experienced embryologists, their ability to select the best embryo based on conventional, morphological criteria such as the number of cells, their quality and the presence of fragmentation means that the additional incremental information which is provided by the embryoscope is of very little clinical utility.
Does it increase one's chances of getting pregnant?
It is usually patients who are poor responders that are likely to create more problems for IVF clinics because they have low success rate. Because they have fewer embryos, the utility of the embryoscope becomes extremely limited in their case as there are less embryos to choose from.
On the other hand, when patients have lots of good quality embryos, the chances of success are extremely good, whether or not an embryoscope is used. This means that while the embryoscope can be a useful research tool in certain settings, whether it actually helps IVF clinics improve pregnancy rates for their patients still remains to be proven. (Read: In-Vitro fertilization (IVF): A new hope for the infertile)
Is it cost-effective?
Unfortunately, because it is being marketed aggressively, lots of IVF clinics may buy it and then promote its use by advertising that they have the latest technology which other clinics (their competitors) do not. Some patients do get taken in by this marketing hype. However, using the embryoscope is extremely expensive and it is very unlikely to provide cost-effective treatment in clinical practice today.
Dr Aniruddha Malpani is an IVF specialist who passed out from Bombay University, winning over 20 gold medals during his academic career. His clinic at www.drmalpani.comattracts patients from all over the world. He also runs the world's largest free patient education library, HELP, atwww.healthlibrary.com. He has authored 4 books How to Get the Best Medical Care (www.thebestmedicalcare.com), Successful Medical Practise, How to Have a Baby and Using Information Therapy to Put Patients First. His passion is patient empowerment, and he believes that patients are the largest untapped healthcare resources, and we need to use patient power to heal our sick healthcare system. He has pioneered the use of innovative technology to educate infertile couples, using cartoon films, comic books and e-learning on his website- www.ivfindia.com. He is an angel investor in Plus91 (www.plus91.in), a company which provides websites for doctors, and PEAS (www.peasonline.com),
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