Is IVF technology upgraded? What are the new changes of the third generation of IVF?
Since the first successful application of IVF technology in 1978, it has undergone many technical upgrades and improvements. Since the 21st century, IVF technology has ushered in the development of the third generation, which has made an important breakthrough in the field of assisted reproduction. This article will focus on the new changes of the third generation technology of IVF, including the improvement of baby screening technology, the enhancement of embryo quality assessment, the application of stem cells and customized assisted reproductive technology.
1. Improvement of baby screening technology
With the continuous progress of science and technology, the third generation technology of IVF makes the screening of infants more accurate and intelligent. The traditional screening method is mainly to assess the risk of disease through genome analysis of embryonic cells. The third generation IVF technology has introduced a new non-invasive gene screening method. Without harming the embryo, fetal DNA can be detected through the mother's blood or uterine cavity fluid and other samples, so as to understand the genetic information of the fetus. This method not only avoids the damage to embryos caused by traditional gene screening, but also improves the accuracy of screening results.
In addition, the third generation IVF technology also applies new gene sequencing technologies, such as whole genome sequencing and whole exome sequencing. The application of these technologies makes the screening results more comprehensive and reliable, which can not only screen out chromosome abnormalities, genetic diseases, etc., but also identify some rare gene mutations or newly discovered genetic defects, thus providing more accurate genetic counseling and guidance.
Through the improvement of baby screening technology, the third generation of IVF technology can more comprehensively assess the health status of embryos, reduce the risk of genetic diseases, and create better reproductive choices for families.
2. Enhancement of embryo quality assessment
In IVF technology, embryo quality assessment is the key to ensure the success of embryo implantation. The third generation IVF technology has introduced a series of new embryo quality assessment methods to improve the accuracy of embryo selection and further enhance the success rate of IVF.
Traditional embryo evaluation methods are mainly based on the evaluation of embryo appearance, such as cell number and cell morphology. However, this method can not predict the implantation potential of embryos very well. The third generation of IVF technology has introduced a time-lapse embryo assessment system to obtain more accurate embryo quality assessment results by continuously recording and analyzing the development process of embryos. This system can monitor such indicators as embryo cell division, embryo fertilization rate and embryo germination in real time, providing more accurate basis for doctors to select embryos with high implantation potential.
In addition, the third generation IVF technology also introduces genomics based embryo evaluation methods, such as parental chromosome balance analysis (PGT-SR) and parental single gene disease mutation analysis (PGT-M). These methods can detect chromosome abnormalities and single gene disease mutations in embryos, so as to screen more healthy embryos for implantation.
3. Stem cell application
Another important breakthrough of the third generation technology of IVF is the application of stem cells. Stem cells have the ability to self renew and differentiate into multiple cell types, so they can be used to repair and replace damaged tissues and organs. In IVF technology, the acquisition and culture of embryonic stem cells can provide more treatment options for couples with infertility.
Now, some IVF centers have begun to use embryonic stem cells to treat some infertility diseases. For example, for women with ovarian dysfunction, ovarian stem cells can be isolated from embryonic stem cells, cultured and implanted to restore their ovarian function. In addition, embryonic stem cells can also be used to treat male infertility, tubal obstruction and other infertility diseases.
4. Customized assisted reproductive technology
With the progress of IVF technology, the third generation IVF technology has introduced customized assisted reproductive technology to provide different families with more personalized birth plans.
Customized assisted reproduction technology mainly includes the collection of eggs and embryo selection. Through the collection of eggs, women can freeze eggs in advance to delay the childbearing age or cope with unexpected situations. Embryo selection is to select the most potential embryos to be implanted into the uterus through gene detection and quality assessment of multiple embryos, so as to improve the pregnancy success rate.
In general, IVF third-generation technology has made important breakthroughs in infant screening technology, embryo quality assessment, stem cell application and customized assisted reproductive technology. These new changes make the IVF technology more safe, accurate and personalized, providing more reproductive options for infertile couples.
