How IVF Works | The Story of Fertility | BBC Earth Science

Summary

This script delves into the intricacies of in vitro fertilization (IVF), highlighting its evolution from a 10% success rate in the 1980s to over 30% for women under 35 today. It underscores the role of ICSI, where sperm is injected directly into the egg, and the use of time-lapse cameras to monitor embryo development, enhancing the selection of healthy embryos for transfer. The narrative also poignantly addresses the impact of aging on egg quality and quantity, emphasizing the biological realities behind the trend of delayed motherhood.

Takeaways

• 🧬 Assisted reproductive technologies like IVF help sperm and eggs unite when they can't naturally.
• 🌱 The room where IVF takes place is considered the birthplace of life in this context.
• 📈 IVF success rates have significantly improved from an average of 10% in the 1980s to over 30% for women under 35 today.
• 📉 Success rates decline with age, dropping to about 10% for women in their early forties.
• 🔬 ICSI, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, allows for direct injection of sperm into the egg, aiding cases of poor sperm quality.
• 🔎 The process of IVF involves monitoring the fertilization and cell division of eggs to form embryos.
• 🚫 Not all embryos are viable; some may have genetic issues or fail to implant in the womb.
• 📹 Time-lapse cameras in incubators have been a breakthrough, allowing for continuous monitoring of embryo development.
• 👵 As women age, both the quantity and quality of eggs decline, affecting the ability to conceive.
• 💡 The societal trend of delaying childbirth can lead to difficulties in fertilization due to the age-related decline in egg quality.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the process described in the script?

The primary purpose is to facilitate the fertilization of eggs that would not naturally be able to do so, essentially aiding in the creation of life through assisted reproductive techniques.

How have IVF success rates evolved from the early eighties to today?

IVF success rates have significantly improved, from an average of 10% in the early eighties to well over 30% for women under 35 today.

What is the impact of age on IVF success rates?

As women age, IVF success rates decrease. For women in their early forties, the rate falls to about one in ten.

What is ICSI and how does it improve IVF success?

ICSI, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, is a technique where sperm is directly injected into the egg using an extremely fine tube, which helps when sperm quality is poor and natural penetration is unlikely.

What role does the timelapse camera play in the IVF process?

The timelapse camera inside the incubator monitors embryo development by taking pictures every 10 minutes, allowing the team to assess the health and development progress of embryos.

Why is it more difficult to become pregnant as one gets older according to the script?

As age increases, not only does the quantity of eggs decrease, but also their quality. Some eggs may have issues such as a too soft membrane that collapses upon sperm injection, or a tougher membrane that makes fertilization difficult.

What are some potential issues with embryos that can prevent a successful pregnancy?

Potential issues include genetic faults, developmental problems, or failure to implant properly into the woman's womb.

How does the IVF process help in overcoming natural barriers to fertilization?

The IVF process helps by bringing sperm and eggs together in a controlled environment, improving the odds of fertilization, especially when natural penetration is challenging.

What does the script suggest about the societal trend of having babies later in life?

The script suggests that the trend of delaying childbirth may lead some women to leave it too late, as their eggs' ability to be fertilized decreases with age.

How does the script illustrate the fragility and aging of eggs?

The script illustrates the fragility and aging of eggs by describing how the quality and characteristics of eggs change with age, affecting their ability to be fertilized and lead to a successful pregnancy.

What is the significance of the statement '40 is the new 25, a new 30' in the context of the script?

This statement highlights the irony that while people may feel younger due to societal trends, the biological aging of eggs remains the same, emphasizing the importance of considering biological factors when planning for parenthood.

Outlines

00:00

🧬 IVF Process and Success Rates

The paragraph discusses the process of In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), where sperm and eggs are manually united to form embryos, which can then be implanted into a woman's womb. It highlights the advancements in IVF technology, which have increased success rates from an average of 10% in the early eighties to over 30% for women under 35 today. The introduction of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) has been particularly beneficial for cases where sperm quality is poor. The paragraph also touches on the challenges of IVF, such as the selection of healthy embryos and the decline in both quantity and quality of eggs as women age. A timelapse camera technology is mentioned as a breakthrough that helps in monitoring embryo development and selecting the most viable ones for transfer.

Keywords

💡IVF

IVF stands for In Vitro Fertilization, a process where eggs are fertilized by sperm outside the body, in a lab. It's a technique used to assist with fertility or treat infertility and is central to the video's theme. The script mentions that IVF success rates have increased over time, with rates over 30% for women under 35, but falling as age increases. The video also discusses advancements in IVF techniques, such as ICSI, which have improved success rates.

💡ICSI

ICSI, or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection, is a procedure used in IVF where a single sperm is injected directly into an egg. This technique is particularly useful when sperm quality is poor, and natural penetration of the egg is unlikely. The script explains that ICSI involves using a tube as thin as a hair to inject the sperm into the egg, thus improving the chances of fertilization.

💡Fertilization

Fertilization refers to the process where sperm and egg unite to form a zygote, which can then develop into an embryo. In the context of the video, fertilization is a critical step in the IVF process, and the success of IVF treatments often depends on whether fertilization occurs. The video discusses how IVF techniques have improved the odds of fertilization, despite challenges such as poor sperm quality.

💡Embryo

An embryo is the early stage of development of a multicellular organism, in this case, a human, following fertilization. The video script describes how, if an egg is fertilized, it becomes an embryo as the cells begin to divide. Embryos are the subject of further evaluation in IVF to determine their viability for implantation and potential pregnancy.

💡Implantation

Implantation is the process by which a developing embryo attaches to the lining of the uterus in preparation for pregnancy. The video script mentions that not every embryo created in the lab will lead to a successful pregnancy, as implantation can fail due to various reasons, including faults in the embryo's genes or developmental issues.

💡Time-lapse camera

A time-lapse camera is a device that takes pictures at regular intervals and can be used to create a video showing the progression of events over time. In the video, a time-lapse camera is used inside an incubator to monitor the development of embryos. This technology allows medical professionals to assess the health and development of embryos, helping to select the most viable ones for transfer into the womb.

💡Egg quality

Egg quality refers to the condition and viability of eggs, which can impact their ability to be fertilized and develop into a healthy embryo. The script highlights that as women age, not only does the quantity of eggs decrease, but also their quality. Poor egg quality can be due to factors such as a soft or tough membrane that hinders fertilization.

💡Oocyte

An oocyte is an immature egg cell, also known as an ovum, which is necessary for reproduction. The video script uses the term 'eggs' to refer to oocytes, emphasizing their fragility and how they age, which can affect the ability to conceive. The discussion about oocytes being 'too old' or 'having run out' illustrates the biological clock's impact on fertility.

💡Fertility

Fertility refers to the ability to produce offspring, and in humans, it often relates to the reproductive potential of an individual. The video script discusses fertility in the context of IVF, highlighting how techniques like IVF and ICSI are used to overcome fertility issues. It also touches on societal trends of delaying childbearing, which can lead to decreased fertility due to age-related factors.

💡Success rates

Success rates in the context of the video refer to the percentage of IVF procedures that result in a live birth. The script provides historical data, noting that in the early eighties, IVF success rates averaged 10%, but have since increased to over 30% for women under 35. The video emphasizes the importance of these rates in evaluating the effectiveness of fertility treatments.

💡Aging

Aging, as discussed in the video, refers to the natural biological process of growing older, which can affect various aspects of health, including fertility. The script points out that while people may feel or appear younger due to societal trends, biologically, the aging process continues to impact the body, including the reproductive system and the quality of eggs.

Highlights

Assistance in fertilization is crucial when sperm and eggs wouldn't naturally be able to unite.

Life creation occurs in the IVF lab, where early development takes place.

In the 1980s, IVF success rates were around 10%, now they exceed 30% for women under 35.

IVF success rates decline with age, to about 10% for women in their early forties.

Technological advancements have continuously improved IVF success rates.

ICSI, or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, allows for direct sperm injection into the egg.

Sperm is injected using a tube as thin as a hair, aiding in fertilization when sperm quality is poor.

Embryos may not all result in successful pregnancies due to various developmental issues.

A time-lapse camera within the incubator monitors embryo development every 10 minutes.

The time-lapse technology enables the selection of healthier embryos for transfer.

Egg quality and quantity decline with age, affecting the ability to conceive.

Eggs may collapse upon sperm injection or develop a tough membrane, hindering fertilization.

The perception of youthfulness contrasts with the biological reality of aging eggs.

Delaying parenthood is a trend that can lead to difficulties in conception due to egg quality.

Some women may face the reality that their eggs are no longer viable for fertilization.

Transcripts

The important thing is that we were helping the sperm of these eggs

get together when they wouldn't naturally be able to do that.

Essentially, this is where life is created in this room.

Pretty much, yes.

In the early eighties, IVF success rates average 10%.

Today, it's well over 30% for women under 35.

Although rates fall as you get older to about one

in ten for women in their early forties.

IVF success rates have been rising constantly

as new techniques have been introduced and improved.

With ICSI interest cytoplasmic sperm injection.

Sperm can now be injected straight into the egg using a tube

the thickness of a hair.

So this is how the IVF happens.

This helps when sperm quality is poor and they don't easily penetrate the egg.

And the egg still needs to go through the process of accepting the sperm inside.

But we have improved the odds of it happening by putting them together

in the same place.

If the egg

is fertilized, the cells would begin to divide

and the egg becomes an embryo.

However, not every embryo created in the lab

will lead on to a successful pregnancy.

There may be faults in the embryos, genes, problems with the way it develops,

or it may fail at the next stage, which is implanting

into the woman's womb.

But a recent breakthrough has helped increase chances

of picking a healthy embryo to transfer into the womb.

A timelapse camera inside the incubator

monitors the embryo while it's growing

because it takes pictures every 10 minutes.

You can put a video together and you can see the embryo going on from

1 to 3 cells to four cells,

and it continues the embryo development.

This allows the team to check constantly whether the embryos

are developing correctly and which ones look like the best bet.

But in this lab,

it's also possible to see some of the reasons it's

more difficult to become pregnant as you get older.

As you age,

It's not just the egg quantity that drops.

It's also the egg quality.

Some eggs collapse as soon as the sperm is injected

because they a membrane is too soft

while others develop a tougher membrane over time,

making it difficult to be fertilized as it's harder

for the sperm to get in.

It's not bursting,

so this membrane on the top from the bottom is not letting go.

This one comes from a woman about my age.

So with this egg, then B and likely to fertilize.

This one's less likely to fertilize and less likely to lead on to a baby.

Today it's hit home

how fragile our little eggs are,

and how they do age.

This is the ironic thing we all feel ten years younger.

40 is the new 25, a new 30.

But inside, we're all still

the same as we were 100 years ago.

The trend to have babies later

means more women are leaving it too late.

Their eggs are just unable to be fertilized,

and for some, their eggs have virtually run out.