How artificial intelligence is changing the IVF experience

With more studies showing that the use of AI has gained traction in its ability to predict clinical outcomes, it is undeniable the technology has a future role in IVF.  Suzanne Cawood, director of embryology at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health, tells us how adopting a new tool has helped her clinic.

For decades, IVF has offered those unable to conceive naturally the chance to have biological children. However, stressful treatment processes and the uncertainty of success have meant that, for many, the experience proved highly emotional and confusing.

“The IVF journey can be really difficult and quite traumatic emotionally, physically and financially,” says Suzanne Cawood, director of embryology at the Centre for Reproductive and Genetic Health.

“When patients have their own collection, there’s a whole week when they have no control over what’s going on. It can be a very distressing time.”

With more and more researchers exploring the potential role of AI in clinical decision-making, embryologists think the technology could soon redefine the IVF experience.

The CRGH is one the few UK providers that have introduced AI in its fertility clinics. In January, the centre adopted Fairtility’s AI-powered embryo quality assessment assistant as its exclusive decision support tool to improve the embryo quality assessment and selection process.

“CHLOE collects millions of data points for each embryo and analyses things that we couldn’t possibly gather manually,” Cawood explains.

“For the embryologist, it makes things a lot easier, because it automatically tells us whether the embryo has normally fertilised or not. Of course, we go and double check all of that to make sure that we agree with it, but overall, it saves us time and makes everything a lot more efficient.”

The tool also provides doctors with a score for each embryo, effectively estimating the likelihood of an embryo to implant.

“From the embryologist’s point of view, it makes our observations more accurate. It’s almost like we’ve always got a second opinion on hand,” says Cawood.

“From the patient’s perspective, the tool gives them complete transparency and full insight into their embryo development because they have access to a live feed where they can check the progress of their embryos in treatment.

“Having that video there gives them some of the power back. It also helps us counsel them with more confidence as to how likely that embryo is to be transferable.”

The team at CRGH say the technology has been very well received. With patients now following the stages of the embryo development, the phone calls have got shorter and less confusing.

“I think it is just a matter of time before every clinic adopts this type of technology. The information spreads quickly and patients will start wondering why some clinics have it and some don’t,” says Cawood.

“There’s also an enormous amount of research potential in AI. All the information these tools collect has a real potential to improve both the embryologist and the patient’s experience.”