1- Why we consider CCS is the way to shorten the time to achieve pregnancy?
Simply CCS allow choosing the right health embryo to transfer back to the uterus, that have shown to increase success rate substantially even by transfer single embryo transfer.
2- When CCS is done?
CCS is done through ICSI treatment cycle, the embryo is left to develop to blastocyst at day 5/6 then a small sample of few cells from the outer cells of the blastocyst (called trophectoderm) not from the part that will form the embryo (called inner cell mass).
3- At what day CCS is done?
The sample of cells is taken on day 5 or 6 of embryo development.
4- What if the embryo development did not reach the stage that allow the technical capability of taking biopsy?
If the embryo looks healthy previous experience entitle us to refer it back with positive results. However, if the embryo give signals of a “failing embryo” we usually do not transfer it back.
5- Does embryo after being confirmed as normal “euploidy” can be transferred
back in the same cycle?
The technology platform that Ganin Fertility Center is using is q-PCR based technology , which is the only available platform that allow fresh embryo transfer after testing. If the embryo biopsy is done at day 5 of embryo development, the results would be ready by the morning of day 6 so the embryo can be transferred back to the uterus. However, if the embryo at day 5 did not reach the stage of development and achieve it on day 6, so the biopsy will be done at day 6 and the embryo would be frozen for next cycle transfer.
6- Is there are some circumstances that will not allow the embryo to be
transferred back even if the embryo biopsy done at day 5?
We also look at the endometrium window of implantation and if there are any signs that it would compromise implantation, the transfer is shifted to frozen cycle.
7- Is there a world wide tendency to move from fresh embryo transfer to
frozen cycles?
Yes, there are strong scientific evidence that as oestrogen is increased in super-physiological levels, that affects negatively the implantation process.
8- What is the risk of having abnormal embryo (having abnormal number
of chromosomes)?
The likelihood of having abnormal eggs (containing abnormal number of chromosomes) increases as the wife gets older as illustrated in the following diagram
9- What are the chances of having normal embryos?
* The chances of having normal embryos,
containing the normal number of chromosomes, are approximately:
* less than 35 years of age: about 50%
*35-37 years of age: about 40%
* 37-40 years of age: about 30%
* above than 40 years of age: 15%
10- Is there a possibility and having no normal (no euploid) embryos to
transfer back to uterus?
This possibility can happen, and if these embryos were transferred without being tested could lead to either failure of implantation, chemical pregnancy, miscarriage or in rare cases to pregnancy with a baby with chromosomal defect like Down’s syndrome.
A study carried out in USA have shown that this possibility differs according to the age of the wife:
* less than 35 years: 8%
* from 35-37 years: 18%
*
from 38-40 years: 27%
*
from 41-42 years: 60%
*
above 43 years: 70%
