According to the World Health Organization, infertility affects approximately 17.5% of the adult population, meaning that on average one in six people encounters infertility issues. In Poland, this accounts for around 1.5 million couples, some of whom choose to undergo the in vitro procedure. Artificial intelligence (AI) assists physicians throughout these procedures. Polish company MIM Fertility has developed applications that optimize the work of embryologists and doctors. “AI will not replace doctors, but it supports them in making decisions,” says Professor Piotr Sankowski, the company’s co-founder.
AI for infertility treatment is a tool to help doctors make the best decisions possible. It acts as an extra eye and assistant that advises the doctor on how to better some decisions. We’re talking about specific tasks that are either time-consuming or where AI can provide good advice. In our [MIM Fertility] studies, we can see that a doctor who is given AI support might take different suggestions or notice something different, allowing for better decisions, less stress, and extra time.
A WHO report analysing the period from 1990 to 2021 indicates that, on average, one person in six experiences infertility problems. In Poland, as reported by the NFZ [Polish National Health Fund], fertility issues may affect approximately 20% of the Polish population, which equates to about 1.5 million couples. A small portion of these couples decide to undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF), which is not always successful. However, the success rate of the procedure can increase with the use of AI algorithms.
We [MIM Fertility] have developed two products that have already received European medical certification, and focus on two aspects: firstly, the assessment of the developmental potential of embryos – their chance of implantation leading to a healthy pregnancy. The second solution supports doctors in performing ovarian reserve tests. Our Embryoaid platform uses AI algorithms to assist in selecting embryos for IVF treatment. Usually, the decision on which embryo is the best solely depends on the experience and judgement of the embryologist. The system automatically identifies promising embryos based on images and time-lapse photos.
These solutions are becoming increasingly popular worldwide. While uptake in Poland has been a bit slower, according to Sankowski, the country is catching up. The popularity of in vitro procedures in Poland may grow as a result of the Governmental Programme for In Vitro Implementation in Poland, launched on 1st June this year and set to run until the end of 2028, with almost PLN 2.5 billion (500 million annually) allotted to the programme.
AI is capable of analysing vast amount of data, which can enhance the procedure’s success rate. However, as Sankowski notes, the biggest challenge is to make medical professionals understand the value of AI, not as a replacement, but as a tool to assist them in decision-making. This can be especially valuable in difficult cases or pointing out things that could be missed – something that is of immense value and needs to be understood by doctors.
