Blood test may reveal IVF efficacy

A simple blood test is all what it will take, to gauge the efficacy of the IVF and let women know the probability of their getting pregnant, using the treatment.

The fingerprints
Researchers at Rotunda Hospital in Dublin have discovered markers in the blood stream of women that were significantly different in cases of women who went on to get pregnant and those who did not.

These genetic markers essentially provided a fertility "fingerprint" and revealed different movements in more than 200 genes depending on weather IVF treatment was successful or botched.

Lead author of the study, Dr Cathy Allen said, "There does seem to be a particular signature that goes with early human pregnancy. We're talking about a potential to predict IVF success or failure.”

Speaking to delegates at the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology, Dr. Allen said, “When you compared patients who were just about to undergo IVF and looked at gene expression profiles, they fell into two very distinct groups - one group who would become pregnant and one group who wouldn't become pregnant."

Too early
To gain more insights, the researchers have begun to look out for genes that were turned on or off during various stages of the treatment.

The clinical test of the technique might not happen some time very soon, however, the research is likely to provide valuable insights in crafting the correct milieu for an embryo to lodge in the womb and to prop up the growth of the foetus.

The research is also likely to identify, by analyzing the genes, the unfavorable profile for an IVF, i.e. a person who is not likely to get pregnant even after the treatment.

As things stand, it’s too early to say! “The work is in its infancy and has to be developed and validated, but we hope it will improve the blunt prognostic procedures we have now," Dr. Allen said.