Life Whisperer is the fertility arm of Presagen, a global artificial intelligence company. The company, whose US headquarters is in San Francisco, announced in a press release new women’s health technology applying artificial intelligence to the IVF embryo selection process. IVF clinics around the world can add an artificial intelligence platform to help doctors select the healthiest embryos with the best chance of success.

Embryo selection is an important part of the IVF process, where the healthiest embryos are chosen for implantation. The problem is preimplantation genetic testing is expensive and associated with some small degree of risk. Life Whisperer AI technology seeks to change the dynamics.

Life Whisperer Genetics applies artificial intelligence and machine-based learning to help embryologists in IVF embryo selection. Typically, an embryologist evaluates the embryos using subjective criteria through a process called embryo morphology grading.

Life Whisperer Genetics AI technology can identify characteristics not visible to the naked eye and adds objective measures to improve the chance of successful implantation. Published research shows AI embryo selection is at least 25% more accurate than embryologists’ grading methods at predicting pregnancy outcomes.

Artificial intelligence does not replace the crucial work of the embryologist. It enhances their ability to select the best candidates by adding a layer of objective evaluation.

Life Whisperer Genetics analyzed over 20,000 globally sourced 2D embryo images with known pregnancy outcomes to develop the AI system. With each new analysis, the system becomes smarter and improves its ability to select the embryos with the best chance of success.

In addition, Life Whisperer Genetics technology can reduce the need for preimplantation genetic testing (PGT-A). Genetically normal embryos have a higher chance of implanting reduce miscarriage. Some couples choose to undergo preimplantation testing where the doctor will biopsy the embryo to allow testing. A genetic sample of a healthy embryo is removed and sent to a lab for genetic evaluation. This step adds cost and a small degree of risk.

CEO Dr. Michelle Perugini believes their product addresses these concerns stating in the press release, “Essentially without biopsying an embryo, we can assess the likelihood of it being genetically normal or genetically abnormal just through using artificial intelligence and the images of the embryos.”

Life Whisperer Genetics assesses the genetic integrity of embryos using digital camera images. In a research study, AI detected normal embryos in 82% of the 91,500 simulated patients.

The cloud-based assessment is directly available to IVF couples in an intuitive and easy-to-understand report. These reports help bring IVF patients into the experience, allowing them to see what is happening throughout the process.

Right now, this technology is not FDA-approved for use in the United States. According to the company website, Life Whisperer Genetics is approved for use in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Vietnam. The technology helps patients who live in countries where preimplantation is not available or too expensive.

In the US, preimplantation genetic testing is widely used. The high-cost prices many patients out of the IVF option. Expanding AI would cut costs making assisted reproductive opportunities available to many people looking for help growing their families.

Life Whisperer Genetics has applied for approval in Europe, Australia, Canada, India, and SE Asia. The company expects approval in May and is currently pursuing FDA approvals in the United States.

Learn more about how artificial intelligence can improve outcomes for IVF patients through Life Whisperer Genetics in this video.

The post Artificial Intelligence Company Helps IVF Patients Get Pregnant appeared first on Medika Life.

The world is fighting two pandemics: Covid-19 and misinformation. Dangerous social media rumors and falsehoods continue to circulate, creating fear and mistrust among the general public. This week, the misinformation focused on a false link between Covid-19 vaccination and miscarriage.

The baseless claims started after anti-vaxxers misleadingly shared posts from a popular Oklahoma OB-GYN physician. Michelle Rockwell, MD, publicly shared the tragedy of her miscarriage through her social media platforms. She also celebrated her Covid-19 vaccination three weeks later. Conspiracy theorists disregarded the timeline, took her Instagram posts out of context, and spread falsehood regarding the timing of her vaccination and pregnancy loss.  

Facebook also removed a false post claiming that the head of Pfizer research found a link between the vaccine and female sterilization. This particular false claim is based on a confusing twist of scientific facts.

The Covid-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna use messenger RNA (mRNA). A single strand of mRNA delivers instructions to human cells to produce an antibody against the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The conspiracy theory that Facebook addressed stems from the fact that the spike protein is genetically similar to an essential placental protein called syncytin-1.

The placenta is the organ inside the uterus that keeps the baby alive through its internal filtration system. Syncytin-1 and the coronavirus spike protein share a tiny string of amino acids, but the placental protein is unrelated to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The genetic similarity is not close enough for vaccine antibodies to recognize syncytin-1.

These fabrications prompted a statement on February 4 by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) titled “Medical Experts Continue to Assert That Covid Vaccines Do Not Impact Fertility.”

Leaders from the U.K. spoke up about the viral misinformation. The president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Edward Morris, MD, issued guidance in January to reassure the public, stating, “There is​ ​no biologically plausible mechanism by which current vaccines would cause any impact on fertility.”

Neither the Moderna nor Pfizer vaccine contains a live virus. One cannot catch Covid-19 from the vaccine. Pregnant patients can rest assured mRNA vaccines do not cause fetal genetic changes. The mRNA vaccines do not enter our cells’ nucleus and do not alter vaccine recipients’ DNA. 

Much remains unknown about the novel coronavirus’s effects on pregnant women, babies, and Covid-19 vaccination in pregnancy. Research indicates most pregnant people who contract Covid-19 do well but have an increased risk of ICU admission and preterm labor.

Based on the known risks of Covid-19 infection in pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advocates offering vaccination to pregnant and lactating people.

More than 3.7 million individuals give birth in the United States per year. Excluding pregnant patients from vaccine eligibility or scaring them away with false information creates a significant risk for moms and babies.

The post Experts Say Covid-19 Vaccine Is Not Linked to Miscarriage or Infertility appeared first on Medika Life.

In contrast, men create new sperm every day. During ejaculation, about 400 million sperm are released. Only one needs to survive the long journey to find the egg. Sperm swim from the vagina through the uterus and make their way into the fallopian tube.

Typically, the sperm unites with the egg in the fallopian tube where fertilization occurs. The embryo then travels back to the endometrial cavity and implants into the uterine wall to begin to grow.

How do we know if his sperm is normal?

Sperm can be tested through a semen analysis. Semen is collected through masturbation. Most clinics have a private room with a library of videos or images to help stimulate the process.

The semen sample is tested at a fertility office. The sperm is evaluated for four main features: the amount of fluid (volume), the number of sperm (concentration), the size and shape (morphology), and the ability to swim in the right direction (motility).

How do I know if I ovulate?

If you have regular, predictable, menstrual cycles that occur every 21–35 days, then you are most likely ovulating. Some couples will test at home using an over the counter ovulation kit. We encourage this for couples struggling to conceive.

We do not recommend using them as a tool to avoid pregnancy, as these tests are not always reliable. Some women can learn to check changes in their cervical mucus to predict ovulation. The most accurate test for ovulation is to have a Progesterone blood test 7 days after the expected date of ovulation.

How do I know if my tubes are open?

The most common risk factor for tubal occlusion is a history of sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea and chlamydia. These infections can cause scarring in the tubes.

Other risk factors include endometriosis, previous tubal pregnancy, and previous surgery. Although rare, multiple abortions or surgeries for miscarriage can lead to scarring in the uterine cavity called Asherman’s Syndrome. This is where the top of the uterus sticks to the bottom of the uterus, effectively sealing the cavity.

An Xray called a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) can be performed to determine if the tubes and uterus are open. The medical term is tubal patency. During an HSG, a dye is injected through the cervix and X-rays are taken to see how the uterine cavity fills. This allows doctors to view the shape of the uterine cavity and the patency of the tubes. If the dye goes through the tubes and spills into the pelvic cavity, then the tubes are open.

When should we have sex if we want to get pregnant

The short answer is to have sex as often as you want. The more, the better. 90% of couples will get pregnant within twelve months of unprotected intercourse. If you want to be more systematic, there are some strategies you can employ.

First, count the number of days from the start of one period to the start of the next. Subtract 14 days from the anticipated date of the next period. This is the most likely day of ovulation.

Having sex every other day around the expected days of ovulation allows optimal sperm count. Another option is to use an ovulation kit. Have intercourse on the day your ovulation stick is positive and then once a day for the next 3 or 4 days.

There are multiple apps available to help track ovulation. I suggest ignoring these at first. Let nature happen. Couples spend most of their lives trying to avoid getting pregnant. There is something special about having sex with your partner to start your family. Enjoy this unique intimacy without adding technology or stress. Keep it natural and avoid medicalizing sex.

How long does it usually take to get pregnant?

Most people get pregnant within one year. Infertility is defined as a healthy couple having unprotected intercourse without conception for twelve months. If it has been over one year and pregnancy has not occurred, then it is time for an evaluation. If you are over age 35, have irregular periods or other medical issues, then an assessment can start sooner.

Happy baby-making!

The post How to Find Out If You Can Get Pregnant? appeared first on Medika Life.

She was dating off and on, but no paternal “prospects” were in sight. She did not want to have children right away, but she was worried. Her biological clock was ticking. 

No one should tell a woman when or if she should have a baby. That decision is up to her, but she needs to know all her options before it is too late. 

Time is not our friend when dealing with fertility. 

We need to improve egg preservation awareness to give women the option while egg quality and quantity maximize the chances of success.

How does age affect fertility?

At birth, the ovaries have a set number of eggs. Men make new sperm every day, but women are born with all the eggs they are ever going to get. The number of eggs decreases throughout a woman’s life from 2 million at birth to less 1,000 by menopause. 

As the number of eggs goes down, so do the chances of pregnancy. As much as we do not like to hear it, fertility decreases with age. 

Most women in their 20s are not thinking about future fertility status, but this age is the peak time for egg quality and quantity. 

Fertility rates start to drop at age 32. In the early 30s, some women, who know they will not be having children anytime soon, began to contemplate their fertility status. But many do not have the funds or focus to pursue egg freezing. 

At age 37, fertility rates fall off the proverbial biological cliff. The number of eggs dramatically drops, and the chances of successful spontaneous pregnancies go down. 

Women age 35–42 are the most common age group to inquire about egg preservation. Faced with declining fertility, a lack of a partner, or a current lack of desire for pregnancy, women ask about fertility options. 

By this age, the egg quality and quantity may have already decreased. Just as some women arrive at an age when they have matured into their careers and have the finances to investigate egg freezing, the ovaries may no longer have enough reserve to produce high quality functioning eggs.

Career, money, and the lack of a partner are common barriers for delaying pregnancy, and each woman may have her own goals, dreams, and rationale on when to start a family. 

Regardless of the reason, Obgyns and fertility physicians often see patients trying to get pregnant later in life. 

Biologically speaking, age matters. As a woman gets older, the chances of pregnancy go down. 

What is egg freezing? 

Egg freezing, or cryopreservation, is the process of cooling egg cells to subzero temperatures to stop all biological activity and preserve them for future use.

Egg cryopreservation has been available for a long time but was an unproven technology. It was labeled “experimental,” which limited egg freezing to women who had nothing to lose; conditions like early menopause or cancer.

In 2012, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) lifted the experimental label for egg preservation. Fertility clinics began using a flash-freezing technique called vitrification. This technique improved outcomes compared to older slow freezing processes. 

Flash-freezing now provides egg survival rates of around 90%.

In 2018, the ASRM approved the use of egg cryopreservation for social reasons opening up this open to many women who delayed childbearing for a variety of personal reasons. 

Flash-freezing egg preservation is an available option for any woman who wants to maintain her future fertility options. The younger she is when she freezes her eggs, the higher the chances of a successful pregnancy later in life. 

What is the egg freezing process?

Egg freezing works a lot like the beginning stages of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatments. Patients take ovulation stimulation medications causing the ovaries to produce multiple fertile eggs. Doctors monitor progress with serial ultrasounds and blood tests to identify the optimal time to retrieve the eggs.

When the timing is right, a fertility specialist harvests the eggs via a transvaginal ultrasound-guided aspiration. 

The goal is to obtain 8–12 eggs. The more eggs, the higher the chances of future pregnancy. 

Why would I want to freeze my eggs?

Women choose egg preservation for a variety of deeply personal reasons. 

• Not ready to get pregnant until later in life. 
• Undergoing radiation or chemotherapy which may damage the ovaries. 
• Carrier of familial cancer gene such as BRCA 1 or 2. 
• As part of an IVF cycle for future use. 

Life is all about options 

Reproductive biology can alter one’s dreams, and life goals can change the reproductive options. 

Career ambitions, relationship status, money, financial goals, and health status are some of the reasons women delay childbearing. Regardless of the motivation or circumstance, egg preservation is one way to fulfill fertility wishes.

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