NBR XP: Embryoscope?

Manada · January 2014

Our clinic just got Embryoscope late last Fall.   It's an extra $750 to use it, and while I think the concept is awesome, our RE said that it's a "developing technology" and she isn't entirely convinced she would recommend it for someone in our circumstance (young-ish, and without a failed IVF before).

That said, they won't turn down our money, and if we want it - we can have it.   We just have to decide tomorrow if we want it so they can "reserve" our spot in the incubator.

Here are the Pros/Cons I see so far -- please weigh in!!!

Pro:
- It's cool, and the geek in me totally likes the idea of getting a video/still images of our embryos as they develop.
- I believe it means they get at least a slightly clearer idea of how the embryos do and whether they are developing well.
- My understanding is that the incubator is a closed environment so the embryos aren't subjected to as many climate changes/moves as they might be in traditional incubators.   Apparently this is better for them?

Cons:
- Cost - one that our RE seems to think it's necessary right now.
- We aren't sure yet how many eggs/embryos we'll get, and our RE explained that it's not really worth it if they only have a few embryos to choose from, it's actually most useful if you have a lot that you'll be choosing from to distinguish which ones may be best of the best.    But we have to decide up front, and it's a gamble.

KH826 · January 2014

We used embryoscope (but it was called something else here -- they called it AVA but I cannot recall what the acronym stands for, but that's neither here nor there...). For us it did not cost anything additional though. One of the docs in our practice was the principal investigator on a clinical trial using this "new technology" and we participated in the trial, so it was free to us.

Here are my thoughts:

I love that we got the still photos of the embryos progressing as well as a time-lapsed video on a thumb drive of all the embryos developing.
I really liked the idea that this new incubator made the process less invasive in terms of the embryos' exposure to light and the elements (instead of being taken out of the incubator daily for progress to be checked, they stayed put where they were the whole time until the day of transfer). I don't know if this in any way impacted the number of embryos that we got, but it is of note that of 16 fertilized eggs 12 of them made it to day 5 blastocysts. I think that is a pretty high precentage. But, there is no way to know what impact (if any) this incubator had on that outcome.
If it was going to cost us more money, I am not sure we would have done it... but with that said, I am glad that we did.

So, likely none of what I said helps you. I am sorry. I don't know if I would strongly suggest it considering the money. If it were free, I would say go for it for sure. I just wanted to chime in since we did it with our embryos and we did have a good outcome...

Good luck! I am still clapping for you guys and your future embryos!!!!!!!

Manada · January 2014

@KH826 - I've read that the embryoscope incubators have room for 12 embryos per "slide" (or section) I can't remember what it's called - it looks kind of like a shallow egg carton in the photos .... and typically each patient is allotted a single slide for their embryos (so max 12) and the others are incubated in the traditional way.

Did this get mentioned to you ever? I'm wondering if yours were grown in different incubators or something, or if you just got two spots in the machine....

KH826 · February 2014

The first 12 of ours were in the embryoscope and the others were not. 2 of the embryoscope ones did not progress, but 2 of the others that were not in there did progress. We transferred 2 (1 was from the embryoscope batch and 1 was not) - they were the 2 best graded embryos. One obviously stuck and the other did not. We have no way of knowing which one is our baby. We have 1 frozen embryo that was not from the embryoscope and the other 9 that we have frozen were from the embryoscope.

ball.and.chain · February 2014

This technology was not available to me either. I'm having trouble weighing in because I'm not familiar with it and I'm not sure exactly what your financial situation is. How much does the $750 matter to you? Are you gamblers? Would you regret it if you paid and it didn't pay off? Would you regret it more if you didn't spring for it and your cycle didn't go well?

It sounds like there are more pros than cons, so if you want to feel like are giving this cycle everything you have and you don't mind spending the money, maybe go for it? But I don't feel like you need to spend the extra money to have a good cycle.

healz413 · February 2014

Thanks @kh826, @herbabymama, and @ball.and.chain! We decided to go for it. It is significantly cheaper than an FET so if it gives us information that keeps us from having to go with an FET (or a second FET or whatevs) then it seems worth it. Plus we are geeked out by it.

We are going back in tomorrow (Sunday) morning for another check. RE thinks we are about 95% sure we are gonna trigger tomorrow night. Things are looking good in there! RE also mentioned today while she was doing the ultrasound (I guess the RE does the pre-retrieval ultrasound) that it may be a tough retrieval because of the endometriomas on my right ovary and the positioning of my left ovary. Good times. Days like this I wish our clinic did general instead of conscious sedation.

2MamazInSeattle · February 2014

I'm glad you are going for it, I think I would've too. You've gone this far, why not use the best technology. Plus I'd geek out a little too!! Glad to hear thinks are looking good in there!!

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