AI will play a significant role in fertility medicine in the near future
“ A lot of people are afraid that with this technology they ’ re going to lose their jobs in the lab or the clinic ,” explained Dr Zaninovic , stressing that this is not likely because AI will be just another tool to help embryologists make decisions .
Professor Illingworth agrees . “ Selecting embryos for transferring is a very small part of what embryologists do ,” he said . “ Someone still has to collect the eggs , inject sperm into the eggs , move them in the incubators – there ’ s a lot of work looking after the embryos that will still be there .”
Other AI applications in fertility medicine Beyond pinpointing the embryos most likely to end up in pregnancies , computers might also help select the healthiest ones .
The AI technology developed by Life Whisperer , for instance , appears to be able to pick up certain genetic abnormalities , like Down syndrome , according to preliminary data . “ What that means is that AI is actually a tool , not only to understand what a viable embryo looks like , but also what a genetically normal embryo looks like ,” said Dr Perugini .
AI could also lower costs and expand options for fertility treatments . While genetic screening tests can provide useful insights into the health of embryos before they ’ re implanted , they ’ re also expensive and invasive procedures that are not commonly done in many parts of the world . AI offers a cheaper alternative that , unlike genetic screening , doesn ’ t involve taking cells out of the embryo to analyse their genetic makeup but simply looks at their images , she explained .
To determine AI ’ s potential usefulness in genetic screening , Life Whisperer is partnering with IVF clinics ( including Alpha ) to test the accuracy of its technology at predicting whether an embryo has normal or abnormal chromosomes . Dr Colin hypothesises that AI will eventually prove to be an effective tool for picking up major chromosomal abnormalities , but not minor ones . “ Definitely , we ’ re not going to get the same type of accuracy of pre-implantation genetic testing ,” he cautioned .
In the long term , the experts we talked to seem convinced that AI will push the envelope of fertility treatments on a broad scale .
“ I believe this technology is going to be an integral part of everything we do in IVF , not just the laboratory ,” said Dr Zaninovic . He predicts that AI will contribute to evaluating , diagnosing , and treating patients , which could entail , for instance , advice on the best fertility approach for each person .
He adds that , while humans can absorb and connect a limited amount of information , computers can process billions of data points relating to patients , providing a formidable tool for understanding which components ( imaging , ultrasound , hormones , or embryonic features ) are the most valuable in treating them .
Professor Illingworth is likewise optimistic about the promise of AI in fertility medicine . He suggests that the technology could scour data on female patients and offer sound predictions of their chances of getting pregnant either naturally or from IVF .
Dr Colin believes AI could help create useful models for determining the most effective starting dosage for hormonal injections , a key element in IVF treatments for stimulating egg production . The models could also help identify the eggs most likely to result in a pregnancy .
But not all AI should be embraced blindly , experts warn . For example , outside the fertility clinic , AI is now being employed to power consumer applications that can forecast a woman ’ s ovulation cycle to advise them on the best fertility windows for conception . The question is whether these apps are effective and accurate .
“ I think there ’ s a lot of potential for consumer applications to work , but we don ’ t have the hard evidence yet ,” Professor Illingworth cautioned .
He also advises that accurately pinpointing ovulation timing doesn ’ t necessarily help women become pregnant more easily because the interaction between an egg and a sperm may be completely random .
“ One of the strains many couples face when they ’ re trying to have their family is to have the stamina to keep going if conception doesn ’ t happen after months of trying ,” he said . “ My advice is to keep your sanity going , keep your love life going , and just wait .” n
In the long term , the experts we talked to seem convinced that AI will push the envelope of fertility treatments on a broad scale .
GlobalHealthAsiaPacific . com APRIL 2021
37