In addition to establishing whether the technique improves the chances of pregnancy, researchers are also keen to find out whether these embryos have fewer chromosomal abnormalities - which can lead to conditions such as Down's Syndrome. The group is currently recruiting 40 women under the age of 37 to take part in the trial, which will be carried out in Nottingham.
There is intense interest in developing new techniques which produce better quality embryos, and thus minimise the need for several embryos to be transferred to the womb in the hope that one will survive. This technique is producing large numbers of multiple births, which can put the lives of both mother and baby at risk.
Reproductive specialists are said to be cautious about the trial. Professor Adam Balen of the British Fertility Society said; "Even in natural conceptions the eggs do not spend those first days in the womb, but in the fallopian tubes. I'd like to see a bit more science before I got too excited about this."
Care Fertility says it hopes to have initial results by May or June, and a clearer picture of how successful the technique is by the end of year.
February 2008
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