Advanced Techniques
Different techniques are available at our state of the art IVF laboratory according to specific cases of infertility. For example media for embryos in cases of recurrent pregnancy loss or idiopathic infertility, activation of oocytes in cases of total fertilization failure, autologous culturing of embryos with endometrial cells, cell sorting of spermatozoa with high DNA fragmentation, spindle positioning of mature oocyte, endometrial receptivity assay (ERA®), local endometrial scratching (LEI), EmbryoGlue® for embryotransfers, blastocyst culturing, top-quality vitrication etc.
The following is a list (A-Z) of advanced techniques we offer routinly at Dr. Shterev Hospital Assisted Reproduction Unit:
❒ Blastocyst Culture – An Embryo is allowed to cultivate in the lab for a longer period of time (5 days), so that we can obtain information concerning the vitality of the embryos and determine whether or not they will continue their development.
❒ Coculture of embryos with autologous endometrial epithelial cells – Coculture is a process by which embryos develop on culture containing cells grown from the woman's uterine lining, or endometrium, before being transferred to the woman's uterus.
❒ EmbryoScope® Time Lapse Monitoring – EmbryoScope® time-lapse incubator offers improved embryo selection through undisturbed stable incubation and time-lapse monitoring. Provides an extremely stable culture environment for embryos while high quality images of embryo development are acquired.
❒ Endometrial scratch (Endometrial biopsy or Local Endometrial Injury) – An endometrial scratch is a gentle injury to the superficial lining of the womb (endometrium). An endometrial scratch can increase the implantation of embryos.
❒ EmbryoGlue® – Implantation promoting medium for increased take-home baby rate. EmbryoGlue® medium was developed exclusively for embryo transfer, helping embryos to stick to the endometrium.
❒ Endometrial Receptivity Analysis (ERA®) – The ERA Endometrial Receptivity Analysis is a personalized genetic test to diagnose the state of endometrial receptivity in the window of implantation.
❒ Laser Assisted Hatching – Assisted hatching (AH) is a procedure in which the zona pellucida (outer covering) of the embryo is partially opened, usually by application of an acid or laser, to facilitate embryo implantation and pregnancy.
❒ Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting (MACS) -The MACS ART Annexin V System is intended for in vitro depletion of apoptotic human spermatozoa. The system selectively depletes unwanted cells using the ability of Annexin V to recognize the antigen EPS (externalized phosphatidylserine) in the plasma membrane of apoptotic cells.
❒ Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) – Its intended goal is to diagnose a specific genetic disease on oocytes or embryos before a clinical pregnancy has been established, by selecting and transferring to the uterus only embryos resulted unaffected after mutation analysis. PGD is an adjunct to assisted reproductive technology, and requires in vitro fertilization (IVF) to obtain oocytes or embryos for evaluation.
❒ Spindle & ZP View Analysis
❒ Surgical sperm retrieval (PESE/TESE)