04 Nov How AI is changing fertility treatment and pregnancy care
From helping embryologists assess embryos to analysing genetic information, artificial intelligence is beginning to play a role in fertility and prenatal care. But some of the technology is much further advanced than others.
Pregnancy has always involved plenty of tests, scans and decisions. For families using IVF, that process can begin well before pregnancy.
Now artificial intelligence is being added to some parts of fertility treatment and prenatal screening, helping clinicians analyse large amounts of information more quickly and consistently.
But parents should not expect AI to replace familiar pregnancy tests, ultrasounds or medical specialists any time soon.
What tests are already part of pregnancy care?
Most Australian parents will encounter a series of screening and diagnostic tests during pregnancy.
First-trimester screening may include a blood test and an ultrasound measuring the baby’s nuchal translucency between about 11 and 14 weeks.
Another option is non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which can generally be performed from 10 weeks. It analyses small fragments of DNA circulating in the mother’s blood to estimate the chance of certain chromosome conditions, including Down syndrome.
Importantly, NIPT is a screening test, not a diagnosis. If screening identifies an increased chance of a condition, parents may be offered diagnostic testing such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis.
Other common checks include the morphology ultrasound at around 18–22 weeks and screening for gestational diabetes.
Exactly which tests are recommended will depend on individual circumstances and discussions with a doctor or midwife.
Where does AI fit into IVF?
One of the most talked-about uses of AI in reproductive medicine is embryo assessment during IVF.
Traditionally, embryologists examine how embryos develop and use established grading systems to help decide which embryo should be transferred first.
AI programs can analyse large numbers of embryo images, including those collected by time-lapse incubators, and identify patterns associated with implantation or pregnancy.
The aim is generally to give the embryologist and fertility specialist another piece of information rather than hand the decision to a computer.
Research is promising, but it has not yet shown that AI embryo selection consistently improves pregnancy or live-birth rates.
Could AI change prenatal genetic screening?
AI and advanced computer modelling are also being explored in prenatal genetics.
Researchers are looking at ways to extract more information from the small amount of fetal DNA circulating in a pregnant woman’s blood.
At present, standard NIPT mainly screens for particular chromosome conditions. Emerging technologies hope eventually to screen for a broader range of genetic variants.
Some of these tests are still being developed or researched rather than being part of established Australian pregnancy care.
Medical devices incorporating AI must also meet Australian regulatory requirements before they can be supplied for clinical use.
Will AI mean fewer invasive tests?
Possibly — but we’re not there yet.
One hope for more sophisticated blood-based screening is that clinicians may eventually be able to identify more pregnancies at very low risk of particular genetic conditions without invasive testing.
But screening and diagnosis are different. Tests such as CVS and amniocentesis can directly investigate genetic or chromosomal conditions, and new screening technology would need strong evidence before replacing established diagnostic procedures.
Genetic counselling also remains important when testing raises complex questions about a baby’s health.
What should parents ask?
As AI becomes more common in healthcare, it can be difficult to know whether a new test represents a genuine advance or clever marketing.
Parents considering fertility treatment or prenatal screening can ask:
- Is this test or AI system routinely used in Australia or still being evaluated?
- What evidence shows that it improves outcomes?
- Is it approved for its intended use in Australia?
- Will it change my treatment or simply provide additional information?
- What happens if the result identifies an increased chance of a problem?
- What will the test cost?
AI has the potential to help clinicians interpret increasingly complex medical and genetic information. For prospective parents, though, its most useful role may be as another tool to support informed decisions rather than a replacement for doctors.
