Improved fertility treatment for globally eqaul reproductive healthcare

Important results from the project

Impaired fertility is an increasing global problem. According to WHO, 50 million couples are involuntarily childless. Test tube fertilization is currently the most effective treatment. The goal of the current project is to meet the need for a simple fertility treatment used world-wide without access to an advanced fertility laboratory. The treatment planned in the present project meets these requirements for unexplained infertility. After a simple ovulation stimulating in a natural menstrual cycle, the fertility treatment is administered at one single outpatient appointment.

Expected long term effects

After a test tube treatment (IVF), the pregnancy rate is approximately 35-50% per embryos transfer and also depending on the fertility laboratory´s efficiency and the number of embryos transferred. The easier insemination treatment results in a pregnancy rate of 10-20 % depending on the risk for multiple births accepted and the duration of the infertility. The expected effect of the supplement with pertubation treatment before ovulation is that the pregnancy rate per insemination cycle increases significantly and, at best, approaches the pregnancy rate after IVF treatment.

Approach and implementation

During the project period, a project plan was made for design and implementation. A method study has been started on sperm motility in improved lidocaine-containing pertubation solutions. The sperm measurements are made in CASA (Computer Assisted Sperm Assessment) in collaboration with a fertility clinic in Trondheim. The project plan includes extended CASA measurements and a clinical RCT study. These are now undergoing ethical assessment. If they are approved, an UDI step 2 application will be initiated as well as an application to the Swedish Medical Products Agency.