An estimated 1 in 6 adults will experience infertility at some point in their lives, meaning that after a year of trying to conceive, they still won’t be able to get pregnant.
While an estimated 85-90% of infertility cases are now treatable, treatment does not work for everyone, and it isn’t accessible to many people who could benefit from it, often for financial reasons.
IVF is particularly expensive — a single cycle can cost anywhere from 15,00- to more than 30,000 dollars in the US, and many couples require more than one cycle for a successful pregnancy.
The concept of artificial wombs therefore comes into play. An artificial womb is a device that mimics the conditions of a human uterus, allowing for gestation and development of a fetus outside the body. This technology aims to take over part or all of pregnancy from conception to birth.
• Function: It creates a controlled environment for the fetus, providing essential nutrients, oxygen, and waste removal while monitoring vital signs and development. The goal is to eventually enable full-term development of a baby outside the human body.
• Potential Use: Artificial wombs could be used for premature babies to improve survival rates and development, potentially replacing neonatal intensive care units (NICU) for very early births. Long-term, it may offer a new pathway for reproduction for people unable to carry a pregnancy.
In addition, AI assisted IVF refers to the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies to optimize various stages of the IVF process, from egg selection to embryo transfer. The function of AI intelligence enables AI algorithms that can analyze large datasets, including images of embryos, hormone levels, and genetic profiles, to predict the best quality embryos for implantation and increase the success rates of IVF. AI can also help refine hormone treatments and fertility protocols by learning patterns from past IVF cycles.
The potential use can improve IVF success rates, reduce costs, minimize multiple pregnancies by better predicting single embryo success, and offer more personalized fertility treatments. Therefore, the key differences in each technology are Artificial wombs are aimed at gestation (post-conception), while AI-assisted IVF focuses on conception and improving the fertilization process.
• Development Stage: Artificial womb technology is still largely experimental, mostly in animal testing stages, whereas AI-assisted IVF is already being integrated into fertility clinics, although it is still in early stages of adoption.
Here is a historical look into IVF of the past and present
