Embryo splitting: a role in infertility?

Embryo splitting may be used to increase the potential fertility of couples requiring IVF. Using cattle as a model, it is possible to increase pregnan cy rates from 70% per transfer of good quality in-vivo-produced embryos, to 110% by transferring the two demi-embryos resulting from the bisection of one embryo. The 30-40% greater chance of conception would reduce costs for the government, health authorities and patients, and reduce stress, time an d complications for women having IVF treatment. Embryo splitting may also p rovide donor embryos for infertile couples that cannot conceive naturally o r with IVF. The shortage of children for adoption and donor embryos may be overcome by the production of demi-embryos.