
Latest IVF and Reproductive Medicine Developments (Apr–May 2025)
- AI-driven success prediction: A Nature Communications study (Apr 17, 2025) found that machine‑learning, center‐specific IVF models significantly outperformed the US national (SART) model in predicting live-birth ratesnature.com. Using data from 4,635 first-IVF cycles across six clinics, the ML models showed higher precision/recall and correctly flagged more patients with ≥50% or ≥75% live-birth probability than SARTnature.com. This advance in AI prognostics could enable more accurate, individualized counseling and cost–success transparency for IVF patients.
Yao MWM, Nguyen ET, Retzloff MG, Gago LA, Nichols JE, Payne JF, Ripps BA, Opsahl M, Groll J, Beesley R, Neal G, Adams J, Nowak L, Swanson T, Chen X. Machine learning center-specific models show improved IVF live birth predictions over US national registry-based model. Nat Commun. 2025;16:3661. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-48661-8.
- IVF vs. ICSI clinical trial: A large Danish RCT (published 11 Apr 2025, Nature Medicine) compared conventional IVF (c-IVF) to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in 824 couples without severe male-factor infertility. Cumulative live-birth rates were essentially the same (47.3% for IVF vs 43.2% for ICSI; RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.79–1.06)nature.com. The authors conclude that routine use of ICSI in these cases offers no benefit and that c-IVF should remain the preferred first-line treatmentnature.com. This may reduce unnecessary ICSI use, lower costs, and simplify treatment in non–male-factor cases.
Berntsen S, Zedeler A, Nøhr B, Petersen MR, Grøndahl ML, Andersen LF, Løssl K, Løkkegaard E, Englund AL, Gabrielsen AV, Prætorius L, Behrendt-Møller I, Thuesen LL, Vomstein K, Lauritsen MP, Trajcevski AI, Skipper DF, Westergaard D, Pinborg A, Nielsen HS, Freiesleben NLC. IVF versus ICSI in patients without severe male factor infertility: a randomized clinical trial. Nat Med. 2025 Apr 11. doi: 10.1038/s41591-025-02976-0
- iPSC-derived egg maturation trial: US biotech Gameto announced FDA clearance to launch the first US phase-3 trial of an iPSC-based fertility therapycontemporaryobgyn.net. Their Fertilo system uses lab-grown ovarian support cells (from induced pluripotent stem cells) to mature eggs in vitro, dramatically cutting hormones from ~2 weeks to just 2–3 dayscontemporaryobgyn.net. Notably, Fertilo already yielded a live birth in Peru (Dec 2024) from an egg matured in the dishcontemporaryobgyn.net. The upcoming randomized trial (15 US sites) will test whether this approach can safely and effectively produce embryos and healthy pregnanciescontemporaryobgyn.net. If successful, this “cellular IVF” could shorten cycles, reduce patient burden, and extend fertility options.
Ebert M. FDA grants clearance for phase 3 trial of Fertilo, an iPSC-based fertility treatment. Contemporary OB/GYN. 2025 Jan 30. Available from: https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/fda-grants-clearance-for-phase-3-trial-of-fertilo-an-ipsc-based-fertility-treatment.
- Global IVF market trends: Industry reports note rapidly growing demand for fertility services. For example, a Feb 2025 market analysis projects China’s IVF industry rising from ~$5.8B (2024) to ~$11B by 2033, driven by policy support and new technologiesglobenewswire.com. In the UAE and other countries, new fertility clinics are expanding services (even including gender selection and surrogacy) under permissive regulationsglobenewswire.com. Such developments underscore the global spread of advanced IVF techniques and changing legal frameworks.
China In Vitro Fertilization Market Projected to Reach US$ 11.26 Billion by 2033 | 2025 Research Report. GlobeNewswire. 2025 Feb 20. Available from: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/20/2986637/0/en/China-s-In-Vitro-Fertilization-Market-Projected-to-Reach-US-11-26-Billion-by-2033-2025-Research-Report.html.
Latest IVF and Reproductive Medicine Developments (Apr–May 2025)
- AI-driven success prediction: A Nature Communications study (Apr 17, 2025) found that machine‑learning, center‐specific IVF models significantly outperformed the US national (SART) model in predicting live-birth ratesnature.com. Using data from 4,635 first-IVF cycles across six clinics, the ML models showed higher precision/recall and correctly flagged more patients with ≥50% or ≥75% live-birth probability than SARTnature.com. This advance in AI prognostics could enable more accurate, individualized counseling and cost–success transparency for IVF patients.
Yao MWM, Nguyen ET, Retzloff MG, Gago LA, Nichols JE, Payne JF, Ripps BA, Opsahl M, Groll J, Beesley R, Neal G, Adams J, Nowak L, Swanson T, Chen X. Machine learning center-specific models show improved IVF live birth predictions over US national registry-based model. Nat Commun. 2025;16:3661. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-48661-8.
- IVF vs. ICSI clinical trial: A large Danish RCT (published 11 Apr 2025, Nature Medicine) compared conventional IVF (c-IVF) to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in 824 couples without severe male-factor infertility. Cumulative live-birth rates were essentially the same (47.3% for IVF vs 43.2% for ICSI; RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.79–1.06)nature.com. The authors conclude that routine use of ICSI in these cases offers no benefit and that c-IVF should remain the preferred first-line treatmentnature.com. This may reduce unnecessary ICSI use, lower costs, and simplify treatment in non–male-factor cases.
Berntsen S, Zedeler A, Nøhr B, Petersen MR, Grøndahl ML, Andersen LF, Løssl K, Løkkegaard E, Englund AL, Gabrielsen AV, Prætorius L, Behrendt-Møller I, Thuesen LL, Vomstein K, Lauritsen MP, Trajcevski AI, Skipper DF, Westergaard D, Pinborg A, Nielsen HS, Freiesleben NLC. IVF versus ICSI in patients without severe male factor infertility: a randomized clinical trial. Nat Med. 2025 Apr 11. doi: 10.1038/s41591-025-02976-0
- iPSC-derived egg maturation trial: US biotech Gameto announced FDA clearance to launch the first US phase-3 trial of an iPSC-based fertility therapycontemporaryobgyn.net. Their Fertilo system uses lab-grown ovarian support cells (from induced pluripotent stem cells) to mature eggs in vitro, dramatically cutting hormones from ~2 weeks to just 2–3 dayscontemporaryobgyn.net. Notably, Fertilo already yielded a live birth in Peru (Dec 2024) from an egg matured in the dishcontemporaryobgyn.net. The upcoming randomized trial (15 US sites) will test whether this approach can safely and effectively produce embryos and healthy pregnanciescontemporaryobgyn.net. If successful, this “cellular IVF” could shorten cycles, reduce patient burden, and extend fertility options.
Ebert M. FDA grants clearance for phase 3 trial of Fertilo, an iPSC-based fertility treatment. Contemporary OB/GYN. 2025 Jan 30. Available from: https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/fda-grants-clearance-for-phase-3-trial-of-fertilo-an-ipsc-based-fertility-treatment.
- Global IVF market trends: Industry reports note rapidly growing demand for fertility services. For example, a Feb 2025 market analysis projects China’s IVF industry rising from ~$5.8B (2024) to ~$11B by 2033, driven by policy support and new technologiesglobenewswire.com. In the UAE and other countries, new fertility clinics are expanding services (even including gender selection and surrogacy) under permissive regulationsglobenewswire.com. Such developments underscore the global spread of advanced IVF techniques and changing legal frameworks.
China In Vitro Fertilization Market Projected to Reach US$ 11.26 Billion by 2033 | 2025 Research Report. GlobeNewswire. 2025 Feb 20. Available from: https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2025/02/20/2986637/0/en/China-s-In-Vitro-Fertilization-Market-Projected-to-Reach-US-11-26-Billion-by-2033-2025-Research-Report.html.
biweekly insights