New IFV technology sees multiple eggs collected and frozen per cycle

New breakthrough IVF technology is saving desperate families the heartache of trial and error by collecting multiple eggs in one cycle. Here’s how it works.

When you look at the Will kids, they are strikingly alike.

And in Mum Kirsten’s eyes these two — soon to be three — share a special bond.

All were conceived at the same time, from the same cycle of IVF — but born years apart.

In a sense, they are almost like triplets.

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“Two (now three) peas from the same pod,” Mrs Will said.

New technology allowed Mrs Will, then 40, and husband Andrew to collect and freeze a number of healthy eggs from a single cycle of IVF, where traditionally only one egg was collected per cycle.

Dr Joseph Sgroi, an obstetrician, gynaecologist and IVF Specialist at the Epworth Freemasons and Melbourne IVF, said advancing technology had saved families the heartache of trial and error.

“In the 35-36 years of IVF in Australia, that’s one thing we’ve become quite adept at,” he said.

“The science has developed significantly and we’re not disturbing the embryos — and more are making it to (the critical) day five.”

Mrs Will said the “blessing” of three healthy embryos – now Cooper, 2 1/2, Ava, 15 months and baby number three - was incredible.

Kirsten Will has two children Cooper and Ava, all were conceived at the same time, from the same cycle of IVF — but born years apart. Picture: Mark Stewart

“It’s been a long road — but IVF ended up being a positive one.”

In the one cycle, doctors collected 27 eggs, 18 of which were fertilised and three passed genetic testing.

“We feel so blessed and so amazed,” Mrs Will said.

“It’s such an individual thing but just because it we had this success doesn’t mean it’s going to happen for the next person.”

Recent research from the University of New South Wales found live delivery rates per embryo transfer in Australia and New Zealand had improved by 16.7 per cent in 2016.

Worldwide, infertility still affects approximately 15 per cent of women.

Mrs Will said it was the dedication, support and continual research by IVF teams like Dr Sgroi’s that made their journey possible.

“If it wasn’t for Joe (and team) we wouldn’t be here,” she said.

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