AI set to revolutionise fertility diagnostics easing pressure on NHS
As demand for fertility treatment soars across the NHS, AI-powered diagnostic solutions are rising to meet the challenge.
The kits are set to transform how fertility centres operate, enabling patients to complete pre-treatment testing at home.
The technology helps clinicians manage capacity and streamline the fertility journey, where for patients, time is often of the essence.
The tests include blood tests, sperm tests, serologies, genetic tests, scans, and clinical history with 48 hours access to results.
“Data, AI and remote diagnostics are the answer to improve clinic capacity, allowing healthcare professionals to treat even more patients” says Andreia Trigo from leading AI fertility test provider Enhanced Fertility.
“This could reduce the average time for an infertile woman to have a baby from nearly seven years to around four and could be crucial for women running out of time to receive fertility care.”
Depending on the area they live, couples eligible for NHS funding can wait between a few months and up to three years to start fertility treatment.
The main reason for long waiting times are the limited resources available to the NHS; some areas offer no IVF cycles at all, leaving people to self-fund privately.
Andreia, an award-winning fertility nurse consultant, TEDx speaker and Enhanced Fertility co-founder, believes AI powered by at-home testing will widen fertility diagnostics and treatment options.
“Artificial intelligence can play a pivotal role in this process by providing clearer insights into fertility status and helping to identify potential issues sooner,” she said.
“AI-driven tools can analyse data quickly and accurately, reducing the time to diagnosis and guiding individuals toward appropriate next steps.
“Most AI solutions focus on IVF labs to select optimal eggs, sperm, or embryos, but our technology is used in the consultation room and addresses the full range of factors that impact fertility even before the eggs and sperm get to the lab.
“In the blink of an eye, AI helps us rule out things that aren’t relevant and improve diagnosis. It can simulate the effect of drugs, dosages, and timings to treat specific conditions.”
The World Health Organisation reports that one in six people globally experience infertility, but millions of people continue to lack access to fertility care.
Health tech entrepreneur Andreia has been a lifelong advocate for fertility issues since being diagnosed with infertility at age 17, when she discovered she had MRKH (Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome), a condition characterised by the absence of a uterus or vaginal canal.
Enhanced Fertility kits are currently being rolled across the UK and Europe, with plans to go worldwide.
