Embryo ICU^TM

In the Embryo ICU at Santa Monica Fertility Specialists, we monitor and customize the conditions under which each embryo develops. The individualized approach embodied by the Embryo ICU is a unifying principle applied to both our research and our clinical care. This meticulous attention maximizes survival and promotes optimal development of the embryos.

In most contemporary IVF practice, all embryos are grown under identical laboratory conditions using identical culture media (salts, growth factors, sugars and proteins). While moderately successful, this method still results in the loss of 70%-80% of embryos by the fifth day of development. Instead, we find that customized care yields the best outcome.

In our Embryo ICU, we gather information on a daily basis and make adjustments to each embryo accordingly. By examining an embryo's secretions, we can detect changes in health. Based on this analysis, we supplement the embryo's culture media with the necessary molecules specific to that embryo, just as doctors administer different medications and fluids to each patient in a neonatal or cardiac ICU.

Please contact us for additional information.