How a revolutionary Australian study turned ‘trash’ embryos into 70 healthy babies

Meet Ella and Ruby, two of the 70 miracle babies born from “discarded” embryos in a groundbreaking Australian study.

EXCLUSIVE: When first-time parents Louise Pilfold and Nick Bent look at their twin daughters, they see a miracle. Not only because they were born through IVF but because these bouncing babies would have never made it past the petri dish five years ago.

Thanks to a new Australian study, 10-month-old Ella and Ruby are among 70 healthy babies born from embryos that would typically have been discarded.

Traditionally, scientists will only transfer embryos that meet a high genetic threshold in the IVF process. Any embryos that have less than this threshold are discarded.

With only a limited number of embryos available in each IVF cycle, each embryo is crucial. Discarded embryos mean more money, time and heartache for desperate parents.

However, a groundbreaking new study and testing by Genea Fertility scientists found that a significant number of embryos that would previously have been thrown away were, in fact, not only high quality but actually led to the birth of 70 babies. Including young Ella and Ruby.

If it were not for this groundbreaking Australian study, twins Ella and Ruby would never have made it past the petri dish. Picture: Richard Dobson

“It’s extra special,” said mum Louise. “I went on the IVF journey, not knowing what would come out of it, but for them to have used an embryo that would have usually been discarded … it’s amazing.”

She said it completely transforms the IVF experience for women.

“I went into it not knowing what to expect I was really quite anxious … This gives you more hope,” she said.

The study marks a new era for IVF scientists and parents and will help more families fall pregnant.

Genea Fertility scientific director Steven McArthur said the study would change the lives of thousands of Australians, as the findings increased the number of embryos available for use in an IVF cycle.

Louise Pilfold with her two little miracles. Picture: Richard Dobson

“Our aim is always to maximise the number of viable embryos created in any IVF cycle because the more embryos that are available for transfer, the higher the chance of achieving a successful pregnancy and consequently a healthy live birth,” he said.

The watershed moment comes as the fertility industry prepares to mark the 45th anniversary of the birth of the world’s first IVF baby in the UK on July 25.

The day is also celebrated each year as World Embryologist Day

For Genea Fertility embryologist Clare Ussher, the finding is a clear career highlight.

She recently travelled to Copenhagen to present her findings to the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Sydney’s Nick Bent and Louise Pilfold with their 10-month-old identical twins Ella and Ruby. Picture: Richard Dobson

“These are embryos that were traditionally always thought to be genetically abnormal were being discarded … we had some thoughts that these embryos maybe do have some potential and (wondered) how it could achieve a pregnancy.”

“(After more testing) we found that some of these embryos were actually able to get pregnancies and live births … and so what this really means for our patients is that we can get more embryos from them.

“That’s the end goal of IVF … to get more embryos because that gives us a higher chance of being able to achieve a pregnancy for our patients,” she said.

Louise Pilfold and Nick Bent with their 10-month-old identical twins Ella and Ruby. Picture: Richard Dobson

She said the finding would change the IVF community forever.

“We are leading the world in this way … we are asking clinics around the world to rethink what they’re doing with their embryos … because if they are discarding them, that there are other options out there for how to treat these embryos.”

However, while speaking at an international conference may be a highlight, according to Clare, nothing beats watching what once was a few cells turn into a bouncing baby.

“It means so much to me to be able to see parents being able to take home a baby, particularly from these embryos that I know would have been discarded if they weren‘t part of this research.”

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