- Researchers developed Embryo Glue not as a glue; they named it that because its sticky texture imitates glue (adhesive).
- They specifically formulated it as an embryo transfer medium to contain a high hyaluronan concentration. During IVF or frozen-embryo transfer, clinicians use it to create a supportive environment around the embryo when they transfer the embryo.
- While Embryo Glue can contribute to better pregnancy results in a subset of patients, it is not a miracle drug that ensures implantation, let alone a safe pregnancy.
- The use of Embryo Glue must be based only on the patient’s fertility record, embryo transfer strategy, and the recommendation of a trained fertility doctor.
The embryo transfer stage is one of the most critical phases in the entire IVF process. After the egg pickup, the eggs are fertilized. These then grow into embryos, and one of them is selected and implanted in the woman’s uterine cavity. Yet, various factors besides quality determine embryo transfer success. These include the receptiveness of the uterine lining and the embryo’s ability to take root. At this point, doctors can view the use of Embryo Glue as another technique offered during IVF.
Contrary to the term it uses, Embryo Glue is not real glue but a special medium used during embryo transfer that aims to create the necessary conditions for embryo survival in a natural state around it. Besides hyaluronic acid, a component that the female reproductive tract and human body naturally produce. In the formula, this ingredient is present in a large amount.
What Is Embryo Glue?
Doctors mainly use embryo glue, a special type of medium, during embryo transfers for IVF treatments. They initially transfer the embryos to this medium and then finally place them inside the womb.
The main purpose of using this medium is to provide an environment comparable to the natural reproductive conditions. One of the key ingredients in this medium that allows it to fulfill that function is hyaluronan, or hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronan is a naturally occurring substance in the female reproductive tract. Researchers find it even in the uterus. When they include it in Embryo Glue, they increase the amount of hyaluronan in the hope that it may result in better contact between the embryo and the endometrium, i.e., the uterine lining.
That means calling the term Embryo Glue might sometimes be very deceiving. Physically, it doesn’t hold or glue the embryo to the uterus.
How Does Embryo Glue Work?
For you to know how Embryo Glue can increase the chances of successful conception, it is important you also know what implantation is.
A few weeks after the embryo transfer, a successful interaction between the embryo and a receptive uterine lining has to continue. Implantation is a biological process between the embryo and endometrial lining that is so delicate.
Embryo Glue is a medium that surrounds the embryo when it is transferred. Because its main component is hyaluronan, this solution has an advantage in supporting embryo transfer since it offers a physical and chemical milieu similar to that of the endometrium. Yet, it is still unclear whether implantation is directly linked to the transfer medium.
Hyaluronan is one of the factors influencing the embryo implantation mechanism through the adhesion of the blastocyst cells as well as the embryo-endometrium cells. But keep in mind that successful implantation does not depend on the transfer medium.
A woman’s age is one of the factors; the quality and chromosomal makeup of the embryo, the health of the uterus, endometrial receptivity, etc are among the factors that also influence IVF success rates.
What Does Embryo Glue Contain?
Embryo Glue or other embryo transfer media are usually designed to contain nutrients and other chemical substances aimed at helping during embryo transfer to support the embryo’s handling. One of the most debated ingredients is hyaluronan.
To begin with, hyaluronan is a substance that is naturally found in reproductive cells. It is responsible for several important biological processes, for example, the interaction of cells, the hydration of tissues, and the binding of molecules.
Hyaluronan is one of the substances that is present in a relatively high concentration in the transfer media. This higher concentration of hyaluronan in the medium is thought to give a nice microenvironment during the transfer of the embryo.
Besides hyaluronan, such a transfer medium can also contain other necessary substances that will help to keep the culture conditions suitable for the embryo during its manipulation in the laboratory.
Can Embryo Glue Improve IVF Success?
Probably the question that researchers raise most often is whether Embryo Glue actually enhances the success chances of IVF (In Vitro Fertilization).
Findings indicate that higher levels of hyaluronan in embryo transfer media could influence a clinical pregnancy or a live birth due to IVF in favor of patients compared to those using a lower concentration of hyaluronan media for transfers.
But there is no guarantee that Embryo Glue will result in a pregnancy.
Successful IVF outcomes largely depend on so many factors such as:
- Maternal age
- Egg quality
- Sperm quality
- Embryo quality
- Embryo chromosomal status
- Endometrial thickness and receptivity
- Uterine health
- The underlying cause of infertility
- The IVF laboratory and embryo transfer procedure
Who May Consider Embryo Glue in IVF?
Doctors usually do not recommend Embryo Glue to all patients but rather to a subgroup of those who have either chosen IVF or frozen embryo transfer as an assisted reproduction method.
If your infertility problem has been identified as a tubal factor or if you are an infertile woman without the presence of your tubes (cornual factor, etc.), the fertility physician’s recommendation of Embryo Glue would largely depend on your specific fertility problems and your overall treatment plan. Doctors may suggest Embryo Glue to those patients who are about to have either a fresh or frozen embryo transfer, but laboratory practice as well as the doctor’s choice would influence this.
Some women mainly attract themselves to the idea of Embryo Glue following multiple unsuccessful transfers, even if they do not know the cause.
But in cases where implantation has failed more than once, there may be several contributing factors, and just introducing Embryo Glue might not be sufficient to correct all the hidden issues.
Fertility check-up should not be overlooked after unsuccessful IVF cycles.
Embryo Glue for Recurrent Implantation Failure
It’s not unreasonable for individuals to want to explore alternative methods after repeated failed IVF cycles.
An infertility specialist may explain that besides using Embryo Glue for recurrent implantation failure, it’s still only one of many possible treatments. This is because recurrent implantation failure is a complicated issue with factors related to embryos, endometrium development, or maybe both in combination, or some completely different cause.
The reproductive specialists might assess:
- Embryo quality
- Previous embryo transfer history
- Endometrial preparation
- Uterine cavity
- Embryo genetic testing where appropriate
- Hormonal factors
- Other individual clinical considerations
Embryo Glue vs Standard Embryo Transfer Medium
The main variation between Embryo Glue and regular embryo transfer medium is usually the amount of hyaluronan present.
An embryo transfer medium acts as a regular transfer medium and serves as just a safe place to handle and move the embryo. In contrast, Embryo Glue uses a hyaluronan-loaded medium designed to assist embryo transfer.
The method of embryo transfer is almost the same. The fertility specialist still implants the embryo into the uterine cavity with the aid of a special catheter.
Yet, it doesn’t alter the embryo’s genetic code, enhance a poor-quality embryo, or correct chromosomal anomalies.
Is Embryo Glue Safe?
Embryo Glue has been widely used as an embryo transfer medium in IVF treatments. However, its use should always be a matter of decision and direction between a qualified fertility specialist and an embryology laboratory.
Before the treatment, patients should go through a consultation. They should discuss with the fertility doctor all aspects of the procedure. This includes the benefits it can bring for a couple undergoing treatment, drawbacks and limitations, and if the procedure is really suited for their particular case.
As to the use of any additional IVF techniques, it should always be based mainly on the medical justification for the patient and the scientific backing from the literature rather than assuming that the addition of any technology will definitely guarantee a better outcome.
Embryo Glue at Zemya IVF & Fertility Clinics
Every one of the IVF treatments offered at Zemya clinics is tailored to the specific requirements of the infertile person. An advanced IVF treatment does more than offer a choice of a technique alone. Doctors and other fertility specialists assess the patient’s age, medical condition, the kind of infertility diagnosed, the development of the fetus (embryo), and the success of earlier treatments while deciding on the follow-up plan.
To understand why embryo implantation is a pivotal step of the ART procedure, one can hardly emphasize the right choice of lab processes more than once: researchers make that choice based upon an individual context.
In case patients decide on highly developed IVF approaches like Embryo Glue, it’s necessary to consult with the fertility experts who are capable of figuring out if the method fits in with the patient’s overall strategy.
The Bottom Line
Embryo Glue is a medium for embryo transfer which, in addition to being basic, contains a higher amount of hyaluronan. It is mainly used during IVF and frozen embryo transfer. Despite the name Embryo Glue, it does not literally glue the embryo to the uterine wall.
At embryo transfer time, it actually creates a specialized medium around the embryo. Some studies state that hyaluronan-enriched transfer culture can even result in better implantation and higher chances of getting pregnant. But there is no way that Embryo Glue can be used as the sole agent for implantation or pregnancy.
Embryo transfer success depends on a multitude of factors. Especially embryo quality and chromosome constitution, uterine receptivity, and overall diagnosis related to the patient’s fertility.
