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HFEA-licensed fertility · UK

Time-lapse imaging - EmbryoScope, honestly.

A powerful window on embryo development - and one of the most debated IVF add-ons. What it does, what the evidence really shows, and whether it earns its price in your cycle.

See indicative pricing
A radiographer guides a patient onto the bed of an advanced 3 Tesla MRI scanner in a London imaging suite
  • 01

    HFEA-licensed clinics only

    We only refer to UK clinics licensed by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority and inspected on their embryology practice.

  • 02

    The honest evidence conversation

    Time-lapse imaging is elegant and appealing. Whether it changes your live-birth chance is still debated - we say so before you pay for it.

  • 03

    Independent, and free

    We are paid by no clinic. Our recommendation on time-lapse, PGT-A and other add-ons is impartial and costs you nothing.

Indicative pricing

What the add-on costs - and what a cycle really totals.

The time-lapse fee sits on top of a base cycle.

Item Range
Time-lapse imaging add-on (EmbryoScope, EmbryoScope+, Miri, Geri) £350–£850
AI-assisted embryo selection add-on £300–£700
Standard IVF cycle (without add-on) £4,500–£6,500
IVF with ICSI £5,500–£7,800
PGT-A (add-on, if used) £2,500–£3,800
Frozen embryo transfer £1,800–£3,200
Fertility consultation only £250–£450

How it works

From appointment to transfer - step-by-step.

One embryologist, one clinic, the full record of your embryo’s development.

  1. 01

    Before

    A confidential form. First cycle or repeat? Age, AMH, prior embryology reports, planned add-ons.

  2. 02

    Before

  3. 03

    Before

    Clinic tour and embryologist conversation

    A dedicated meeting with the head of embryology - not just the sales team. You see the incubators and hear how selection algorithms are used.

  4. 04

    Before

    Consent, add-ons and pricing

    HFEA-compliant consent and a written breakdown of what is included, what is optional, and what is genuinely evidence-based.

  5. 05

    On the day

    Egg collection and fertilisation

    Standard stimulation and egg collection. Fertilisation via IVF or ICSI. Embryos loaded into the time-lapse incubator within hours.

  6. 06

    On the day

    Continuous imaging and selection

    Every 5–20 minutes, high-resolution images captured without opening the incubator. Morphokinetic markers are assessed on days 3 and 5.

  7. 07

    After

    Transfer, freeze and pregnancy test

    Best embryo transferred (fresh or frozen), the rest vitrified. Pregnancy test at 10–14 days. Named embryologist reachable for questions.

When it helps

When time-lapse imaging adds something.

The situations where the extra information genuinely helps embryo selection.

  • Multiple embryos to choose between

    When several embryos are of similar quality and you want more information to guide selection.

  • Previous unexplained implantation failure

    Where morphology alone did not explain a failed cycle and time-lapse markers might add signal.

  • Older egg age with fewer chances

    When each embryo matters and you would like extra data to inform the transfer choice.

  • Delayed cleavage or abnormal division

    Time-lapse can pick up early abnormal patterns (direct cleavage, reverse cleavage) that a snapshot would miss.

  • Frozen embryo cycles

    Time-lapse from thaw through transfer to characterise post-thaw development in frozen embryo transfer cycles.

  • Undisturbed culture preference

    Some clinicians and patients value keeping embryos in a stable environment for the full culture period.

  • Research and audit interest

    Time-lapse creates a full developmental record that supports audit and second opinions.

  • Red flag: time-lapse marketed as a guarantee

    A clinic promising higher live birth rates from time-lapse alone has overstated the evidence. HFEA rates it as an add-on with limited proof of benefit.

Systems and alternatives

Which incubator - and whether you actually need one.

A quick comparison of the main time-lapse systems and their alternatives.

  • EmbryoScope / EmbryoScope+

    Vitrolife’s time-lapse incubators. Widely used in UK clinics, with individual embryo wells and integrated software.

  • Miri Time-Lapse

    Esco Medical’s system, dual chamber with 14 individual embryo positions per patient.

  • Geri

    Genea Biomedx system with dedicated chambers per patient and continuous humidity control.

  • AI-assisted grading

    Algorithms (KIDScore, iDAScore, Life Whisperer) that rank embryos on morphokinetic data. Not a diagnostic replacement for PGT-A.

  • Time-lapse with PGT-A

    Combining morphokinetic and genetic information. Overlapping cost - often only one adds real value for a given case.

  • Standard bench incubator with static images

    The classic approach. Embryos removed briefly on days 1, 3 and 5 for microscope grading. Still the baseline in many UK NHS cycles.

  • Undisturbed culture (without time-lapse)

    Standard incubator with minimal opening. A pragmatic middle ground when time-lapse cost is not justified.

  • Doing nothing extra

    For a first cycle in a young patient with many embryos, a standard cycle without add-ons is often the honest recommendation.

Our vetted UK clinics

HFEA-licensed and transparent on add-ons.

  • HFEA-licensed clinics inspected on their embryology practice

  • Time-lapse incubators run by named embryologists with published morphokinetic outcomes

  • HFEA add-on ratings shown transparently before consent

  • Written breakdown of add-on cost and what change (if any) it means for you

Evidence and safety

What the trials actually show.

A summary you can trust - and the honest limits of the technology.

  • No additional risk to the embryos

    Time-lapse incubators use very low-intensity red light and take images without opening the chamber. Multiple studies show no harm to embryo viability or later pregnancy.

  • The evidence, honestly

    A 2023 Cochrane review found no reliable evidence that time-lapse imaging improves live birth rates compared with standard incubation. HFEA rates it as an add-on with limited evidence of benefit.

  • Where it may help

    Time-lapse can improve deselection of embryos with abnormal division patterns, help embryologists agree grading, and support undisturbed culture. These are real technical benefits.

  • Where it does not help

    It does not replace genetic testing, does not fix underlying gamete quality, and does not turn a poor prognosis into a good one.

  • Cost and value

    A £350–£850 add-on on a £4,500–£6,500 base cycle is a real spend. Ask specifically what would change in your selection with versus without it.

  • AI algorithms and consent

    AI grading systems should be explained clearly - what data they were trained on, how they influence the choice, and how you would want disagreements resolved.

  • Data storage and privacy

    Continuous video of embryos is your data. Ask how it is stored, how long, and whether it can be shared with another clinic for a second opinion.

  • Emotional weight

    Watching an embryo divide is powerful and can amplify grief if the cycle does not succeed. Counselling is part of every good clinic - accept it.

Reading your embryology report

Four parts. Read the last one first.

  1. 01 Header

    Cycle summary and embryos observed

    Number of eggs, mature eggs, fertilised embryos, and embryos placed in time-lapse.

  2. 02 Technique

    Incubator and algorithm

    Which time-lapse system was used, culture conditions and which grading algorithm was applied.

  3. 03 Findings

    Morphokinetic markers

    Times of key developmental events (pronuclear fading, cleavage times, blastocyst formation) and any abnormal patterns noted.

  4. 04 Impression

    Selection, transfer and next steps

    Read this first: which embryo was selected and why, what was frozen, and what would change in a next cycle.

Recognised by major UK insurers

BupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealixBupaAXA HealthVitalityAvivaWPACignaHealix

Fertility treatment and IVF add-ons are usually self-pay in the UK.

Frequently asked

Everything patients ask about time-lapse imaging.

  • What is time-lapse imaging (EmbryoScope)?

    A special incubator that takes microscope images of your embryos every few minutes without opening the chamber. Embryologists then review a continuous video of development to grade embryos on both static appearance and timing of key events - a data-rich approach to selection.

  • Does time-lapse imaging improve my chance of a baby?

    The honest answer is: probably not on its own. HFEA rates time-lapse as an add-on with limited evidence of benefit for live birth rates, and a 2023 Cochrane review found no reliable improvement. It can improve embryo selection and culture stability, but should not be sold as a guarantee.

  • How much does the add-on cost in the UK privately?

    Typically £350–£850 on top of a base IVF cycle of £4,500–£6,500. AI-grading algorithms add another £300–£700. Always ask for the total cost including drugs, freezing and follow-up, not just the headline figure.

  • Is it safe for the embryos?

    Yes. Time-lapse systems use low-intensity red light and keep embryos in a stable, closed environment. Multiple studies have shown no harm to embryo viability, pregnancy or child health.

  • Do I need PGT-A as well as time-lapse?

    Not usually. PGT-A tests for chromosomal abnormalities; time-lapse describes growth. They answer different questions and their costs can overlap. For many patients, one of the two - chosen for the right reason - is enough.

  • How do I know if a clinic uses time-lapse well?

    Ask how many embryologists are trained on the system, whether the clinic audits its morphokinetic outcomes, and whether HFEA add-on ratings are shown to you in writing before you consent. A confident clinic answers these questions in one meeting.

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