25B - Embryo Morphokinetic Analysis (Time-Lapse Imaging) Is Helpful in Selecting Euploid Blastocysts

Summary

One of the most challenging aspects of IVF is selecting the embryo(s) most likely to implant and result in live birth. Traditional methods of embryo selection are limited to daily assessments of development and morphology. Time-lapse (TL) technology permits frequent imaging and analysis of embryos, without disturbance to culture conditions and many of the latest models are capable of complex algorithms to aid embryo selection. Aside from trying to demonstrate that TL incubators offer superior culture conditions, many studies have sought to identify morphokinetic markers that correlate with clinical pregnancy rates (CPRs), live birth rates (LBRs) and euploid status of embryos, seeking to compare TL with more traditional invasive methods of preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A). Depending on female age, over half of all embryos may be aneuploidy, which is a possible cause of implantation failure, miscarriage and birth defects. Aneuploidy has a weak association with conventional morphology grading, but TL could provide a breakthrough in identifying discreet markers, predictive of ploidy and implantation potential. This review seeks to demonstrate that the current technology is not yet suitable for this application.