[blackcat12]

Just read this and thought it was worth posting, I was skeptical as its in the daily telegraph but on reading it seems legit.

The link

Edited to fix link!

This post has been edited by blackcat12: 09/02/2013, 01:09 PM

[cordyline]

Very interesting and sounds like a good step forward.

They say they have improved the culture that embryos are grown in before transfer to keep them alive. Hopefully this helps to avoid the devastating scenario where a couple goes through an egg collection and yet have no surviving embryos to transfer after 3 or 5 days.

Although based on the claims it Seems to me that this culture would improve the # of healthy embryos from each cycle rather than improve the chance of pregnancy from each embryo transfer. as the article states.

Or maybe the culture itself makes the surviving embryos "fitter & healthier" thus increasing the chance of pregnancy. Either way it is good that they are making improvements. Might stop a lot of multiple embryo transfers.

[domestically~cha...]

DIAGNOSED with polycystic ovarian syndrome in her late teens, Sally Eagle was warned she might have a hard path to pregnancy.

After six-months of trying naturally, the 28-year-old Sydney woman met with Dr Mark Bowman and the team at Genea. She was one of 673 patients invited to join the clinical trial of a new solution which increases the likelihood of pregnancy per embryo transfer by 26 per cent.

Now six months pregnant, the 28-year-old said she was "lucky" the advances in IVF have allowed her to reach her goal of motherhood.

"I'm six months pregnant and can't believe it," she said.

"We are so lucky to have access to this technology."

The couple are expecting their baby in June this year.

"When I decided to start trying for a baby I knew there could be complications. It is hard because you do feel like you have failed," she said.

Someone in their 20's with PCOS who only TTC for 6 months naturally before moving on to IVF was a "successful" participant/statistic?

I wonder what the criteria was to be eligible for this trial. Those who already had a high chance of conception maybe...

Was quite excited about this research but not so much now.

[DragonsGrace]

I was part of this trial and I believe all patients were eligible. I was told half of the eggs were put in the normal growth medium and half would be put in the new medium. There was to be no difference as to which embryos would be selected for implant/freezing. It was just to see if there was a better fert/survival rate with the new medium

Efs

This post has been edited by DragonsGrace: 20/02/2013, 11:17 AM

[eyesabove]

I was informed about this trial as I was eligible (simply had to be a patient undergoing IVF at this clinic and under the supervision of one of the participating doctors - they wanted a broad scope). I did not go ahead with IVF during the trial period, but Dr. Bowman is extremely conservative in his approach to the use of IVF and the clinic has been moving towards improving outcomes in single embryo transfer for some time.

I think overall it is a very positive move.

And FWIW - being in your 20's and only TTC for 6 months can occasionally mean that IVF is your only option. As hard as that is for some to believe

EFS

This post has been edited by eyesabove: 20/02/2013, 11:27 AM

[jules095]

And FWIW - being in your 20's and only TTC for 6 months can occasionally mean that IVF is your only option. As hard as that is for some to believe

That depend on what her reasons for infertility were.

If she was only told that PCOS in her teens would stop her conceiving, then why after only 6mths TTC at 28, did he go straight to IVF? Why not try cycle tracking, clomid, AI, etc, before it?

I agree with DC here.

[spring_rain]

Apparently it does make the embryos cultured in it stronger and healthier. Even though I am over 40, I was offered the trial as well. for my first cycle I didn't take it however, the solution was used for the frozen transfer I had this morning. Our blastocyst thawed very well using the new solution and seemed to be robust when it was transferred. As DH and I already have a naturally conceived child, were were told from the outset we would only be eligible for single embryo transfers, and I don't think our doctor does multiples except under exceptional circumstances.

Hopefully the 2ww will pass quickly. Good luck to others TTC

[MrsLexiK]

Someone in their 20's with PCOS who only TTC for 6 months naturally before moving on to IVF was a "successful" participant/statistic?

I wonder what the criteria was to be eligible for this trial. Those who already had a high chance of conception maybe...

Was quite excited about this research but not so much now.

My dr didn't even have me trying for 6 months before he was ready to move me onto IVF.

That depend on what her reasons for infertility were.

If she was only told that PCOS in her teens would stop her conceiving, then why after only 6mths TTC at 28, did he go straight to IVF? Why not try cycle tracking, clomid, AI, etc, before it?

I agree with DC here.

Whilst I had PCOS my bloods and indicated that clomid and the like would not have been much good. Also is it possible that naturally trying actually meant "naturally" trying, as in she very may well have done low intervention but that doesn't make for a good story does it.

What about the 45 year old mother who has a 12 week old now and also a 2yr old.

New mum Lorraine Scholl, 45, thanks the scientists at Genea for the gift of her 12-week-old son Jimmy.

After six failed embryo implantations she joined the Genea trial of the new formula: "I met my husband when I was 39.

"We tried for 12 months naturally and then used IVF."

The Scholl family were overwhelmed to learn the first transfer was a success and the pair had a daughter, Jaida, now aged two.

"When I decided to start trying for a baby I knew there could be complications. It is hard because you do feel like you have failed," she said.

"I am grateful and very excited."

[eyesabove]

That depend on what her reasons for infertility were.

If she was only told that PCOS in her teens would stop her conceiving, then why after only 6mths TTC at 28, did he go straight to IVF? Why not try cycle tracking, clomid, AI, etc, before it?

I agree with DC here.

I agree. It absolutely depends on what the reasons for infertility were. The PP has no way of knowing that either. I find blanket statements about those of us in our 20's 'rushing' into IVF unhelpful - sometimes there are genuine reasons.

Why is is that the general community (and the usually supportive EB community) insist on blanket statements regarding timelines for these things? How are we to know what the circumstances are. This woman's treatment could have involved months and levels of AC that are undisclosed in the article prior to the patient undertaking the IVF attempt. It doesn't even specify that the successful attempt was her first IVF cycle either.

Genea has only offered the study to those who have agreed with their doctor to try IVF for whatever reason - not the other way around. Given that their goal is to increase the statistics on successful first time attempts of IVF leading to full term/live birth pregnancies, (and yes, to increase their market share by being seen as a successful clinic) - how is this development a disappointment for the PP?

[eyesabove]

Further information found here:

http://www.genea.com.au/Success-Rates/New-...o-Culture-Media