Couples are putting their trust in artificial intelligence to help them become parents, with an Australia-first trial proving a success.<\/p>\n
Sarah and Tim Keys from Queensland have been trying to conceive for a number of years and after suffering a number of miscarriages decided to turn to IVF.<\/p>\n
When their GP suggested joining the AI trial, the couple did their research and discovered it would improve their chances of getting through the pregnancy.<\/p>\n
\"It's really hard to go through those miscarriages so anything that could decrease the chances, let's go with that,\" Ms Keys said.<\/p>\n
Doctors are hailing the technology as the biggest leap forward in IVF in over three decades.<\/p>\n
\"It's completely new, completely different and ... it's all to do with the evolution of computer technology,\" Associate Professor Anusch Yazdani from the Queensland Fertility Group said.<\/p>\n
As part of the international study, led by national fertility provider Virtus Health, 1000 patients will be recruited at five IVF clinics across Australia, alongside sites in Ireland and Denmark.<\/p>\n
During each IVF cycle, embryos will be grown in an incubator fitted with tiny time-lapse cameras which will record 115,000 images over five days.<\/p>\n
Each embryo is then given a rating based on predicted fetal heart outcomes and the one with the greatest chance of survival is implanted.<\/p>\n
If the trial is successful the technology will be rolled out around the world.<\/p>\n
So far, the trial at seven fertility clinics around the country has a 90 per cent success rate.<\/p>\n
\"That's much better than our embryologists have managed to do so this is a really exciting time to,\" Professor Yazdani said.<\/p>\n
Ms Keys is now 26 weeks pregnant and cautiously optimistic for the future.<\/p>\n
\"We're very excited we're expecting a little girl,\" she said.<\/p>\n
\"I think we'll still be a bit stressed until we're holding her, but where we're at, at the moment is really awesome.\"<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n