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Global Fertility Pulse
A curated round-up of breakthroughs, trends, and news shaping the world of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART)
A research team in the UK has received provisional ethical clearance to begin preclinical trials using CRISPR-Cas9 to correct monogenic mutations in embryos—aimed at reducing heritable conditions.
Why it matters: This reignites the debate on germline editing ethics, but also signals a cautious shift toward regulated, therapeutic uses in IVF contexts.
Read more: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-023-03590-6
A Korean start-up has unveiled an ultra-fast embryo warming system using nanomaterial-enhanced warming straws. Preliminary data show higher post-thaw viability in blastocysts.
Why it matters: While vitrification is the gold standard, warming speed is equally crucial. This may address one of the last remaining weak links in cryopreservation.
Clinical abstract: https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282%2821%2901055-4/fulltext
Israeli firm Fairtility secured CE-IVD certification for its AI-based embryo grading platform, CHLOE EQ. The tool claims to reduce grading subjectivity and predict blastocyst development more accurately.
Why it matters: As embryologist burnout grows and lab standardization becomes key, AI assistants like CHLOE may become central to future lab operations.
Press release: https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/fairtility-granted-ce-mark-under-new-european-medical-device-regulation-mdr-for-ai-decision-support-tool-chloe-eq-tm--841704657.html
Researchers from the University of Melbourne have identified four seminal plasma microRNAs that show strong correlation with sperm DNA fragmentation and oxidative stress.
Why it matters: This could enhance the male workup beyond traditional semen analysis—leading to more personalized treatment plans.
Study: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0890623820300344
Japan’s Ministry of Health has extended national insurance coverage to include frozen embryo transfers (FETs) under its ART subsidy scheme.
Why it matters: This is expected to boost access and normalize FET over fresh transfers in more clinics.
Coverage: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14851872
A global meta-analysis covering 100,000 IVF cycles has produced an age-specific algorithm for predicting live birth outcomes—accounting for BMI, AMH, and number of retrieved oocytes.
Why it matters: The model offers better personalization for patient counseling and could be embedded into EMRs for real-time prognosis support.
Research: https://www.fertstert.org/article/S0015-0282%2824%2900173-0/fulltext
US-based firm BioAegis released interim data from a multi-center trial using cell-free DNA in spent media for non-invasive PGT-A. Concordance rates were reportedly 89% compared to trophectoderm biopsy.
Why it matters: Non-invasive PGT could become a safer, faster alternative to biopsy, especially for patients with limited embryos.
Trial: https://fertilityscience.org/non-invasive-pgt-a-may-be-superior-to-standard-pgt-a/
Top abstracts submitted for ESHRE 2025 (to be held in Lisbon) include:
- Wearable hormonal trackers for at-home follicular monitoring
- First-in-human results of artificial gametogenesis
- Mental health outcomes in patients undergoing multiple egg collections
Abstracts: https://www.eshre.eu/Annual-Meeting/ESHRE-2025/Main-programme?dayid=3463