IVF with Cytoplasmic Transfer Cyprus

Cytoplasmic transfer is one of the latest innovations in IVF treatment. Cytoplasmic transfer in itself is not a treatment method, but rather is a procedure that is used in combination with IVF/ICSI treatment.  

The main purpose of cytoplasmic transfer is to help older women who are likely to suffer from infertility due to deficient or damaged mitochondria, contained within an eggs cytoplasm.  Mitochondria found in the egg's cytoplasm are responsible for providing the necessary energy for cell growth and effective cell division. Deficient mitochondria, therefore, will be unable to perform its duties and will not allow for successful cell growth and/or cell division. This can lead to recurrent implantation failures and high levels of embryo fragmentation, which are causes of poor embryo quality and poor embryo development, and therefore,  an IVF failure. 

Just like organ failures and cell damage, damage to mitochondria is observed in higher age brackets, therefore, women in early 40s are more prone to IVF failures due to damaged mitochondria compared to women in early ages. The difference between a regular IVF/ICSI cycle and the one which involves a cytoplasmic transfer, is that cytoplasmic transfer uses the patient's own eggs, just like in an IVF cycle, but also requires an egg donor since the healthy mitochondria are to be obtained from young and healthy eggs to be obtained from an egg donor. The younger egg donor's cytoplasm contains healthy mitochondria and helps rejuvenate the patient's eggs and can increase the chances of success accordingly. The main principle is, if the patient's eggs are given a more friendly environment to grow in (donor's cytoplasm), then the egg will have a better chance to survive, fertilize and become a higher quality embryo. 
At North Cyprus IVF, we have been offering cytoplasmic transfer to our patients since 2012. Cytoplasmic transfer can potentially add a few percentages to the chances of success for women in their early 40s. Nevertheless, it should be kept in mind that cytoplasmic transfer is unable to correct any genetic defects associated with the eggs themselves that may have arisen due to older age.  

Cytoplasmic transfer is a procedure we recommend patients in their early to mid 40s. However, after mid 40s, chances of success with own eggs will decline substantially, therefore, we often recommend our patients to consider "IVF with egg donation" treatment after a certain age in order to offer our patients a greater chance of success.