Learn more about the core values of the Vitrolife Group here

Learn more about the Vitrolife Group here

La entrada Meet Dan Nayot and George Koustas, two of our highly valued customers se publicó primero en IGENOMIX - With science on your side.

Learn more about the core values of the Vitrolife Group here

Learn more about the Vitrolife Group here

La entrada Meet Lauri Black, Director of Genetic Services for Inception Fertility se publicó primero en IGENOMIX - With science on your side.

195 RIF patients participated in a new independent study. 

This independent study concludes that a personalized treatment based on EMMA test recommendations can improve IVF outcomes of patients who have been experiencing recurrent implantation failure.

Besides from the main benefit of improving pregnancy outcomes in patients suffering from recurrent implantation failure by analyzing endometrial microbiome with Igenomix’s EMMA test prior to transfer, two other benefits were identified:

• Broad-spectrum antibiotic treatments can be avoided

EMMA test evaluates the endometrial flora and recommends the best treatment if any alteration is detected.

• The physical and economic burden of patients can be reduced

Dysbiotic endometrial microbiota profiles composed of pathogenic bacteria are associated with unsuccessful outcomes. 

The publication, “Therapeutic intervention based on analysis by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing of intrauterine microbiome improves pregnancy outcomes of IVF patients: a prospective cohort study” (Research Square 2022) was led by Dr. Iwami from Kamiya Ladies Clinic in Japan.

Access the publication here

Do you want to learn more?

The endometrial flora or microbiome is the sum of the microorganisms and their collective genetic material present in the endometrium

EMMA includes the ALICE test, so it indicates the possible presence of bacteria that can cause chronic endometritis, further other pathogenic bacteria. 

Download clinical sheet

What do other studies say?

A previous study shows that endometrial microbiota composition before embryo transfer is an useful biomarker to predict reproductive outcome, offering an opportunity to further improve diagnosis and treatment strategies. 

The study, “Endometrial microbiota composition is associated with reproductive outcome in fertilite patients” (Microbiome 2021) was led by Inmaculada Moreno, PhD.

This new publication is a multicenter prospective observational study in a cohort of 342 ethnically diverse infertile patients, asymptomatic for infection undergoing assisted reproductive treatments.

La entrada Endometrial microbiome is essential to improve pregnancy outcomes in RIF patients. se publicó primero en IGENOMIX - With science on your side.

A study carried out by an independent research team on a group of 281 Chinese women suffering from recurring implantation failure has determined that personalized embryo transfer guided by the ERA test doubles the pregnancy rate in patients with previous implantation failure. 

Although it is generally estimated that the endometrium becomes receptive after 120 hours of exposure to progesterone, previous studies have shown that around 30% of patients with recurring implantation failure have a displaced window of implantation; in other words, they need more or less than those 120 hours to become receptive. The ERA (Endometrial Receptivity Analysis) test developed by Igenomix informs us when the endometrium is receptive and when to carry out a personalized embryo transfer.  

This study proves the effectiveness of the ERA test in patients with implantation failure. “Controlling this moment and transferring the embryo on a specific day and at a specific time has led to a significant improvement in reproductive results” explains Professor Carlos Simón, one of the test developers. 

The ERA test achieved a 50% clinical pregnancy rate 

In order to test the impact of carrying out a personalized transfer in patients with implantation failure, the research team concluded that 35% of the samples collected through endometrial biopsy were receptive while 65% were not. 

The group of patients who underwent the ERA test (140/281), in which a personalized embryo transfer was carried out when the endometrium was receptive, obtained a 50% clinical pregnancy rate (70/140), while the group guided by a standard transfer obtained a much lower pregnancy rate, namely 24.8% (35/141). Thus, the results show a 25% increase in the pregnancy rate following the personalized implantation window study with the ERA test. 

“Since we developed the ERA test to solve cases in which the patient’s implantation window was displaced, one of our goals as experts in the study of the endometrium was to always discover when this event occurred. This study carried out in patients who have been unable to reproduce due to implantation failure provides evidence that the endometrium could be one of the biggest problems”, concludes Professor Simón.  

Read abstract

La entrada Personalized embryo transfer doubles the clinical pregnancy rate in patients with implantation failure se publicó primero en IGENOMIX - With science on your side.

Getting pregnant is not always easy and sometimes, when it takes longer than expected, it is normal to wonder why or if we are doing something wrong. Now that we are starting a new year, full of new illusions, resolutions and new routines, in today’s article we give you some easy to follow tips that can help you achieve the desired pregnancy.

Know your menstrual cycle well

Knowing for sure what your fertile days are will increase your chances of getting pregnant. These days correspond to the ovulation period and are usually between day 12 and day 16 from the first day of your period.

However, every woman is unique and this window of days can vary, so it is very helpful to use an ovulation calculator.

You will see that it is a very simple process, you just have to access one of the many ovulation calculators that you can find online and write down the first day of your last menstruation, mark how many days you usually get your period and finally how many days you are with her. The result you will receive will be the days where your fertile window is at its maximum peak.

Watch your diet

Eating a healthy diet is a key factor in helping you get pregnant. A varied and balanced diet, such as the Mediterranean diet, abundant in fruits and vegetables is ideal. In addition to your diet, it is also important to take a folic acid supplement, which is essential in the first months of pregnancy to prevent possible anomalies in the baby, such as spina bifida. Ideally you should start taking it 3 months before trying to get pregnant.

As important as knowing what to take, is knowing what to stop taking. Reducing the amount of caffeine and alcohol you drink will help you in your goal, and above all: avoid smoking and smoke-filled spaces.

Knowing when to consult a specialist

It may happen that by following all these tips you do not manage to get pregnant and you keep trying for a long time without the expected positive results. Especially if you are over 35 years old, it is important that you and your partner consult a specialist for a fertility test and discuss with your gynecologist the many options that exist to help you achieve pregnancy and fulfill your dream.

La entrada Learn the best tips for getting pregnant se publicó primero en IGENOMIX - With science on your side.

When going through an IVF treatment, due to your age or other factors, it is very important to choose a healthy embryo to carry out your treatment successfully, and knowing which are your optimal embryos is a great step that will help you live your assisted reproduction treatmentwith more tranquility and security.

It is essential to minimize risks, and that is why today we would like to talk about EMBRACE, a new test that will help you and your doctor prioritize which are the optimal embryos to transfer during a treatment.

EMBRACE classifies your embryos by ordering them according to their probability of being healthy, and their viability. The embryos with the best possibilities obtain the highest score, and it allows us to know if your embryos obtained in an IVF treatment have the correct number of chromosomes, which increases the chances of achieving the pregnancy of a healthy baby.

Although other additional factors intervene when having a healthy and safe pregnancy, knowing which are your optimal embryos is a great step that will help you in your reproductive journey for a successful pregnancy.

Recent studies have shown that embryos obtained in assisted reproduction treatment release DNA during their development. The embryo, while developing in the laboratory, releases DNA that is deposited in the drop of a liquid called culture medium. Your IVF clinic collects that drop and sends it to us for analysis. It is a non-invasive technique since the embryo is not manipulated with a biopsy, it always remains safely in your clinic.

At Igenomix we analyze that DNA from the culture medium and with the result we indicate which embryos are most likely to be chromosomally normal and therefore most optimal for transfer.

One of the main benefits from EMBRACE is that it is a non-invasive option that favors a safer and more effective IVF treatment by avoiding embryo biopsies, which can reduce the cost by favoring its use by allowing access to a greater number of people undergoing IVF treatment.

From our laboratories we work so that your genetic specialist and your doctor can recommend the best option to achieve a pregnancy that results in the birth of a healthy baby.

If you want to expand your information, visit our EMBRACE page.

La entrada EMBRACE se publicó primero en IGENOMIX - With science on your side.

For a couple, one of the hardest times they can go through is when the pregnancy does not come to fruition and a miscarriage occurs. And even more so when it is not a new situation and it has happened on more than one occasion. Whatever the case, it is essential to know the cause to provide closure for the patient and help in future pregnancies.

In a healthy pregnancy, all fetal cells should have two copies of each chromosome, one from the mother’s egg and one from the father’s sperm. In total there should be 23 pairs of chromosomes. Chromosomal abnormalities, caused by extra or missing chromosomes, can result in a pregnancy affected with a chromosomal syndrome or a miscarriage.

In general, 50% of spontaneous miscarriages in the first trimester are due to chromosomal abnormalities, and this percentage reaches 60% in assisted reproduction treatments.

POC test (Products of Conception)

The Igenomix POC test is an advanced study of fetal samples that analyzes the 46 chromosomes using NGS (Next Generation Sequencing) technology and allows to establish if the miscarriage has been caused by any of anomalies of these chromosomes.

Reliability is one of the most important values ​​that we offer at Igenomix, and the POC test obtains results in 99% of cases, compared to 58% in conventional tests. Furthermore, the results are obtained in 7 working days, when the conventional tests usually takes 1 month.

The more information we obtain thanks to this test about a miscarriage, the better you can plan the next steps to be able to try again in the future with a better understanding.

You can request more information about the POC test at https://www.igenomix.com/our-services/poc/.

La entrada Understand the cause that led to pregnancy loss se publicó primero en IGENOMIX - With science on your side.

Factors that can influence whether an embryo will carry to term are very diverse. From endometrial receptivity, poor quality eggs and sperm and even infections leading to diseases such as chronic endometritis without the patient’s knowledge. In addition, one of the most important factors is the quality of the embryos.

It is important that they develop correctly, but even more important that they are free of chromosomal abnormalities.

Nowadays, in IVF treatments there are techniques to analyze and classify the embryos before transferring them to the patient, in order to increase her chances of pregnancy.

For IVF treatments we work with day 3 embryos or with blastocysts (days 5-6). Depending on whether we act with one or the other, the classification is different.

Classification of day 3 embryos

The day 3 embryos are classified into 5 grades: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, with those in group 1 having the highest quality.

The morphology of each embryo wasdetermined by Lucinda L. Veeck*:

• Grade 1: blastomeres of equal size and no cytoplasmic fragments.
• Grade 2: blastomeres of equal size with minor cytoplasmic fragments or blebs.
• Grade 3: blastomeres of distinctly unequal size with few to no cytoplasmic fragments.
• Grade 4: blastomeres of equal or unequal size with significant cytoplasmic fragmentation.
• Grade 5: few blastomeres of any size and severe or complete fragmentation.

Classification of the blastocyst

For their part, blastocysts are classified with 2 letters, one for ICM (Inner Cell Mass) and one for trophectoderm cells. In addition, the Gardner system can also be used, which in addition to the letters provides a degree of expansion (from 1 to 5). So based on this classification, a blastocyst could be, for example, 4AB.

To classify the blastocysts, other parameters different from those of day 3 embryos are taken into account, which are:

1. Size, shape and compaction of the structure of the ICM.

2. Structure and number of cells of the trophectoderm.

3. Degree of expansion.

4. Adequate evolution during development until reaching the blastocyst stage.

The success of an IVF: how it affects embryo quality

After all that has been seen above, we come to the conclusion that the higher the embryo quality, the more likely it is that the implantation in the uterus of the day 3 embryo or the blastocyst will take place.

In any case, it must be considered that there are also other factors that may determine the knowledge of the implantation window and the conditions of the endometrium.

* Veeck L: An Atlas of Human Gametes and Conceptuses. AnIllustrated Reference for Assisted Reproductive Technology, 1999.

La entrada How does the quality of the embryos affect my chances of pregnancy? se publicó primero en IGENOMIX - With science on your side.

When a pregnancy is terminated unintentionally before 20 weeks, it is considered a miscarriage.

This is relatively common during the first few weeks of pregnancy. Fortunately, thanks to research there are diagnostic tests, for example to select those embryos free of genetic abnormalities, or tests that allow analysis of the embryo’s genetic abnormalities.

Unfortunately, this is quite common.

However, there are diagnostic tests and treatment options that can help the pregnancy to develop normally thanks to chromosomal analysis.

PGT-A: Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidies

If you are undergoing IVF treatment, you can perform a preimplantation genetic diagnosis, known as PGT-A.

Each person has two pairs of 23 chromosomes or 46 total chromosomes. When a chromosome is missing or there is an extra one, health and development problems can appear. Thanks to the PGT-A it is possible to identify numerical chromosome aneuploidies (imbalances), that will lead to health and development problems.

The PGT-A is performed on the embryo before it is transferred and significantly increases pregnancy rates per transfer.

POC: Products of Conception test

The POC test  studies the fetal tissue of a spontaneous abortion in order to check if it has been caused by a chromosomal abnormality.  Approximately  50% of spontaneous abortions are due to a chromosome anomaly.

The results by this test are obtained in 99% of the cases,  and the results arrive in 7 business days versus 58% with conventional testing which can take up to  1 month for results. It is also very reliable because it rules out maternal cell contamination  by also testing a blood sample from the mother that verifies that the analyzed material is from a fetal origin.

Thanks to the POC tes,t the parents will receive the genetic information that enables appropriate reproductive counseling to help them plan for any future pregnancies.

La entrada What can I do if I get pregnant but have had miscarriages? se publicó primero en IGENOMIX - With science on your side.

Embryo implantation happens when the embryo comes in contact with the endometrium.

From that moment onsome symptoms may appear that indicate that implantation has occurred. These symptoms are very diverse and may be different in each woman.

When does embryo implantation take place?

Embryo implantation takes place when the embryo comes into contact with the endometrium.

At this point, we must differentiate between when the embryo implantation takes place after an in vitro fertilization assist, or when it takes place in a natural pregnancy.

In the case of the former, embryo implantation occurs between 5 and 7 days after fertilization, while in a natural pregnancy, it is usually between days 19 and 23, when the endometrium is more receptive.

By the time this happens, the embryo already presents several changes, starting with its cellular structure. Likewise, the endometrium must present changes in order to be receptive and allow embryo implantation. This is one of the reasons why it is important to know when the endometrium is ready to perform the embryo transfer and increase the chances of achieving pregnancy.

How can we detect when is the best time to perform the transfer?

Igenomix has developed the ERA test to analyze endometrial receptivity.

The information provided by the ERA test is key to determining whether or not the cause of implantation failure may be of endometrial origin. According to studies developed by Igenomix, 3 out of 10 patients with implantation failure have a displaced implantation windowwhich prevents the embryo from implanting.

The ERA test allows, through an endometrial biopsy, to detectthe implantation window for each patient. With the ERA results, the specialists can perform a personalized embryo transfer at the optimal moment.

What are the symptoms that may indicate that implantation has taken place?

From the days after the implantation takes place until the moment the result of the pregnancy test is available it is possible that some symptoms of positive embryo implantation may appear.

These symptoms are not the same for all women and may vary from one woman to another.

The most common symptoms are:

• Implantation bleeding. This can occur a few days after the embryo transfer or the moment when the egg is fertilized in the tube. It is usually scanty, brown or pinkish in color and may last a few days.
• Implantation pain. Like bleeding, it occurs a few days after the transfer or the moment when the egg is fertilized in the tube. It is similar to mild menstrual pain.
• Breast discomfort, swelling of the breasts (especially the areola and nipple).
• Pain in the lower back.
• Diarrhea, constipation.
• Stomach acidity.
• Frequent urination.
• Drowsiness, tiredness.
• Nausea, vomiting, dizziness.
• Intolerance to some smells or foods.

La entrada How do I know if the embryo has implanted in the uterus? se publicó primero en IGENOMIX - With science on your side.