CCRM continually raises the bar by finding new and innovative ways, so that individuals have the best chance at having a healthy baby. Our research efforts have resulted in numerous important advances in the field of reproductive endocrinology.
CCRM changed the in vitro fertilization (IVF) landscape by pioneering comprehensive chromosomal screening (CCS) and in 2007, the first CCS baby was born. CCS involves testing embryos at the blastocyst stage to determine whether an embryo has a normal or abnormal number of chromosomes. This is done by removal of several cells of part of the embryo that forms the placenta. Genetic testing is then performed that can screen the embryos for the normal number of chromosomes (23 pairs).
The rationale is that many embryos have an abnormal number of chromosomes and this increases drastically with maternal age. The goal is to avoid transferring abnormal or “aneuploid” embryos which would either fail to implant, result in miscarriage, or lead to a fetal aneuploidy such as Down Syndrome.
This technique has been successfully adopted by fertility clinics all over the world resulting in the birth of tens of thousands of healthy babies. Since 2007, more than 3,000 healthy CCRM babies were born using CCS in conjunction with in vitro fertilization.
Who are candidates for CCS?
- Women over the age of 35 years.
- Patients with recurrent pregnancy loss.
- Patients with recurrent implantation failure.
- Patients with prior unsuccessful fertility treatments.
- Patients who require single embryo transfer for medical reasons, or who strongly desire single embryo transfer.
What are the advantages of CCS?
- Increased probability of live-birth with elective single embryo transfer.
- Reduced rates of multiple pregnancy.
- Lower pregnancy loss rates.
- Reduction in unsuccessful embryo transfers and thus fewer fertility treatment procedures per live birth.
- Shorten the time interval from treatment start to ongoing pregnancy and live birth.
- Enhanced information about the potential for pregnancy in cryopreserved embryos.
CCS success story
After struggling to have a baby for three years, 34-year-old Megan Decker came to CCRM for IVF and opted for CCS to ensure that they were transferring normal embryos. “We didn’t want to come this far, put my body, my mind, everything else through this journey, and not have that reassurance,” Megan said. Megan is now 12 and a half weeks pregnant with a baby girl. Visit the Fox 31 Denver to see their recent news segment on CCS.
