MIT Technology Review · AI·ai·6 minHere’s how technology transformed babymaking
The way we make babies has undergone significant changes with advancements in technology. Since the first test tube baby was born in 1978, there have been major improvements in IVF technologies. Clinicians have developed better hormonal treatments, and embryologists have found ways to culture embryos in the lab for longer periods. Today, IVF clinics offer multiple genetic tests for embryos, and the technology has had a huge social impact, allowing for changes in family structures and providing more reproductive choices.
In the early 1990s, embryos could only be cultured for two days, and the live birth rate was around 12-15%. However, with improvements in culture medium, embryos can now be cultured for five or six days, increasing the success rate to 25%. The culturing process acts as a stress test, and embryos that make it to day six are more likely to develop into a healthy baby. Advances in freezing technologies have also opened up options, allowing embryos to be frozen and used at a later date.
The ability to freeze embryos has made IVF safer by reducing the risk of pregnancy complications and allowing patients to recover from hormonal treatments. Clinics can now take a few cells from an embryo for genetic testing before freezing, giving people undergoing IVF genetic readouts of all their embryos. This has changed the function of IVF from a treatment for infertility to a means of preserving fertility. People can now opt to freeze their eggs or embryos and use them later, and those undergoing cancer treatments can store their eggs or sperm ahead of time.
The technology has empowered women to have more reproductive choice and get more mileage from a single IVF cycle. Scientists have even been able to preserve pieces of ovarian and testicular tissue and reimplant them later, enabling recipients to have healthy babies. Today, more people than ever have access to safe IVF options, and these options look set to expand with the use of AI and robots in IVF.
The progress made in the last five decades has been significant, and the technologies that have transformed babymaking have had a profound impact on society. The use of IVF has allowed for changes in family structures and provided more reproductive choices for would-be parents. As technology continues to advance, it is likely that we will see even more options for people looking to start a family.
Overall, the advancements in IVF technologies have revolutionized the way we make babies, providing more options and choices for people looking to start a family. With the use of AI and robots in IVF, it is likely that we will see even more significant changes in the future.