Technology helps select most promising embryo

Dr Geetha Haripriya, specialist in reproductive medicine and medical director of Prashanth fertility research center, says that EmbryoScope has a built-in camera that takes automated videos of embryos.

“Each embryo can be assessed independently. Invented in Denmark, this sophisticated technology helps in choosing a viable embryo. We have been using this technology for a year-and-a-half now with one patient every day. Also, multinucleated embryos can be detected as they are associated with abnormalities and the best one can be picked,” said Dr Haripriya. She said technology has improved the pregnancy rate by nearly 8 to 10 per cent.

Infertility specialist, Dr Vani Sundarapandian of Jananam fertility centre, says that Eeva is a new avenue in ART (assisted reproductive technology). “Both Eeva and EmbryoScope perform more or less similar functions, but Eeva comes with more modifications. It can do an early viability assessment. We can monitor the embryo constantly and if there are like six embryos, we can pick the quickest one and implant it into the uterus,” she says. Not all women need this technology; only young women with more eggs need this to find out the best embryo, she said.

WHO estimates the overall prevalence of primary infertility in India to be between 3.9 and 16.8 per cent. “We see youngsters with reduced eggs and sperm counts. A study in China found that sperm count is declining there because of increased pollution. We need to conduct such studies in India also,” she said.