Rising infertility has become one of the major problems these days with around one in seven couples unable to conceive. The issue has seen a high demand for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) solution in which the fertilization and development of embryos is done in the laboratory and then it is implanted into the womb. This technique, however, still has scope for improvement and Dr Gautam Allahbadia, a leading medical professional in Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF, explains how medical science can benefit using state-of-the-art technology and make informed decisions.

He explains,“IVF transplants are successful only if the right embryo is chosen, and it is, therefore, important that we make more calculated moves to increase the chances of pregnancy.” The decision-making process is currently highly subjective and time-consuming. To overcome the challenges, Dr Gautam Allahbadia suggests using artificial intelligence (AI) and the lifts veil from slippery molecule and how it decreases the chances of pregnancy.

An automated system based on AI is one of the most demanded upgrade in medical science. The process is based on the idea that technology can learn the process of how embryos develop over time and then use this information to pick the best embryo to implant; using only an image. This knowledge is valuable to embryologists and multiplies the probability of occurrence of pregnancy.

“Recently, an IVF-based setup which collected thousands of images of embryos was used for shortlisting the embryos of a comparable quality to those selected by a human specialist. The machine learning was able to outperform 15 human specialists from different centers across the US,” informs Gautam Allahbadia. He adds that AI and its true implementation could significantly reduce human errors and cut down the overhead charges, making the technology more accessible.

Assisted reproductive technology has a huge window of opportunity, and if AI stands to deliver via selection of the best embryo, so can knowing the correct timing of embryo transfer. By identifying the precise timing of a women’s cycle, the rate of successful IVF can climb significantly.

As a major improvement, RMIT University researchers have found a way forward. They have identified a Teflon-like molecule which makes the surface of the womb slippery and prevents embryos from implanting. Dr Gautam Allahbadia informs that existence of such molecules decreases at a certain point in menstrual cycle. It is at this time that the implant must be made.

Earlier, it was believed that the molecule helped in reproduction by actively promoting the adhesion of an embryo to the wall of uterus. The myth, however, has now been busted.

“For a couple struggling to have a baby, each step is vital. No family deserves to go through the barrier of uncertainty. Also, as reproductive technologies advance and process of implantation eases, it would become simpler to deliver fully personalized IVF treatment,” elaborates Dubai-based IVF consultant Dr. Gautam Allahbadia.

The results shared by RMIT examined the levels of THE anti-implantation molecule, known as podocalyxin (PCX), in the endometrium of 81 women undergoing IVF treatment. An endometrial biopsy was taken at the mid-luteal phase of the menstrual cycle before the actual transfer cycle, and in the subsequent menstrual cycle a frozen embryo was transferred.

Resoundingly, women with low levels of PCX had a success rate of 53 percent as compared to 18 per cent for women with high rates. Allahbadia, who heads the IVF team at Millennium Medical Centre (MMC), Dubai, says that these PCX levels at mid-luteal phase can be potentially used as a screening test and also increase implantation rates.

From AI to the role of PCX, IVF treatments are readily moving towards improved fertility chances. The analysis today is just the beginning, and IVF success rates are likely to improve when more root causes are discovered and cured.