Diagnostic or prognostic? Decoding the role of embryo selection on in vitro fertilization treatment outcomes

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Female Infertility Diagnosis: An Update

Female infertility is a multifaceted condition affecting millions of women worldwide, with causes ranging from hormonal imbalances and genetic predispositions to lifestyle and environmental factors. Traditional diagnostic approaches, such as hormonal assays, ultrasound imaging, and genetic testing, often require extensive time, resources, and expert interpretation. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative tool in the field of reproductive medicine, offering advanced capabilities for improving the accuracy, efficiency, and personalization of infertility diagnosis and treatment. AI technologies demonstrate significant potential in analyzing vast and complex datasets, identifying hidden patterns, and providing data-driven insights that enhance clinical decision-making processes in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) services. This narrative review explores the current advancements in AI applications in female infertility diagnostics and therapeutics, highlighting key technological innovations, their clinical implications, and existing limitations. It also discusses the future potential of AI in revolutionizing reproductive healthcare. As AI-based technologies continue to evolve, their integration into reproductive medicine is expected to pave the way for more accessible, cost-effective, and personalized fertility care.

Ovarian stimulation protocols: impact on oocyte and endometrial quality and function

Ovarian stimulation (OS) truly is an art. There exists a myriad of protocols used to achieve the same goal: stimulating the ovaries to produce more than one mature oocyte to improve the chance of a live birth. However, considerable debate remains as to whether OS impacts oocyte and endometrial quality to affect in vitro fertilization outcomes. Although "more is better" has long been considered the best approach for oocyte retrieval, this review challenges that notion by examining the influence of stimulation on oocyte quality. Likewise, improved outcomes after frozen blastocyst transfer suggest that OS perturbs endometrial preparation and/or receptivity, although correlating changes with implantation success remains a challenge. Therefore, the focus of this review is to summarize our current understanding of perturbations in human oocyte quality and endometrial function induced by exogenous hormone administration. We highlight the need for further research to identify more appropriate markers of oocyte developmental competence as well as those that define the roles of the endometrium in the success of assisted reproductive technology.

Prophecy, prediction, and prognosis - can we improve the advice we give on the chance of pregnancy and treatment options for infertility?

Giving patients an accurate prognosis of their chances of achieving pregnancy is difficult with our current knowledge and technology. We need new approaches and thinking to provide truthful information.