The Future of IVF

Jul 18, 2022

Earlier in this series, we spoke about the Corporate world of IVF, how clinics around the world were consolidating, and what that meant for you the patient. In this episode, we’re looking at the future of IVF and our first conversation is with Stuart Lavery, a senior consultant gynaecologist, a well-respected member of the global human fertility community, and a founding director of Aria Fertility, our second guest is Professor Nick Macklon, Medical Director of The London Women’s clinic and Medical Advisor at Verso.

Here are what we discussed:

IVF Changed over the last 10 years
The biggest provider of IVF in the UK is a private equity
What we can learn from the US
Fertility is an illness becoming demedicalised
How his clinic Aria – competes with the big chains
Most of the big groups had the same success rates, and the same treatments – but mediocre customer experiences
Using technology to enhance the patient experience.
How important it is for a patient to feel confident and comfortable
Tech changes are here now and a huge amount coming tomorrow
Tech companies who believe tech will trump biology
Developments in the lab are around automation and minimization
IVF at Home – saliva test at home replacing coming into the clinic for blood, e- consenting, and home ultrasound
Important not to exacerbate inequalities in access to treatment
There’s no reason that the NHS can’t be at cutting edge of technology given the patient volume it has coming through.
NHS clinics shouldn’t have access less, it should be the same standard whether you pay or access the NHS.
The decline in ‘Gentle IVF’
Automated robotic ICSI
The decline of IUI – need to make sure the right treatment goes to the right patient
Professor Nick Macklon explains how the incubator or the Uterine environment hasn’t really been studied until now
What is device monitoring?
How research shows how much it fluctuates between women
How does it impact embryo transfer
How oxygen levels can change which can affect implantation
How Secretions can also affect implantation
What this means for the future of IVF treatment