EMBRYOLOGISTS AND THE PROCESS OF IVF | GIVING CHILDLESS COUPLES THE BEST CHANCE AT PREGNANCY

In recent times, ART advancements have been nothing less than revolutionary in treating infertility related problems and help couples reproduce healthy babies. Through IVF, numerous couples have been able to conceive and bring their babies into the world. 

That said, the role, need and the impact of an embryologist in an IVF the procedure is largely unrecognized in the world of artificial reproduction.

The success of the fertility treatment depends largely on embryologists’ precision and quality control in the entire process, i.e. from the development of a zygote (fertilized egg) to its maturation. 

The embryologists work to imitate the natural process of reproduction, modeling the process in a safe and effective manner – except with more precision and certainty. With their decision of selecting the most competent and viable embryo, the embryologists are vested with the responsibility of IVF cycle success by producing desired outcomes.

Dr Goral Gandhi, a leading an embryologist who dedicatedly works towards ART and IVF success in India, emphasizes on generating awareness and better opportunities for clinical embryology in India. Moreover, Goral Gandhi has also offered her expertise to more than 500 embryologists in various aspects of IVF, embryology, quality care and management in clinical laboratories.

 While talking about the process of verification in LIFE conference, Goral Gandhi stated the need to further develop embryology in India, which will build tremendous hope for patients by giving them a chance to preserve and extend their fertility through embryo cryopreservation, oocyte verification, etc.

Clinical embryology, both a study and practice has been increasingly pursued in India and worldwide, as increasing number of couples faces the problems of infertility. For embryologists, the embryo is the patient that they are caring for, which could eventually turn into a healthy baby. 

Therefore, they have to carefully evaluate patient materials, be it egg, sperm, or embryo and make crucial decisions about their quality and utilization. Also, the state-of-art technology and advance expertise play an essential role in the success of IVF through building an optimum environment for embryo culture, and embryo freezing.

Reflecting on the need to freeze oocytes (eggs) and embryos as well as make the frozen eggs /embryos viable, Dr. Goral Gandhi strongly supports the practice of egg freezing for fertility preservation in clinics, to help women have a chance to have their own genetic child when they wish to, helping as many childless couples experience the bliss of parenthood. 

Adding to the need for improving oocyte cryopreservation, Dr. Samantha Pfeifer, chairwoman of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s practice committee says, “The technology and technique are getting better, and success rates are good.”

Determining the direction which embryo development can lead to, embryologists worldwide sustain and foster the healthy growth of embryos and their eventual culmination into future babies, thus, giving the desired outcome to the entire process of IVF.