CO-CULTURE METHOD

Co-culture is a type of auxiliary culture medium prepared with cells from the inside of the uterus for embryos.

On day 21 of the menstrual cycle, a small tissue sample is taken from the inside of the uterus. The cells in this sample that are necessary for embryo implantation and development are carefully isolated with meticulous work.

These cells are multiplied in devices that mimic their natural environment until the day of egg collection (approximately 20–30 days).

Fertilized eggs (embryos) are placed into the culture medium created with these cells.

While co-culture provides a rich culture medium required for embryo development, it also minimizes the harmful effects of toxic waste products. In addition, it is believed that a positive chemical interaction occurs between the embryo and these cells taken from the mother’s uterus. This interaction increases the chance that embryos will implant in the uterus and result in pregnancy.

Co-culture can be applied in the following cases:

–       In recurrent IVF (In Vitro Fertilization) failures

–       As an advanced auxiliary IVF technique in couples whose embryos develop slowly and/or with poor quality.

Since co-culture requires laborious and careful work, trained personnel and high-quality equipment are needed.

Cumulus cell co-culture

Cumulus cell co-culture is a very new method and is an additional culture medium obtained from the cells surrounding the egg. The cells that surround and support the egg are called cumulus cells. The embryo is developed in the laboratory in special fluids. These fluids act as a culture medium from the fertilization of the egg and sperm to the development of the embryo and its placement into the mother’s uterus, and they are designed to mimic the fluids in the uterus and fallopian tubes. The co-culture medium, as an additional culture environment, contributes to embryo development through the growth factors it secretes. With this method, higher-quality embryos are obtained and pregnancy rates are increased in selected cases. It can be easily applied during a standard IVF treatment cycle and does not create any additional cost for the patient. This point is very important. In the older co-culture methods, cells taken from the inside of the uterus were used; the patient had to undergo an intrauterine sampling procedure one month before the IVF treatment cycle and, in addition, pay a substantial amount of money. Even aside from the cost, the new co-culture method produced from the cells surrounding the egg yields much better results. 

This method is applied in certain centers in the USA, France, and India. In Turkey, it was first introduced through the joint work of Prof. Dr. Aygül Demirol and Moncef Benkhalifa.

The combined use of some techniques is also required to achieve success.