It’s not science fiction, it is real medicine. Washington University physicians are now using artificial intelligence (AI) to dramatically increase a woman’s chances of getting pregnant through in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
IVF is an effective method for producing pregnancies. Today 1-2% of all births in the United States are a result of IVF.
IVF is a procedure in which eggs (oocytes) are retrieved from a woman’s ovaries after she has undergone controlled ovarian hyperstimulation. The eggs are mixed with her partner’s or donor’s sperm in a culture dish. Fertilization takes place without additional procedures.
Most of the fertilized eggs should develop into embryos. The embryos are then transferred to the woman’s uterus via a plastic tube inserted through the cervix during a process called an embryo transfer. If all goes accordingly, the embryo(s) attach into the uterus in the normal way, and pregnancy progresses naturally.
Patricia Jimenez, MD, is a Washington University physician who specializes in fertility and reproductive medicine. Dr. Jimenez explains how artificial intelligence (AI) is used in conjunction with IVF to increase the chances of success of becoming pregnant. “The AI computer algorithms tell us which patients’ day-three embryos should be grown out to day five – greatly increasing the chances of survival of the embryo. The algorithm, a complex statistical model, is trained to identify certain factors that determine the embryo’s successful implantation. Knowing which embryo to transfer takes the guesswork out of the equation.”
Of course, no medical procedure is a sure thing. There are many factors that come into play for an IVF to result in a successful pregnancy. But using AI greatly increases the chances of:
- A positive pregnancy test
- Bringing home your healthy baby
For more information on IVF or to make an appointment with Dr. Jimenez, or any of her colleagues at Washington University Fertility and Reproductive Medicine Center , please call 314-286-2400.
4444 Forest Park Avenue Building
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