AIVF, a reproductive technology company based in Israel, has successfully developed an AI-supported embryo quality assessment software that simplifies the embryo selection process in in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has proven its ability to detect cancer, identify cavities, and answer medical inquiries.
AI can assist doctors in selecting embryos. (Source: iStock).
Now, AI acts as a “valuable assistant” that helps reproductive physicians select the best embryos for the in vitro fertilization (IVF).
According to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five adult women cannot conceive naturally after one year of trying.
As a result, many individuals opt for IVF—a method that has enabled numerous women in the United States to become pregnant. However, the effectiveness of this method is not guaranteed.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the cost of a single IVF cycle is quite expensive, averaging around $12,000 per cycle. In reality, most IVF cases require more than one treatment cycle.
AI Software for Embryo Selection
To improve IVF outcomes, AIVF, a reproductive technology company based in Tel Aviv, Israel, has successfully developed AI-supported software for assessing embryo quality, aimed at reducing the number of unsuccessful IVF cases.
The software, named EMA, is programmed to process vast amounts of data beyond human capability, thereby simplifying the embryo selection process.
Daniella Gilboa, a reproductive biologist and co-founder and CEO of AIVF, shared with Fox News Digital: “In vitro fertilization is one of the most significant advancements in medicine over the past 50 years. However, this method is still not good enough. The success rate (of IVF) is only between 23-25% across all age groups. This means that only one in five people undergoing IVF can achieve a successful pregnancy.”
According to Gilboa, one of the biggest challenges today is that IVF clinics cannot keep up with the rising demand.
She noted: “More and more women are choosing to freeze their eggs to delay childbirth and focus on their careers. This means that the demand for IVF is continually increasing while resources are limited.”
In the United States, only 20% of the demand for IVF is met, meaning 80% of women have to give up their dreams of motherhood.
Gilboa stated that embryo selection is one of the most critical steps in the IVF process. Typically, the decision about which embryos to choose is made by well-trained physicians.
“Imagine you are an embryologist, examining various embryos in a busy laboratory environment and having to decide which embryo is most likely to lead to a successful pregnancy. You might have to consider 10 or 12 embryos that look identical and sometimes make difficult choices on your own,” Gilboa said.
However, with the support of the EMA software, the embryo quality assessment process becomes significantly easier, thanks to the application of advanced algorithms to select embryos with the highest likelihood of successful implantation.
According to Gilboa, this AI tool has been “trained” to detect embryo characteristics that determine different outcomes (such as gender, implantation processes, or genetic abnormalities…) that are not visible to the human eye.
AI software will increase the chances of successful pregnancy. (Source: iStock)
The final selection will be based on the assessment scores of each embryo.
Gilboa also mentioned that without AI, doctors would have to evaluate embryo quality based solely on their external appearance.
“However, this approach relies entirely on subjective human analysis without truly quantifying the actual success rate of pregnancy. In contrast, AI has the capability to help doctors minimize potential uncertainties while providing clear and accurate information,” she said.
Compared to humans, this AI tool can evaluate embryo quality in a significantly shorter time. This also means that clinics can serve more patients and meet greater demand.
EMA has been “trained” through time-lapse videos of embryo development. The software must analyze which embryos show promising results and which are less likely to succeed.
“You need to process a massive amount of data. This is a lengthy process that involves multiple stages to build a model that is good enough for application in medicine,” Gilboa noted.
Highly Rated by Industry Experts
Dr. Shahin Ghadir, an expert in infertility treatment and a reproductive medicine physician in California, has stated that products supported by AI technology like EMA will be very beneficial.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Ghadir said: “The development of the reproductive medicine field is facing significant obstacles due to a shortage of personnel and expertise in this area. Because the number of embryologists is very limited and often difficult to train, new technology will be highly welcomed.”
While EMA can optimize and expedite the embryo selection process, Gilboa emphasized that this software is not intended to replace the role of physicians.
Ultimately, EMA and similar software are tools to assist physicians in the embryo evaluation process, provide patient counseling, and offer more effective IVF services.
According to Gilboa, this is not a (battle) where humans confront AI, but rather a collaboration where humans “ally” with AI for a noble purpose.
Ghadir, while supporting the idea of using AI in medicine, also stressed the necessity to “carefully consider important criteria” before making final decisions.
Increasing the chances of pregnancy also helps couples facing infertility reduce costs and fulfill their dreams of parenthood sooner. (Source: iStock)
Some risks may occur, such as errors in embryo classification, which could affect the final outcome of IVF.
Additionally, ethical factors need to be considered in the process of using AI for embryo selection. This may affect the decisions of individuals and the patients’ families.
The EMA software is currently being used in various countries in Europe, Southeast Asia, and South America, and is expected to soon be available in the United States.
According to Gilboa, most clinics that have purchased and experienced the software have reported very positive feedback regarding its quality.
This technology also helps reduce costs for patients by significantly shortening the time required for a successful pregnancy.
Gilboa states that with traditional IVF methods, to achieve a successful pregnancy, patients typically undergo an average of 3-5 treatment cycles. However, with EMA, this number drops to an average of just 1.6 cycles.
Thus, thanks to the application of AI technology, the dream of parenthood for infertility patients can be realized through IVF.
