At Wellnest Fertility, innovation and care go hand in hand—and nowhere is that more evident than in our state-of-the-art embryology lab. We sat down with Doug Brown, our Senior Embryologist and Technical Supervisor, to talk about one of the most powerful tools in modern fertility care: time-lapse incubators. These remarkable systems are quietly transforming how embryos are cared for, selected, and nurtured, giving our patients a better chance at building their families—with fewer bumps along the way.
Doug: Absolutely. This is where the magic really happens—where embryos are created, grown, and stored before either being frozen or transferred back to the patient. Our incubators are essentially the nursery for these embryos. It’s a critical stage in the IVF process, and it’s our job to provide the safest, most stable environment possible during that time.
Doug: We’re proud to say we have the largest installation of Geri® Time-Lapse Incubators in the northern hemisphere. We’re also the only fertility clinic in our region offering time-lapse incubation to all of our patients. That’s a huge differentiator. Not every clinic offers this technology, and when they do, it’s often only available as an add-on or to select patients. At Wellnest, everyone benefits from this innovation.
Doug: Traditionally, if we wanted to assess how an embryo was developing, we had to remove it from the incubator to look at it under a microscope. That meant exposing it to light, air, temperature fluctuations—all things that aren’t ideal for something as delicate as an embryo. It created a trade-off: get more information to make the best decision, but risk compromising the embryo’s health.
Time-lapse incubation eliminates that compromise entirely. Each embryo grows in an individual chamber with a built-in microscope and camera. We can monitor development in real time, 24/7, without ever disturbing the embryo. No exposure to outside elements, no interruptions to its growth.
Doug: With constant monitoring, we get a detailed timeline of how each embryo develops—cell division, morphology, developmental timing, all of it. That data helps us make more informed, confident decisions about which embryos are healthiest and most likely to lead to pregnancy.
Research shows that time-lapse technology not only helps us select better embryos, but also that those embryos tend to grow and develop better in the undisturbed environment. So, in short—it helps our patients get to a successful outcome faster, with less stress.
Doug: I think we’re just scratching the surface of how this technology will continue to shape IVF outcomes. We’re really proud to partner with Genea Biomedx to offer this tool, and we’re even more proud that every patient walking through our doors has access to it. It’s part of our commitment to combine cutting-edge science with compassionate care—because we know how much this journey means to the people we serve.
At Wellnest, our lab is built to support your dreams—with leading technology, experienced hands, and a team that’s with you every step of the way.
Discover compassionate, comprehensive fertility care in Ogden, Utah. Schedule your first consultation or give us a call to learn more about the ways we support your journey to parenthood.