One very commonly asked question is, What is In-Vitro Fertilization or IVF? And what role does embryology play in IVF? Well, here's something interesting to help you understand IVF better.

1. IVF and the critical role an embryologistplays in it.
In-vitro fertilization or IVF is a procedurewhere a woman's eggs are retrieved from
her ovaries and fertilized in a laboratory with a man's sperm; the embryos formed are
then implanted into her uterus. This is what is called an IVF pregnancy.
The IVF process
The treatment starts with an evaluation of both partners. Different couples require
different approaches to IVF treatment.
The woman is given hormonal injections to stimulate ovulation.A vaginal ultrasound
is done to check the responseof her ovaries. Eggs are then retrieved from the ovaries
under general anesthesia and a fresh semen sample is obtained on the same day. The
best eggs are put into a suspension of sperm for fertilisation to occur. If fertilisation
occurs, the bestembryos are selected and transferred to the uterus on the 3rd or 5th
day after egg collection.
Other good quality embryos may be frozen for future cycles. A pregnancy test is
done after 15 days to check if gestation has been achieved. If the result is positive,
pregnancy has been achieved. If it is negative, further treatment depends on whether
embryos have been frozen or not.
The role of an embryologist
1. Preparation of the Embryology lab
The embryologist knows how to create conditions most conducive for embryos to
flourish. Before an IVF treatment, the embryologist prepares the embryology lab by
regulating environmental conditions such as temperature, air quality and humidity.
2. Egg retrieval
During egg retrieval, fluid is removed from the ovaries. This fluid contains the eggs.
The embryologist examines this fluid under a microscope, identifies and collects the
eggs.
3. Sperm washing
The embryologist separates individual sperms from the semen sample and ‘washes’
them, suspending them in a suitable culture medium.
4. Suspension

2. The embryologist is also responsible for fertilizing the eggs with sperm. The eggs are
placed inside the dish with the sperm suspensionfor fertilisation to occur.
5. Checking for fertilisation
The day after the sperm and eggs are combined, the embryologist checks the eggs for
fertilization by examining each of them under the microscope.
6. Incubation and monitoring
The embryologist places the fertilized eggs inside an incubator regulated to control
air flow, temperature and humidity. These optimal conditions enable the fertilised
egg to become an embryo. The embryologist periodically checks the embryos and
replaces the culture media.
7. Genetic Testing
Embryologists also perform embryo biopsies in order to screen embryos for
chromosomalabnormalities. To do the biopsy, the embryologist removes a single cell
from an embryo while minimizing the risk of damage to it. Most embryos with an
abnormal number of chromosomes fail to implant and such genetic testing greatly
increases the chances of a healthy pregnancy.
8. Assisted hatching
Embryologists also perform assisted hatching on embryos, where their outer shell -
called the zonapellucida - is dissolved. This makes it very easy for the blastocyst
(embryo on day 5 or 6) to implant in the uterus, increasing chances of a pregnancy.
9. EmbryoTransfer
Embryologists identify the best quality embryos and load them into the transfer
catheter, working with the doctorto do the embryo transfer.
10. Cryopreservation
The embryologist is responsible for the cryopreservation of extra embryos during the
IVF process.Any good quality embryos that are not transferred are identified and
frozen for later use.
The know-how of an expert embryologist is critical for the success ofIVF treatments.
The 10 skills mentioned here are complex, delicate and require years of experience.
A proficient embryologist could mean the difference between the success orfailure of
a fertility treatment.