News | AI Research May Improve IVF Success Worldwide as Swedish Team Develops New Environmental Monitoring Tool
Global in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates currently remain between 30% and 50%. To overcome this limitation, researchers at Malmö University in Sweden are using artificial intelligence (AI) to study laboratory conditions and identify new ways to improve the chance of pregnancy.
“IVF success depends not only on biological or medical conditions; external laboratory factors are also critical,” said lead researcher Dr. Reza Khoshkangini. These factors include temperature, air pressure, humidity, and airborne particle levels. “Ideally, the laboratory environment would remain completely sealed, but samples must frequently move in and out of incubators during treatment. Opening and closing them inevitably affects environmental stability.”
An IVF cycle typically lasts about 6 to 8 weeks, including 6 days of embryo development in the laboratory. Even minor environmental changes during this critical stage may substantially affect fertilization and embryo development. To study these changes, Khoshkangini’s team partnered with industry to develop an advanced sensor system that measures laboratory conditions every 10 minutes. These data and high-resolution images of embryo development are then analyzed by an AI system.
“Our goal is to use AI to identify patterns—environmental variables that repeatedly affect embryo quality,” Khoshkangini explained. “If we understand when laboratory conditions have a negative effect, we can use the data to optimize environmental controls.”
The team uses machine-learning algorithms to model the large dataset and hopes to build a predictive system that identifies the laboratory conditions best suited to embryo development, potentially improving treatment success.
The study is underway at a fertility center in Malmö. The team plans to expand collaboration to clinics outside Europe to examine how regional climate and environmental conditions affect treatment outcomes.
Khoshkangini emphasized that improving IVF success matters not only to people hoping to become parents but also to society. “Infertility affects more than families. It also involves major issues such as mental health, population structure, and social equity. Improving IVF success is an important way to contribute to global reproductive health.”
Although IVF technology has advanced substantially in recent decades, Khoshkangini believes current success rates remain unsatisfactory and AI may offer a new solution. “We hope our research brings every family seeking help one step closer to their dream.”
News | AI Research May Improve IVF Success Worldwide as Swedish Team Develops New Environmental Monitoring Tool
News | AI Research May Improve IVF Success Worldwide as Swedish Team Develops New Environmental Monitoring Tool
Global in vitro fertilization (IVF) success rates currently remain between 30% and 50%. To overcome this limitation, researchers at Malmö University in Sweden are using artificial intelligence (AI) to study laboratory conditions and identify new ways to improve the chance of pregnancy.
“IVF success depends not only on biological or medical conditions; external laboratory factors are also critical,” said lead researcher Dr. Reza Khoshkangini. These factors include temperature, air pressure, humidity, and airborne particle levels. “Ideally, the laboratory environment would remain completely sealed, but samples must frequently move in and out of incubators during treatment. Opening and closing them inevitably affects environmental stability.”
An IVF cycle typically lasts about 6 to 8 weeks, including 6 days of embryo development in the laboratory. Even minor environmental changes during this critical stage may substantially affect fertilization and embryo development. To study these changes, Khoshkangini’s team partnered with industry to develop an advanced sensor system that measures laboratory conditions every 10 minutes. These data and high-resolution images of embryo development are then analyzed by an AI system.
“Our goal is to use AI to identify patterns—environmental variables that repeatedly affect embryo quality,” Khoshkangini explained. “If we understand when laboratory conditions have a negative effect, we can use the data to optimize environmental controls.”
The team uses machine-learning algorithms to model the large dataset and hopes to build a predictive system that identifies the laboratory conditions best suited to embryo development, potentially improving treatment success.
The study is underway at a fertility center in Malmö. The team plans to expand collaboration to clinics outside Europe to examine how regional climate and environmental conditions affect treatment outcomes.
Khoshkangini emphasized that improving IVF success matters not only to people hoping to become parents but also to society. “Infertility affects more than families. It also involves major issues such as mental health, population structure, and social equity. Improving IVF success is an important way to contribute to global reproductive health.”
Although IVF technology has advanced substantially in recent decades, Khoshkangini believes current success rates remain unsatisfactory and AI may offer a new solution. “We hope our research brings every family seeking help one step closer to their dream.”
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