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FAQ: Embryo Co-Culturing
What is embryo co-culturing?
Embryo co-culturing is a technique initiated in the UCSF Medical Center In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) laboratory in 1999 to improve the quality of embryos prior to transfer into the mother's womb. This technique involves using a buffalo rat liver cell line to secrete nutritional products that help growing embryos improve their chances for survival.
Who should consider this technique?
We only recommend co-culturing to patients who have had unsuccessful IVF cycles with poor embryo quality. Patients who haven't tried IVF or who have achieved excellent embryo quality in the past aren't recommended for co-culturing.
Why should we be concerned about poor embryo quality?
Your likelihood of achieving pregnancy depends on the quality of your embryos. If you have good embryo quality, you have a better chance of conceiving from IVF. Likewise, your chance for success goes down with poor quality embryos.
What is UCSF Medical Center IVF laboratory's experience with co-culture?
To date, we have had 35 co-culture IVF cycles. The pregnancy rate increased to 40 percent, compared to 13 percent without co-culture, in patients with poor embryo quality. Co-culturing may not improve embryo quality in some patients.
What are the risks of co-culture?
Because it has not been tested extensively, there is no information about children born of co-culture with these specific cells. That's why we remain cautious about using this approach on patients who can produce good quality embryos. That said, we haven't seen any problems so far.
If co-culture is recommended, will all of our embryos be exposed?
If you and your doctor agree to co-culture for your IVF cycle, we will incubate all of your embryos in the co-culture environment as soon as our embryologists confirm fertilization. We will continue co-culture until the day of your embryo transfer.
Is it possible to freeze co-culture embryos?
Yes. We use the same standards for freezing co-cultured embryos as for standard cultured embryos. If your embryo quality is improved with co-culture, there is a greater likelihood that we can freeze more of your embryos.
More Information:
Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Medical Center.
Last updated May 8, 2007
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or health care provider. We encourage you to discuss with your doctor any questions or concerns you may have.
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