What is an embryo biopsy for?

According to Dr. Ngo Dinh Trieu Vy – Reproductive Support Center of Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) includes stages of ovarian stimulation, oocyte aspiration, and fertilization of the ovum with sperm. , then the embryo is cultured and transferred to the mother’s uterus.

During implantation and embryo development, embryo genetic factors are the main determinant of success. In the group of women who were older or had a history of recurrent miscarriages, the rate of genetic abnormalities increased significantly. In this group of patients, the assessment of embryo morphology will not be enough to bring high efficiency in the treatment of infertile patients. Therefore, doctors may consider ordering embryo biopsy to check genetic quality before transferring embryos into the uterus.

In addition, embryo biopsy is also indicated in patients with known genetic abnormalities, such as structural abnormalities, chromosome number or single-gene disorders such as Thalassemia. This eliminates abnormal carrier embryos and selects genetically normal embryos before being transferred to the uterus.

According to doctor Ngo Dinh Trieu Vy, embryo biopsy is a technique that helps to directly approach the cells of the embryo, genetically testing whether embryonic cells carry genetic abnormalities or not. At the same time, this is also one of the solutions to help improve the pregnancy rate and reduce the miscarriage rate.

Born in 1990, preimplantation genetic diagnosis method has been performed at many infertility treatment centers around the world. The preimplantation genetic diagnosis process consists of two main stages, embryo biopsy and genetic diagnosis.

Using embryonic biopsy techniques to identify abnormalities in the chromosomes of an embryo, preventing certain diseases or genetic disorders from being passed from parent to child. Embryos with an abnormal set of chromosomes are more likely to have a miscarriage or be born with genetic diseases such as Down syndrome.

Preimplantation genetic testing helps to select embryos that are not aneuploid or carry disease genes, supporting optimized embryo selection prior to embryo transfer. Pre-implantation genetic testing helps doctors select good quality genetic embryos, thereby increasing the chances of conception, increasing the rate of live birth, reducing the risk of multiple pregnancies and reducing the rate of miscarriage in perform in vitro fertilization, which helps to reduce the risk of babies being born with single-gene diseases, for babies to be born healthy, free from syndromes as well as genetic diseases. Pre-implantation genetic testing will also help reduce the IVF cycle needed to get pregnant, saving IVF costs and time.

In the past, biopsies for preimplantation genetics could be performed at 3 different stages: biopsies before and immediately after fertilization, embryo biopsies at the cleavage stage (3rd day). post-fertilization) or biopsy at the blastocyst stage (5th day after fertilization).

Currently, in order to reduce the impact on embryo quality, embryo biopsy techniques are mainly performed at the blastocyst stage (the stage of embryos with the highest number of cells). General biopsy procedures include the use of an inverted microscope fitted with a micromanipulator to immobilize the specimen, opening the shingles pellucida window, and using a biopsy needle to obtain some embryonic cells. The embryos are then refrigerated. The biopsy sample will be taken to a genetics laboratory to identify abnormalities in the embryo’s chromosomes. Once the doctor has determined that the embryo has no genetic problem, the embryo will be transferred to the uterus and wait for the embryo to implant, then check the mother has conceived or not.

Embryo biopsy can be applied to all infertile couples undergoing IVF, especially couples whose fertilized embryos are at risk of genetic disease, such as a wife aged 35 years or older. , the husband has severe sperm abnormalities; couples who have failed IVF consecutively or have had multiple miscarriages, have given birth to a child with a genetic disease, a child carrying a disease gene, with a chromosomal abnormality, a family history of genetic disease…

“According to actual data at Tam Anh IVF in 2021 on the group of patients who conducted embryo biopsies, the rate of patients with miscarriage in the first 3 months of pregnancy decreased very low. Embryo biopsy to increase the pass rate. pregnancy, reducing the miscarriage rate after embryo transfer, giving birth to healthy babies are among the trends we aim for infertile couples,” said Doctor Vy.

Tue Diem