IVF breakthrough can double chances of getting pregnant

Published on Monday 26 January 2009 21:05

A BRITISH woman has become the world's first IVF patient to get pregnant using a new technique which could more than double success rates.

The 41-year-old, who had suffered two miscarriages and an ectopic pregnancy, was finally fertilised using new technology allowing scientists to screen eggs without freezing them.

Dr Simon Fishel, of the Care Fertility chain of clinics, said: "One of the main reasons IVF doesn't work is chromosomal abnormality. Full chromosome analysis offers huge hope to many who have a poor chance of conceiving, those who have had many failures and those who want to maximise their chances at each attempt."

Up to half of eggs in younger women, and up to 75 per cent in women over 39, are chromosomally abnormal. It is now possible to test eggs and embryos in an IVF cycle and select the most viable embryos.

The new technique is called array comparative genomic hybridisation (CGH). Dr Fishel said:

"This screening method has the potential to improve birth rates and minimise the incidence of miscarriage and birth defects."

Array CGH enables doctors to test chromosomes with a biopsy of a body inside the egg and is unique because embryos do not need to be frozen while results are obtained. The speed of the method means fresh embryos can be transferred with an increased chance of success.

The treatment, still being trialled, costs 1,950 on top of standard procedures for those who have repeatedly failed to get pregnant. It will not be initially offered on the NHS.

The woman, who is due to give birth in two months, became pregnant after 13 previous failed IVF cycles. She has chosen to keep her identity secret.