Embryology’s Role in Modern Fertility

Family Beginnings

Every year on July 25, World Embryology Day celebrates reproductive science and recognises the essential role embryologists play in helping individuals and couples realise their dreams of starting a family.

At its core, embryology is the science of how life begins, drawing on genetics, anatomy, and physiology. In IVF, embryologists play a vital role at every step, handling eggs and sperm with care and precision to guide the fertilisation process and support embryo development. They grade and assess embryo viability for transfer and manage the delicate processes of freezing and thawing for fertility preservation. Their work is not only highly technical but also deeply personal, enabling new beginnings every day.

This day also commemorates the birth of Louise Joy Brown, the world’s first IVF baby, born in 1978.

“At the time, she was known as a ‘test tube baby’[1], a term that captured the uncertainty and curiosity surrounding IVF when it was a relatively new and experimental procedure,” says Dr. Liow Swee Lian, our Scientific Director and a member of the early team that helped establish IVF in Singapore.

“IVF is now a well-established part of reproductive care, the process becoming more precise and informed by decades of clinical experience. With better outcomes, increased safety, coupled greater public awareness, it is better accepted as a viable option for many hoping to start or grow a family,” he adds.

Dr. Liow also highlights how greater openness has transformed the fertility conversation. "When people open up about their journeys, it helps others feel more inclusive and understood. That visibility makes a difference."

Another significant shift is recognising infertility as a medical condition, which helped to reduce stigma and encouraged more open, supportive discussions around reproductive health.

IVF with Safety and Accountability at Its Core

Over the past year, Virtus Fertility Centre (VFCS) has seen several meaningful progress through the integration of time-lapse imaging and AI-driven embryo selection. These technologies help embryologists identify embryos with the highest developmental potential more accurately. Hence improving success rates and giving patients greater confidence in their treatment.

This scientific progress is rooted in VFCS’s commitment to patient safety and accountability. Every step of the IVF process is meticulously tracked and verified—not just by skilled embryologists but also through advanced systems to minimise the risk of error.

One such system is the RFID-based "Witness" sample tracking technology to match each patient's eggs, sperm, and embryos to a unique ID. At every critical point, the system automatically verifies accuracy and alerts the team to any discrepancies, ensuring that samples are always handled safely and securely.

Despite all the progress, Dr. Liow says the work in embryology remains deeply personal and demands care, precision, and a deep respect for life at its earliest stages.

A Life’s Work

Today, over 12 million babies are estimated to have been born through IVF[2].

“When I first started IVF, success rates were modest, and every live birth felt like a miracle. Though  technology and techniques have advanced greatly, that sense of wonder remains. Every embryo represents a possibility,” says Dr Liow.

"Embryologists are not often in the spotlight. We work quietly, behind microscopes and incubators.”

“But I always remind my team and my students: you are the 'doctors' of the lab. Every case is different. Don’t treat all patients or embryos the same. Understand the clinical situation and then think about how to respond.”

On this Embryology Day, Dr Liow says let’s not only celebrate the scientific milestones but also the strength of the patients who have overcome infertility and built their families through IVF.

“Their courage, resilience, and determination humble us. We are honoured to be part of their journey. And for those who have not yet found success, we stand with them too, offering empathy, support, and guidance as they consider their next steps, whether that means donor eggs, sperm, embryos, or adoption.”

[1] https://time.com/5344145/louise-brown-test-tube-baby/

[2] eClinicalMedicine. The current status of IVF: are we putting the needs of the individual first? EClinicalMedicine. 2023 Nov 23;65:102343. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102343. PMID: 38106562; PMCID: PMC10725012. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10725012/