“We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” –Albert Einstein

Reproductive medicine has made huge progress in a relatively short period of time since the discovery of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in the 1970s to Louise Brown being born first test-tube baby in 1978. Since then, the development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was discovered in the early 1990s. Followed by the first ovarian transplant over a decade ago to the first live birth after uterine transplantation. In recent years, fertility technology has been squeezing embryos to using DNA from three parents to procreating with the same sex couple biologically editing the genes of embryos.

Fertility has hit major milestones during the transitions through development. No one would doubt that reproductive medicine is characterized by remarkable scientific progress on answering the very fundamental question — about the very matter of life itself. So what does the next wave of fertility treatments, products, and tests have in store for the future? Well, it is NOT as simple as the birds, the bees, and fertility treatments.

Here is a roundup of some of the latest advances for notable and promising new products, tests, techniques, apps, trackers, and technology either coming down the pipeline in the future or currently available to aid your fertility journey, no matter what stage of the fertility process you are in.

Preventative, Pre-Parenting Stage

1. Theralogix — Reproductive Health Supplements (Male & Female)

Theralogix has 8 different supplement and vitamin products to help prepare and aids your prenatal, preconception, during and post pregnancy health. TheraNatal® OvaVite® Preconception Vitamin is a preconception supplement for women in their mid-30s and beyond trying to conceive. A pharmaceutical-grade DHEA 25 Nutritional Supplement will optimize female fertility. If you suffer from irregular periods, Ovasitol® Inositol Powder has a scientific formula to promote menstrual regularity and normal ovarian function.

TheraNatal® Complete Prenatal Vitamin is the most comprehensive prenatal for women supplement for women during pregnancy. Theralogix also has a preconception vitamin for women trying to conceive called, TheraNatal® Core Preconception Vitamin with 22 essential vitamins and minerals. TheraNatal® One Prenatal Vitamin is soft-gel that provides 12 essential nutrients to meet the body’s increased need for iron during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.

Theralogix has 2 additional supplements for postnatal and breastfeeding to aid lactation with 6,400 IU vitamin D, DHA, biotin and choline for breastfeeding mothers that eliminate the need for infant vitamin D drops. If you have a male partner in this process, don’t forget about ConceptionXR® Reproductive Health Supplement with antioxidants and other nutrients designed to support male fertility and promotes normal sperm function. Or ConceptionXR® Motility Support Supplement recommended for men with low sperm motility, couples who are having trouble conceiving naturally, or those undergoing intrauterine insemination (IUI).

A vitamin you both can take, NeoQ10® Coenzyme Q10 Supplement will support heart health and healthy blood pressure levels, for males it promotes sperm motility or females it increasing mitochondrial energy production for improved egg quality.

***Use Provider Referral Code (160661) for discount on any of these products when purchasing online.

2. Androferti — Male Supplement  

Speaking of supplements for men, Androferti offers a product to make the sperm count. Lifestyles of men, as well as their age, and different environmental factors can affect the quality of the sperm and therefore the possibility of achieving pregnancy. The quality of the sperm plays a key role in the conception process. Therefore, improvement in the quality of the sperm is very important in order to achieve pregnancy. Androferti contains an exclusive and balanced formula composed of L-Carnitine, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals which, over the course of 3-6 months of regular intake, have proven to improve sperm quality. 

***Use coupon code (EGGCLUB) for 10% off total order. Company is based in San Diego and products can be purchased via website online.

3. Celmatix — Fertilome

Fertilome is a preventative test that reveals genetic factors significantly associated with the most common reproductive conditions in women. Fertilome is the first genetic screen that examines a woman’s genetic signature and how it may impact her reproductive health and ability to conceive, today and in the future.

Fertilome can help determine if you should freeze your eggs, if can you consider having children past the age of 35, or if you have been diagnosed with, show symptoms of, have family-history that could result in any of the following reproductive conditions:

• –Diminished or decreased ovarian reserve (DOR)
• –Early menopause
• –Endometriosis
• –Hyperandrogenism
• –Idiopathic/unexplained infertility
• –Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)
• –Primary ovarian insufficiency (POI)
• –Recurrent implantation failure (RIF)
• –Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL)

Fertilome gives you the ability to make more refined decisions of the future by revealing genetic risk factors unique to you, than physical examinations or existing diagnostic tests alone. Fertilome can help you plan for the future, have meaningful conversations around reproductive health, and give you a proactive journey instead of having to make reactive choices.

Fertilome is a blood test that can be ordered by a physician. The test is $900 out-of-pocket and billed directly to the patient. Fertilome is a laboratory developed test run by Celmatix Clinical Laboratories and is currently available in the United States.

***If you are interested in getting the Fertilome test click here to submit a request and find a physician near you. Use voucher code (ASRM) to get the genetic test for only $499.

Preparing and Trying Stage

4. GenePeeks — Previde (PreConception Test)

Previde is a Physician-prescribed test to analysis two prospective parents’ saliva DNA information to identify a future child’s risk of inheriting one or more of 1000+ serious genetic diseases. Participants may include you and your partner, or a sperm/egg donor you plan on using to conceive.

Virtual digital data is created to predict the combinations of genomes, a possible child with the prospective participants could have. For every gene copy in these virtual genomes, GenePeeks computes a Variant Gene Dysfunction score that integrates critical risk data such as predicted gene function and allele frequency. Previde can be used in combination with IVF and PGS/PGD screening.

***Learn more and watch this video about Anne Morriss‘s story and Dr. Lee Silver‘s research.

5. Androvia LifeSciences — Cap-Score Sperm Function Test

Cap-Score Sperm Function Test is a new and unique laboratory-developed test capable of helping to determine if the sperm is actually able to fertilize an egg. When used in combination with a semen analysis, knowing and understanding the male’s Cap-Score will help couples make informed decisions about the fertility solution that is best suited for them. Androvia’s breakthrough male fertility test, developed by Dr. Alex Travis groundbreaking research, allows couples and their physicians to evaluate a critical part of sperm function – the sperm’s ability to capacitate. Cap-Score can also assist in determining the success of vasectomy reversals and varicocele procedures that are conducted to restore fertility.

***For a list of clinics and where you can be tested click here.

6. Ava Fertility Ovulation Tracker

Ava is the queen to Fitbit for fertility tracking devices and helps identify the point in a woman’s cycle when she is most fertile. The device is worn while sleeping and syncs with your phone about your alerts and stage of your cycle the next day via the app. This beats peeing on a urine stick or checking your temperature to figure out if you are ovulating. Ava tracks your sleep, physiological stress levels, and resting heart rate — so you can see whether your lifestyle is supporting optimal health. This is a smarter way to track your cycle and finally understand your body effortlessly. Ava retails for $249, but it can determine fertility with 89% percent accuracy to eliminate the guesswork around tracking your cycle and help detect your fertility window in real-time.

***To discover more about Ava Fertility Tracker that syncs with iPhone or Android available both in North America and Europe, click here and use coupon code (EGGCLUB) for $20 off your order. (Not meant for PCOS patients)

Infertility/Fertility to IVF Stage

7. The Glue — Naula App

The Glue‘s Naula App is your fertility treatment made simple and is the essence of how technology is transforming fertility. Hundreds of thousands of women undergo fertility treatments each year, following a complicated protocol of self-administered injections, medications, and appointments. Naula App is here to rescue future fertility patients from the stressful and complicated process to understand their doctors’ orders and medications for their treatment cycle. The vast majority of patients have only printed handouts and schedules to guide them in this stressful and complicated process.

The Glue decided to build a product that would allow women to maintain their schedules, instructions and appointment materials all in one place, in the palm of their hands. Naula App is the best and only fertility treatment app that keeps all your medications and appointments in one place, with video instructions, reminders and an easy-to-use calendar. Stop shuffling through papers and lists of video links. Don’t fear missing a medication or appointment. The Naula App creates a customized calendar based on your specific fertility treatment. Every day you can see what medications and appointments are on the horizon, with videos and step-by-step instructions for every medication, checking each off as you finish.

***For a limited time only, get the Naula App on iTunes today FREE instead of regular priced $5.99.

8. InvoBioscience — INVOcell

A typical in vitro fertilization (IVF) scenario, the embryo develops in an incubator in the lab before implantation three to five days later back into the woman. However, a product called INVOcell wants to change the game of IVF, that is just as effective as an incubator and has the potential to be much cheaper.

The INVOcell, which has been approved for use in infertility treatment in Canada and the U.S. but is only available at select clinics, uses the woman’s own body temperature to regulate the embryo’s environment. The sperm and egg are mixed in a lab, then placed in the INVOcell, a tiny capsule that is inserted into the vagina. After five days in the capsule, the embryos are removed and one or more is implanted into the uterus as usual. The woman carries the embryo around with her, in her vagina. A Phase 4 trial that showed that the INVOcell was just as likely as traditional IVF to produce a successful pregnancy and a live baby. The procedure only costs $6,000 USD including the hormones and medications needed for the treatment.

***More information and to find a clinic near you click here.

After spending a lifetime trying to avoid pregnancy, single moms by choice and couples who begin trying to conceive often don’t realize how difficult it can be to get pregnant. Hopefully, these products, treatments, techniques, apps trackers, and technology can make the journey to parenthood for both men and women easier. The end goal would be that these technologies would drive even more scientific research to aid in the mission to have it all.