since the birth of the first IVF baby, Louis Brown on 25th July, 1975 in England, we have come a long way in regards to advances in infertility treatments. We have developed newer technologies in clinical as well as embryology labs.

Clinically we have now shifted from overstimulating the ovaries to minimal stimulation protocols. We are using more natural cycle IVF protocols. In these protocols we administer lower dose of drugs which eliminates the only risk of IVF which is ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. We have recombinant hormone injections available which can be administered in a less painful way and for shorter duration.

In the embryology part, we have multiple newer advances that happen every day. We have advanced sperm selection techniques available which help us select the morphologically best viable sperm for ICSI. Techniques like PICSI and IMSI help us do such selection. We also have magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) techniques.

Time lapse imaging helps us to monitor embryo development without disturbing the embryos by taking them out of the incubator. With the help of this clinician and embryologist can select the best embryo by monitoring the pattern of their growth through serial images that are taken and can be viewed over the smart phones.

• PGT-A: pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidies involves screening of embryos for genetic abnormalities. In this we do embryo biopsy and screen them for chromosomal abnormalities.
• IVM or In-vitro maturation: In this we do not stimulate the ovaries. Ovum pick up is done and eggs are then grown in the lab. Once they mature, ICSI is done. This eliminates the risks of hyperstimulation in patients of polycystic ovaries.
• Mitochondrial replacement therapy: Nowadays we come across women of advanced age for IVF treatment. In such patients we replace the mitochondria of the eggs with healthy mitochondria of young donor eggs.
• Stem cell therapy: We see lot of women with low AMH nowadays. Stem cell therapy involves extracting stem cells from bone marrow and processing them and then injecting them inside the ovaries through laparoscopy.
• Onco-fertility preservation: When young girls and boys are diagnosed with malignancies and their treatment involves chemotherapy and radiotherapy, we advise them to preserve their eggs and sperms prior to these treatments. Such treatments can permanently damage the gametes. Fertility preservation can be possible through egg and sperm freezing techniques.