Artificial intelligence will boost the power of in vitro fertilisation
The technology promises to make fertility treatment more successful while overhauling the entire medical system
AI refers to complex computer systems that can perform a variety of human tasks , like decision making and problem solving , by leveraging their ability to crunch massive amounts of data with speed and accuracy .
Many experts and commentators envision a notso-distant future where artificial intelligence ( AI ) will revolutionise almost every aspect of healthcare , from its abilities to improve diagnostics and treatments to medical research and health systems management . And soon , AI could also help boost the chances of pregnancy through assisted reproductive technology .
“ I ’ m convinced that the implementation of AI in medicine will be one of the things that change the way care is delivered going forward ,” Dr David Bates , Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School , told the Harvard Gazette .
AI refers to complex computer systems that can perform a variety of human tasks , like decision making and problem solving , by leveraging their ability to crunch massive amounts of data with speed and accuracy . In healthcare and medicine , AI ’ s role is multifaceted and growing .
For example , in healthcare administration , AI programmes increasingly do the grunt work associated with coding , the process of assigning a code to a patient ’ s symptoms and conditions for various purposes , including insurance reimbursement and medical research .
In the lab , the technology is helping select suitable patients for clinical trials , a key challenge
IVF microscope for researchers who want to test their experimental treatments .
And in the clinic , AI is enabling some key improvements to enhance diagnosis , with several AI systems already able to match or even outperform doctors at diagnosing some forms of cancer , heart problems , or stroke .
In a 2019 study , researchers fed thousands of computed tomography ( CT ) scans into an AI programme to train it in lung cancer detection . The computer beat six radiologists at pinpointing cancer patients , with a reduction of 11 percent in CT false positives and five percent in false negatives .
A CT scan is a key diagnostic tool for lung cancer , but its images can be hard to interpret for experts as certain spots can be mistaken for malignancies or benign cells .
To overcome these shortcomings , AI-powered computers can provide much more accurate tools than human eyes . And this sharp-eyed capacity is also what makes them so promising in perfecting in vitro fertilisation ( IVF ), a common assisted reproductive procedure involving the fertilisation of a human egg and sperm in the laboratory in order to create an embryo – or an unborn human offspring in the first weeks of development – that is subsequently implanted into the womb .
AI can lead to higher pregnancy rates Though fertility medicine has made great strides since the first lab-conceived baby was born back in 1978 , many people struggling with infertility are still unable to reap the benefits of IVF .
Success rates vary depending on female age and the centre where the treatment is done , but the chances of getting pregnant usually range from 45 to slightly above 50 percent for women younger than 35 . The percentage is lower for older females , with those over 40 having a 10 to 20 percent success rate .
As a result , many people need to undergo several IVF treatments to increase their odds , often at significant physical , emotional , and financial costs .
“ It ’ s important we help women get pregnant as often as they possibly can from an IVF cycle because this is very demanding ,” Professor Peter Illingworth ,
34 APRIL 2021 GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com