Embryo Glue is a technology that helps increase the chance of embryo implantation during the ICSI process. It uses an embryo culture medium containing Hyaluronan, a substance naturally found in the endometrium. It helps strengthen the adhesion between the embryo and the uterine wall, allowing the embryo to attach and implant more effectively. It is suitable for women who have previously experienced unsuccessful embryo transfer, those with a thin endometrium, or women aged 35 years and older. Therefore, it is considered an important technology that helps naturally increase the chance of pregnancy.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is an important procedure for couples experiencing infertility. However, the success of pregnancy does not depend only on fertilization in the laboratory. The embryo implantation process, or the period when the embryo fully attaches to the uterine wall, also plays an important role in the chance of pregnancy. Nowadays, there are technologies that can help increase the chance of successful embryo implantation. One of them is the use of Embryo Glue to help create a suitable environment and increase the chance of successful pregnancy.
The physician evaluates medical history, embryo quality, endometrial receptivity, and other relevant factors to determine whether Embryo Glue is suitable for the patient.
Following IVF or ICSI fertilization, embryos are cultured in the laboratory to the optimal stage for transfer. The physician and embryologist assess embryo quality and select the most suitable embryo(s) according to the treatment plan.
The laboratory prepares and equilibrates Embryo Transfer Medium enriched with a high concentration of Hyaluronan (Embryo Glue) in advance to ensure optimal conditions before introducing the selected embryo(s) into this medium on the transfer day.
Embryo(s) are incubated in Embryo Glue for a specified duration set by the laboratory to allow surface coating with Hyaluronan, preparing them to bind effectively with endometrial receptors and preventing displacement within the uterine cavity.
The physician uses a catheter to gently guide the embryo(s) contained within the Embryo Glue through the cervix and release them into the optimal position within the uterine cavity.
Following transfer, the embryo undergoes natural implantation. Embryo Glue does not act as a physical “glue” directly adhering the embryo to the uterine wall, but rather serves as a Hyaluronan-enriched medium that fosters biological interaction with the endometrium, followed by pregnancy tracking as recommended by the physician.
Embryo implantation is a process that requires coordination between the developmental stage of the embryo and the readiness of the endometrium. After the embryo is transferred into the uterine cavity, the embryo must undergo a process of interacting with the endometrium before it begins to attach and continue developing.
During this period, Hyaluronan, an important component of Embryo Glue, plays a role in the environment around the endometrium and in the interaction between the embryo and the endometrium. Therefore, Hyaluronan is added to the embryo culture medium used during embryo transfer to help create an environment suitable for the interaction between the embryo and the endometrium.
However, embryo implantation does not depend solely on Embryo Glue. It is also associated with embryo quality, endometrial readiness, age, the woman’s health, and genetic factors of the embryo. Therefore, the use of Embryo Glue should be part of a treatment plan in which the doctor evaluates it together with other factors.
Although it is called “embryo glue,” Embryo Glue does not function like glue that directly attaches the embryo to the uterine wall. The name is used to describe the role of the embryo culture medium containing Hyaluronan, which is associated with the attachment process between the embryo and the endometrium.
After embryo transfer, the embryo still needs to undergo the natural implantation process. Therefore, the use of Embryo Glue is only an adjunctive technology during the embryo transfer process and cannot guarantee that the embryo will implant or that pregnancy will be successful in every case.
In infertility treatment, doctors do not consider only embryo quality. They also need to assess uterine readiness and other factors that may affect implantation together. Therefore, the use of Embryo Glue should be considered on an individual basis and used appropriately according to the treatment plan and the patient’s medical history.
For those who have previously undergone embryo transfer without success, considering an adjunctive technology such as Embryo Glue may be one of the options that the doctor takes into account when planning treatment. Other possible causes related to unsuccessful implantation must also be considered together to ensure that the treatment is as appropriate as possible for each individual.
An embryo is the early-stage “developing baby” that forms after a woman’s egg is fertilized by a man’s sperm. In the IVF process, the embryologist combines the egg and sperm in a laboratory until an embryo is formed. The embryo is then cultured for approximately 3–5 days before the healthiest embryo is selected and transferred back into the woman’s uterine cavity, allowing it to implant and continue developing into a pregnancy.
Embryo Glue, or “embryo adhesive,” is an embryo culture medium containing the protein Hyaluronan, a natural substance that is found in high amounts in the endometrium during the period of embryo implantation. This protein penetrates the embryo’s outer layer to create stronger adhesion between the embryo and the endometrium. It also functions as a supplementary source of nutrients that helps the embryo develop fully, resulting in an increased chance of embryo implantation and pregnancy.
Using Embryo Glue during the embryo transfer process has several benefits, including:
Embryo Glue is used during the embryo transfer procedure, which is the final step of the ICSI process. After fertilization, the embryo is cultured in the laboratory for 3–5 days. The doctor and embryologist then select the healthiest and most viable embryo and place it into an embryo culture medium containing Embryo Glue for approximately 30 minutes before transferring the embryo back into the woman’s uterine cavity. This helps the embryo adhere more effectively, facilitating natural implantation and further development.
Embryo Glue can be used by anyone undergoing IVF and ICSI treatment, but it is particularly suitable for those who are at risk of unsuccessful embryo implantation or have a lower chance of pregnancy, such as:
In general, the use of Embryo Glue helps the embryo implant into the uterine wall more effectively and increases the chance of successful pregnancy. Therefore, it is considered another important supportive option, especially for those who have previously undergone ICSI without success in a previous cycle.
Embryo Glue is not glue in the conventional sense. Instead, it is an embryo culture medium containing an important component called Hyaluronan, which helps increase the adhesion of the embryo to the uterine lining, thereby increasing the chance of implantation. It is considered a specialized biotechnology used during embryo transfer in the ICSI process.
Embryo Glue is suitable for people who are at risk of implantation failure, such as women aged 35 years or older, those who have previously undergone unsuccessful embryo transfer, or those with a thin uterine lining. The use of Embryo Glue can help increase the chance of the embryo implanting and developing successfully.
The price of Embryo Glue varies among infertility treatment centers. Some centers may include it in the ICSI package, while others may charge an additional fee of approximately 5,000–15,000 baht. It is recommended to ask the clinic or treatment center directly for clear information regarding the price.
Embryo Glue helps the embryo adhere more effectively to the uterine wall, which is an important step in implantation. It also contains essential nutrients that help support the embryo during the early stages of development.
It is not necessary in every case. If a woman is young, has a healthy uterine lining, and has never experienced implantation problems, embryo transfer without Embryo Glue can still be successful. However, for people who are at risk of implantation failure, using Embryo Glue may help increase the chance of pregnancy.