Embryo Monitoring and Cultivation

At FIV Valencia, we choose the most appropriate treatment for each case: 100% focused on you.

Time-Lapse Monitoring and Blastocyst Culture

Time-lapse monitoring is an innovative method that allows continuous observation of embryos during their development in the lab. One of the key challenges in embryo cultivation has been the need to regularly observe embryos for precise evaluations while minimizing disturbances to avoid stress. Time-lapse technology solves this dilemma by providing uninterrupted observation within a strictly controlled environment, ensuring the embryos remain undisturbed throughout their development. 

How Does Time-Lapse Monitoring Work? 

  • Continuous Observation: Time-lapse monitoring captures images of the embryos at regular intervals, creating a detailed video of their development. This allows embryologists to closely observe each stage of the embryo's growth, from fertilisation until it is ready for transfer, without having to remove the embryos from the incubator. 
  • Ideal Environment: The embryos are cultured in a specialized, undisturbed environment with strict control of temperature, gas, and humidity. This minimizes stress on the embryos and creates optimal conditions for their growth. 
  • Advanced Analysis: The system is equipped with IDAScore software, which uses deep neural network learning to analyse the development patterns of each embryo. It assigns a viability score that predicts the likelihood of implantation, aiding in the selection of the best embryo for transfer. 

When is Time-Lapse Monitoring Recommended? 

Time-lapse monitoring is particularly beneficial in the following situations: 

  • Repeated Implantation Failure: For couples who have experienced repeated implantation failures, time-lapse technology can provide deeper insights into the development of embryos, helping identify any abnormalities that may be contributing to these challenges. 
  • Poor Embryo Quality: In cases where embryo quality is average or poor, time-lapse monitoring can assist in selecting the embryos with the best chance of successful implantation. 

Benefits of Time-Lapse Monitoring 

Reduced Multiple Births
Transferring multiple embryos to maximize the chance of pregnancy can increase the risk of multiple births, which can pose health risks for both the mother and babies. Time-lapse monitoring greatly improves the chances of successfully transferring a single embryo by minimizing stress during cultivation and enabling the effective selection of a viable embryo. 
Complete Development Tracking
The time-lapse system records every stage of the embryo's development without disturbing the embryos. This provides a comprehensive tool for comparing and analysing their growth, ensuring the best embryos are chosen for transfer. 
Improved Selection
lmost 20% of embryos may divide incorrectly or abnormally. Time-lapse technology allows embryologists to detect these abnormalities and to select embryos with the highest implantation likelihood, at a level of detail that is not possible with conventional microscopes. 

The Time-Lapse Process 

Time-lapse monitoring offers a reliable and advanced tool for enhancing embryo selection and improving the overall success rates of IVF treatments. By providing a stress-free environment and continuous observation, it enables the careful selection of the best embryo, bringing you one step closer to achieving a successful pregnancy.

Embryo Development Monitoring

Time-lapse technology allows us to follow the entire sequence of embryo development in an ideal, disturbance-free environment. As embryos grow, the system captures images and records every detail of their progress. 

Group Cultivation

Embryos are often cultured in groups, which can improve their development. The time-lapse system includes a specially designed embryo culture dish that allows up to 9 or 16 embryos to be cultured together while keeping them in place for individual tracking. 

Detailed Analysis and Selection

With the detailed information gathered from the time-lapse recordings, embryologists can select the best embryos for transfer. This analysis is crucial in choosing the embryos with the highest potential for implantation, leading to a higher chance of a successful pregnancy. 

decoration-image decoration-image
"To the world, you may be just one person, but to your child, you are the world."
decoration-image decoration-image
"Being a parent: the only heart that beats outside your own."
Extended Cultivation of Embryos

Extended cultivation is a process where embryos are cultured in the laboratory for a longer period than usual, allowing for more detailed observation and selection. Typically, embryos are cultured for 2-3 days, during which they divide into 4-8 cells. By extending the culture period to 4-6 days, we can observe which embryos continue to develop into the blastocyst stage, providing more information to identify those with the highest potential for successful implantation. 

How Does Extended Cultivation Work? 

  • Longer Culture Period: In a standard IVF cycle, embryos are usually transferred to the uterus after 2-3 days. With extended cultivation, we allow embryos to grow for up to 6 days. This longer culture period helps us observe how well the embryos develop, selecting those that progress to the blastocyst stage, which is a key indicator of implantation potential. 
  • Detailed Monitoring: During the extended cultivation period, embryos are closely monitored for their growth patterns and development. This helps identify embryos that divide correctly and develop normally, increasing the chances of selecting the healthiest and most viable embryo for transfer. 

When is Extended Cultivation Recommended? 

Extended cultivation may be recommended in the following situations: 

  • Higher Number of Embryos: When there are a larger number of embryos available, extended cultivation helps in identifying which ones have the greatest potential to develop into healthy pregnancies. 
  • Selection for Single Embryo Transfer: To reduce the risk of multiple pregnancies, extended cultivation can help in selecting a single, high-quality embryo with the best chances of implantation. 
  • Previous IVF Failures: For those who have experienced unsuccessful IVF cycles, extended cultivation allows for more precise selection, potentially increasing the chances of success. 

Benefits of Extended Cultivation 

Better Embryo Selection
Not all embryos develop at the same rate or reach the blastocyst stage. By extending the culture period, we can identify embryos with the highest implantation potential, selecting those that are free of developmental abnormalities and are more likely to result in a successful pregnancy. 
Improved Pregnancy Rates
Studies have shown that transferring embryos at the blastocyst stage can lead to higher implantation rates and a better chance of a healthy pregnancy. 
Reduced Risk of Multiple Pregnancies
Extended cultivation allows for the selection of the best possible embryo, making it more likely to achieve success with a single embryo transfer. This reduces the risks associated with multiple pregnancies for both the mother and babies. 

The Extended Cultivation Process 

At FIV Valencia, we personalize your treatment to achieve the best results. Our doctors and embryologists will inform you about the most suitable techniques for you, considering your reproductive history and the quantity and quality of embryos available after In Vitro Fertilisation. We may recommend extended cultivation if we believe it can increase your chances of having a healthy baby.

Culturing Embryos

After fertilisation, embryos are placed in a carefully controlled culture medium where they can grow. During extended cultivation, they remain in this environment for up to 6 days. 

Monitoring Development

Throughout this period, embryologists monitor the embryos for correct division and development. They look for signs that indicate healthy growth, such as reaching the blastocyst stage. 

Selecting the Best Embryo

By the end of the extended cultivation period, embryos are evaluated for transfer based on their development. This allows us to select the embryo with the highest potential for successful implantation and pregnancy. 

Costs of Specialised Laboratory Techniques 

While special laboratory methods can increase the overall cost of IVF treatment, it's important to consider the potential benefits they offer. The costs vary depending on the specific techniques used and the complexity of the case. At FIV Valencia, we provide a detailed breakdown of these costs upfront, helping you make an informed decision about

incorporating these advanced methods into your treatment plan. For more information, please refer to our Price List.

Price List Book a consultation

Embryo Monitoring and Cultivation

FAQs

How does time-lapse monitoring work?

Time-lapse monitoring uses a special incubator equipped with a camera to take continuous images of the embryos as they develop. This creates a detailed video of their growth, allowing for precise assessment without disturbing the embryos. 

What is the benefit of using time-lapse monitoring?

Time-lapse monitoring offers continuous observation of embryos in a controlled environment, reducing the stress embryos experience when exposed to external conditions. It helps identify embryos with the highest potential for implantation by providing a detailed analysis of their development. 

Who should consider time-lapse monitoring?

Time-lapse monitoring is particularly beneficial for couples who have experienced repeated implantation failures or who have embryos of average or poor quality. It provides deeper insights into the embryo development process, aiding in the selection of the most viable embryos. 

What is Embryoscope+, and how does it work?

Embryoscope+ is a time-lapse monitoring system that continuously observes embryo development. It uses IDAScore software to assign a viability score to each embryo, predicting the likelihood of implantation. This aids in selecting the best embryos for transfer. 

What is extended cultivation in IVF?

Extended cultivation is a process where embryos are cultured in the lab for a longer period, typically up to 6 days, allowing for more detailed observation. This helps identify embryos that develop into the blastocyst stage, which has a higher potential for implantation. 

When is extended cultivation recommended?

Extended cultivation is recommended when there are a higher number of embryos, when selecting a single embryo for transfer, or when previous IVF cycles have not been successful. It helps in selecting the embryos with the highest potential for a successful pregnancy. 

What are the advantages of extended cultivation?

The main advantage of extended cultivation is the ability to observe which embryos develop to the blastocyst stage, indicating higher implantation potential. It also helps in reducing the risk of multiple pregnancies by identifying the best embryo for transfer. 

Does extended cultivation improve embryo quality?

While extended cultivation does not improve the quality of the embryos, it allows embryologists to better identify which embryos have the highest potential for a successful pregnancy.