Pioneering research

At Repromed we are committed to supporting innovative research that will directly benefit our patients.

We are in partnership with one of the world leaders in research in reproductive health (The Research Centre for Reproductive Health in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Adelaide) keeping us at the forefront of reproductive technology. Repromed also collaborates with other international and national institutions to conduct state-of-the art research in the area of fertility and reproductive health.

A major strength of the centre is the integration of this research and clinical treatment programs which enables us to achieve the highest pregnancy rates in the state.

The following outlines our recent and current research projects:

Assisted Reproductive Treatment and Maternal BMI: Does Fat really matter?

The increasing prevalence of obesity in young women, of child bearing age, is of growing concern in the health community. Obesity is associated with sub-optimal reproductive performance so it is understandable that the number of young women with elevated body mass index (BMI) accessing assisted reproductive treatment (ART) is on the rise. Despite this increase, there is little known about the effect of BMI in young women on ART outcome. Our study here at Repromed therefore assessed the impact of BMI in women aged ≤38 years on fertilization rates, embryo development and freezing during IVF as well as determining clinical pregnancy and delivery rates after ART.

BMI did not impact on embryo development or quality at any stage assessed (day 2 through till day 6) or affect freezing rates. Obese women also had significantly increased rates of caesarean section and morbidly obese grade I women gave birth to significantly heavier babies (P<0.05). In contrast underweight women gave birth to significantly lighter babies (P<0.05).

Obesity in women aged ≤38 years does not appear to affect fertilization, embryo quality or freezing rates however does reduce clinical pregnancy and increase rates of caesarean section as well as altering fetal weight. Low BMI (<18.5) also results in sub-optimal obstetric outcomes implying that ART outcome can be influenced by either BMI extreme.

Single Embryo Transfer: The ideal embryo transfer option

The desired outcome after IVF is a live, healthy, singleton term baby. This can be achieved by transferring single embryos, however it has been suggested that this will reduce pregnancy rates. The aim of this study carried out at Repromed was to assess the impact of single embryo transfer (SET) coupled with blastocyst culture on pregnancy outcomes.

A retrospective analysis of 2006/2007 cycles (increased blastocyst SET) was compared 2003 (increased cleavage DET). The primary outcome was live singleton, term baby rates per cycle with secondary outcomes being clinical pregnancy and pre-term birth rates.

The implementation of high rates of SET resulted in a significant decrease in multiple-birth rates however clinical pregnancy rates and delivery rates were unchanged.Improvements in culturing protocols have facilitated extended culture, increasing embryo selection pressure and allowing SET to occur. These results indicate it is possible to maintain pregnancy rates and decrease multiple-birth rates by performing SET coupled with blastocyst culture.

 Single Embryo

Repromed Genomics Research - predicting the likelihood of a successful pregnancy

The genomics research project will focus on cumulus cell viability markers of oocyte quality to predict the likelihood of pregnancy success and in turn to increase the numbers of single embryo transfers and successful pregnancies (live birth rates) while decreasing multiple births. The project will use cumulus cell gene expression to select a single embryo for transfer based on the genetic information of the cumulus cells which surrounded the oocyte the embryo was derived from. This test will be particularly important for those patients who are to receive a single embryo at transfer but have multiple embryos with similar developmental rates and morphological appearance available on the day of transfer.

The test is completely non-invasive to the oocyte as it utilises the cumulus cells collected prior to insemination when they are routinely removed. The cumulus cells then undergo genetic testing of candidate genes already associated with the primary outcomes of the project: pregnancy success resulting in live birth and health outcomes of the babies born. Each oocyte and embryo is tracked individually throughout culture and the gene expression profile of the cumulus mass from each oocyte can then be used to predict the likelihood of a successful, healthy pregnancy resulting in a live birth.

Increased Pregnancy Rates with Embryo Health Testing

BeEst enables us to more accurately pick the best embryo for transfer based on its metabolic health.

To do this we test the solution that your embryo has been bathed in to determine the quantity of nutrients consumed by the embryo. This technique is completely non-invasive and therefore does not disturb the embryo.

As a result of this new technology we are seeing a significant increase in pregnancy rates.

Protecting your Embryos

Repromed is using a new technique to help protect patient embryos.

This new technique is known as ‘cryopreserved vitrification’ and involves snap freezing the embryo.

Embryo survival rates using this new technique are 30% greater which also means pregnancy rates for frozen embryo transfer cycles have been significantly increased.