The life of a clinical embryologist is a truly extraordinary one, which he/she carries out daily. A trained professional is working with the very building block of human life, an embryo, in a meticulously temperature-controlled laboratory while the rest of the world sleeps, to give couples a chance to become parents. Clinical embryology is not only a course that you select for your profession. This is a vocation for many on the way.
Those students of science who are planning to do something after 12th and those who have done biology or graduated from it who feel that they are looking for something which matters and they are really interested are focused on clinical embryology.
What is clinical embryology?
Clinical embryology is a part of biomedical science which deals with human reproductive biology, fertilisation, the growth of the embryo, and the assisted reproductive technologies (ART) that aid human couples to overcome infertility. A clinical embryologist is a scientist who is also a physician, but his or her work is performed in the lab, not in the patient's bed, and he or she is a precision worker at that, dealing with eggs, sperm, and embryos with a precision that very few other professions require.
Global recognition was achieved after the birth of the first IVF baby in the UK in 1978. Since then, science has grown exponentially. The World Health Organization estimates that at present, one in six people of reproductive age are infertile around the world, making the demand for skilled clinical embryologists more than ever.
In India alone, there are more than 2,000 IVF centres, and according to the recent ART Bill, Registered ART clinics are required to employ qualified embryology professionals as per the ART (Regulation) Act and Rules.
BSc and MSc Clinical Embryology - What Is the Difference?
One of the most common inquiries students would make is this, and the answer simply depends on the programmes they are asking for and what each programme offers.
BSc Clinical Embryology is a three-year undergraduate course (6 Semesters) for students who opt for physics, chemistry and biology after their 12th. This includes the basics of human reproduction and gametogenesis, the culture of the embryo, some of the treatments for infertility, IUI, IVF, and the ethical issues that arise in reproductive medicine. Fresh graduates generally begin as:
- Embryology Technician
- Junior Embryology Assistant
- Trainee Embryologist
MSc Clinical Embryology is a two-year postgraduate course (4 Semesters), normally of four semesters, that is offered to students who have completed a BSc in life sciences, biotechnology, microbiology, nursing, medical laboratory technology or a related course. It's more than that – it's about advanced ART techniques, cryopreservation, gamete micromanipulation, ICSI, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, reproductive endocrinology and clinical research. The MSc programme takes students to higher and more responsible job positions that command significantly higher salaries.
The two degrees are the most comprehensive route into this profession.
MSc Clinical Embryology Syllabus - What You Will Actually Study
The MSc Clinical Embryology curriculum is profoundly complex. During the first two semesters, students acquire solid theoretical knowledge on human reproductive anatomy, physiology of the menstrual cycle, hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis, basic human male and female reproductive systems, fertilisation and early embryonic development.
In semesters three and four, all of the focus is on clinical and practical activities. The practical applications include skills in collecting the oocyte, conducting semen analysis, standard IVF, ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), embryo grading and transfer, gamete and embryo cryopreservation and vitrification. The research dissertation is carried out in the final semester, which offers scientific rigour and equips the students for industry and academia.
The MSc Clinical Embryology course at MGUMST (Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences and Technology) at Jaipur is divided into four semesters: continuous assessment, end-of-semester examination and compulsory practical training. To support the practical nature of the profession, students are required to attend 75% of their theory classes and 75% of their work experience classes. Candidates who have studied MBBS, BDS, BSc Biotechnology, BSc Microbiology, BSc Nursing, BAMS, BHMS, BSc Medical Laboratory Technology, BSc Life Science or BSc with Zoology as a major are eligible for the programme.
Scope of Clinical Embryology in India - Is It Really Worth It?
Yes, unequivocally. Over the past decade, clinical embryology has gone through a whole lot of transformation in India, and here are several reasons.
More couples are seeking fertility treatments as the number of infertile children has increased due to lifestyle changes, late marriages, stress and environmental causes. The IVF clinics are now not only present in metros but also tier-two cities. The ART sector is now formally recognised by the government, and as a result, there is structured demand for skilled embryologists at all registered ART centres.
There are many career options available after MSc Clinical Embryology. Embryology graduates can pursue careers as embryologists and andrologists in IVF clinics, as laboratory managers in ART clinics, as researchers in reproductive medicine and genetics, as instructors in embryology training programmes in institutions, and in specialised positions in cryobanks and genetic counselling clinics. Senior embryologists often progress to a scientific director or lab head position with experience.
The average salary of a clinical embryologist in India starts between ₹3 and 6 LPA at the junior level. As experience and specialisation increase, there is a huge rise in salary; experienced embryologists working in reputed IVF companies and hospital groups can earn more than ₹10 LPA. People in senior scientific and managerial positions, or those working overseas in the Gulf, UK or Australia, tend to make a lot more money.
Why choose MGUMST for Clinical Embryology?
Mahatma Gandhi University of Medical Sciences and Technology (MGUMST), Jaipur, is one such university in India to provide a BSc/MSc in Clinical Embryology under an exclusive allied health sciences course. The university's teaching of clinical embryology is characterised by a focus on hands-on learning and depth of knowledge.
There are also a variety of complementary programmes offered by MGUMST in reproductive medicine, such as the Advanced PG Certificate in Clinical Embryology and the Postgraduate Certificate in Assisted Reproductive Technology with hands-on training. The MCh in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery is available for the students who wish to proceed to the highest level of specialisation and concentrates on advanced infertility management, ART, reproductive genetics, andrology and surgical aspects of reproductive medicine.
Students at MGUMST have the advantage of being able to gain clinical exposure outside the classroom in the dynamic city of Jaipur, where healthcare infrastructure is rapidly expanding and medical institutions are well clustered
Final Verdict
If you're genuinely interested in reproductive science, willing to work with precision in a laboratory and crazy about making a difference in healthcare, you can expect to reap benefits from this far beyond the job.
With just a first step, MGUMST, Jaipur, is here to help you. The faculty, facilities and training regime here have been developed to provide the foundation needed in the profession, whether you are thinking of BSc Clinical Embryology as your undergraduate course or the MSc course as a specialism once you have completed your undergraduate training.
Clinical embryology is no longer limited to a few people in India. It's an accepted, expanding, and vital part of today's medicine, and the practitioners who specialise in it are among the most essential in today's health environment.