Genesis Fertility Clinic Blog
searching: “embryos”
February 23, 2010
Thyroid hormone, Cows and IVF
A recent study from the Ontario Veterinary College found that adding thyroid hormone to the culture media in which IVF cow embryos develop might improve the embryo quality. In general, better quality embryos are associated with a higher pregnancy rate with IVF. See the Globe and Mail — Fertility research: Thyroid hormone may boost in-vitro conception.
Potentially, human IVF success rates could be improved by the addition of thyroid hormone to the culture media. Before we can conclude this, however, we need to determine if the better quality embryos created in the study mean higher pregnancy rates. Then the same study needs to be done in humans. If there is a benefit, then we would incorporate this practice into our embryo media.
At present, we require that women undergoing IVF at Genesis have normal thyroid hormone levels. Thyroid hormone is known to affect egg development and uterine lining (endometrium) quality. As a result, women with abnormal (high or low) thyroid hormone levels have lower success with spontaneous conception and conception with IVF.
It is so important that we explore human and non-human models of IVF as we work to optimize IVF pregnancy rates and the health of the children created by IVF.
Dr. Beth Taylor, MD, FRCSC
Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility