Fertility Decoded

Time-lapse imaging

An incubator with a camera that films embryos developing, to help select which to transfer.

Written by Fertility Decoded. Reviewed by D R, MS (OBG), FRM. Review date: 31 August 2026.

The verdict

No effect on your chance of a baby.

Who are these bodies?

HFEA
— UK fertility regulator; rates add-ons by evidence (traffic-light).
ESHRE
— European fertility society; evidence-based practice guidance.
NICE
— UK health-guidance body; what the NHS will and won't fund.
ISAR
— Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction; Indian expert consensus.
Cochrane
— Independent global reviewers of the underlying studies.

  • HFEA

    UK regulator

    Black — no effect — chance of a baby
    Source

  • ESHRE

    European society

    Not recommended (research only)

    Not recommended — low/very-low quality evidence, no improvement over conventional grading.

    Source

  • NICE

    UK NHS guidance

    Assessed; no recommendation to offer

    NG257 assessed time-lapse (evidence review O) under embryo selection but issues no recommendation to offer it (the only embryo-selection recommendation is 'do not offer PGT-A').

    Source

  • ISAR

    Indian society

    No robust benefit; safe as a tool

    No robust evidence of improved clinical pregnancy or live birth; regarded as safe and useful as a lab/counselling tool, but not recommended as a marker for ploidy.

    Source

  • Cochrane

    Evidence base

    Low-certainty evidence, no clear benefit to live birth.

Typical cost in India

Often bundled as a lab charge; when itemised ~₹40,000–60,000 per cycle (EmbryoScope monitoring + advanced grading).

Is time-lapse imaging worth paying extra for?
The evidence says it makes no difference to your chance of a baby — HFEA rates it black (no effect) and ESHRE does not recommend it. It is safe and can help the lab, but it isn't shown to improve outcomes.

Sources

Take this further

Sources last reviewed .