Embryoscope - to use or not?

[Orangeflowers]

Hello all, I need to decide whether to use the embryoscope or not. I'm with CARE so unfortunately I need to buy both the embryoscope and CAREMAPs in one. It is £900 extra. I've used both on all my cycles so far and don't see the benefits of CAREMAPs moving forward. I only produce 2 (max 3) blastocysts by day 5 or 6 and intend on transferring 2, so there are limited benefits as a selection tool.

My clinic have been unable to supply statistics of the difference between standard culture and the embryoscope in terms of outcomes. They say there is a slight improvement in pregnancy rates when using CAREMAPs. However from the research I've read it might improve the chance of success on the first transfer but not the success per cycle.

My understanding is that whether the embryoscope is used or not, the embryos are removed to do the fertilisation check and to prepare for transfer. The difference is that if the standard culture is used rather than the embryoscope then your embryos are kept in a incubator amongst other people's dishes so are disturbed when the door is open and shut.

Has anybody got any info, thoughts or experiences on whether or not to use please?

For context, I produce a lot of eggs but they develop poorly, I'm 43.

Many thanks and good luck and best wishes to all x

[Tarasunny]

We've chatted about this before on pm's but thought I'd put this out here for anyone else who might come across it in the future. I didn't do Caremaps as I wasn't expected to get more than a couple of blasts at the most so didn't think it was worth the extra £900. I got 9 eggs, only 2 fertilised but both made it to blast, one was ahead of the other at day 5 so that was transferred the other was frozen on day 6. For me I don't think it made a difference in outcome but maybe if you had more blasts it would. Its just annoying that it's so expensive.

[Orangeflowers in reply to Tarasunny]

Thank you!

[StarsAllAround]

Hi Orangesflowers, I have no experience with caremaps. But we did use an embryoscope. Our consultant was very honest when she explained the embryoscope, she said there's some evidence ladies over 40 have better outcomes when using it but not much and did not pressure us to use it. My understanding is that when the embryoscope is used after fertilisation your embryos stay in the incubator until transfer or freeze. The embryoscope takes a picture of your embryos every 10 seconds and the embryologist reviews this footage. It cost us £500 for it and we were given a memory stick on day of transfer with the footage of the embryo that was transferred. X

[Orangeflowers in reply to StarsAllAround]

Thank you. It's £900 at my clinic! x

[DianeArnold Partner Nurse Fertility Network UK]

Hi Orangeflowers. I assume you have read all this?? carefertility.com/treatment...

Good luck! Diane

[Orangeflowers in reply to DianeArnold]

Thanks Diane x