An increasing number of health professionals are using artificial intelligence (AI) to tackle rising infertility rates affecting millions worldwide. This trend follows a World Health Organisation report stating that about 17.5 per cent of adults, or one in six, face infertility issues. AI is particularly useful in in vitro fertilization (IVF), an assisted reproductive technology.
Dr Shiva Harikrishnan, the senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Medcare Women and Children Hospital in Dubai, highlighted how AI is revolutionizing reproductive treatment strategies. “Researchers are utilizing AI methods to improve the selection and prediction of sperm cells, oocytes, and embryos, leading to better predictive models for IVF treatments,” Dr. Harikrishnan told The National.
IVF involves extracting and fertilizing eggs outside the body and then transferring the embryos to the uterus. AI enhances embryo selection, personalizes treatment plans, and improves IVF success rates. Additionally, AI algorithms analyze embryo images for traits like morphology, symmetry, and developmental milestones. By comparing these traits with historical pregnancy data, AI helps select embryos with the highest likelihood of success.
Sophie Smith, founder and CEO of Nabta Health in Dubai, also added to the conversation. AI and machine learning are being used to enhance IVF success rates said Sophie. Even though only 2 per cent of couples are technically unable to conceive naturally. AI continuously outperforms human specialists in predicting successful clinical pregnancies. Additionally, Dr. Harikrishnan emphasized that AI assists embryologists in assessing the health of gametes and embryos swiftly and accurately. AI provides an objective rating of gamete quality, eliminating human subjectivity from the process.
Emerging technologies like Nabta Health’s online platform and Diagnio’s saliva-based testing are also helping couples conceive. Embracing these technologies is also crucial for ensuring that future generations can start families without prohibitive costs.
The growing FemTech sector, focused on women’s health issues, is transforming the landscape of reproductive health. Companies like Nabta Health and Diagnio are leading the way in making fertility treatments more accessible and effective.
