What was once a hopeful but limited option for many couples has now become a sophisticated process with higher success rates, thanks to advancements in technology.
From better monitoring tools to artificial intelligence helping select the best embryos, IVF treatments have never been more precise or efficient.
But what is really making the difference today, and what can we expect to see in the future?
Manual embryo monitoring: Embryologists had to check embryos manually under a microscope.
Guesswork and experience: Choosing which embryos to transfer was based mostly on experience and observation.
Paper-based tracking: Labs relied on old-school methods to track eggs, sperm, and embryos, which made mistakes more likely.
Back then, success rates were lower because the technology just wasn’t there to give embryologists the full picture. The process relied heavily on human judgment, which could be subjective.
IVF today: advanced tools and better success rates
These days, IVF clinics use advanced machines, algorithms, and monitoring systems to help embryologists make more accurate decisions.
According to Dr. Vladimiro Silva, the Scientific Director of Ferticentro, the difference is huge. “Instead of just hoping an embryo will implant, we are now able to give patients a much accurate prediction on their chances of success.”
Let’s explore some of the major technological breakthroughs and how they benefit patients.
The EmbryoScope: revolutionising embryo monitoring in IVF
The EmbryoScope is an advanced incubator with a built-in time-lapse imaging system designed to improve embryo monitoring in IVF. This technology allows embryologists to track embryo development continuously without disturbing them, creating the best possible conditions for growth.
What is an embryologist? An embryologist is a fertility specialist who creates, handles, monitors, and selects embryos during IVF to improve the chances of a successful pregnancy.
The problem with traditional embryo monitoring
Before the EmbryoScope, embryologists had to remove embryos from the incubator at different times to check their progress under a microscope. This process had several drawbacks:
Temperature and pH fluctuations – Embryos are sensitive to changes and removing them from the incubator can disrupt their development.
Increased contamination risk – Exposure to the external environment can introduce bacteria or other contaminants.
Limited data – Since embryos were only checked at certain times, important developmental milestones might be missed.
How the EmbryoScope improves embryo selection
The EmbryoScope solves these issues by using time-lapse imaging to take continuous pictures of developing embryos.
Dr. Silva explains:
“This allows embryologists to track every stage of development without needing to remove the embryos from the incubator.”
Key benefits of the EmbryoScope:
Continuous monitoring – Captures images of embryo development 24/7, providing a complete record from fertilisation to transfer.
Undisturbed growth – Embryos stay in a stable environment with no sudden changes in temperature, pH or exposure to light and outside air.
Better embryo selection – Helps embryologists identify the healthiest embryos with the best chances of implantation.
Proven safety – The system uses gentle imaging technology that has been carefully tested to ensure it does not harm embryo development.
Data storage, automation and learning – This technology allows embryologists to easily monitor embryo growth through automated systems that store detailed embryo development data. Embryologists can effortlessly share accurate information and objectively review embryo evolution using advanced AI algorithms implemented in labs worldwide. By removing human subjectivity, this innovative technology helps uncover subtle aspects of embryo development previously unseen by the human eye alone.
Why does continuous embryo monitoring matter?
Choosing the best embryo for transfer is one of the most critical factors in IVF success. Traditional methods provided only a few snapshots of embryo growth, but the EmbryoScope allows embryologists to see the full developmental timeline. This leads to more informed decisions and, ultimately, to optimized chances of pregnancy.
The EmbryoScope and IVF success rates
With better embryo selection, improved embryo culture conditions, and reduced handling risks, the EmbryoScope is transforming IVF treatments. By maintaining a stable and controlled environment, it helps ensure that embryos have the best possible start, ultimately increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy.
Ferticentro was the first clinic in Portugal to introduce the EmbryoScope, recognising its value in improving IVF success. Today, this advanced technology is included in every IVF treatment at no additional cost to patients.
RI Witness: safeguarding patient samples in IVF treatments
One of the greatest fears for IVF patients is the potential mix-up of samples in the laboratory. While these incidents are extremely rare, they can have devastating consequences when they occur.
This is exactly why RI Witness was designed: to eliminate human error and provide peace of mind to both patients and clinicians.
RI Witness uses radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to track and monitor all patient samples within the lab, including eggs, sperm, and embryos.
Dr. Silva explains how RFID technology works in IVF labs:
“Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an advanced tracking system that uses radio waves to identify and monitor objects automatically. In our IVF lab, we attach small electronic tags with unique identification codes to patient samples, such as eggs, sperm, and embryos in every step of their lab processing. These tags are detected by RFID readers without direct contact, ensuring every sample is accurately tracked and matched to the correct patient at all times.”
How RI Witness works:
RFID tags – Each sample container is assigned a unique RFID tag storing the patient’s identification data.
Automatic verification – The system continuously checks that the correct samples are used at every stage, from fertilisation to embryo transfer.
Error prevention – If a mismatch is detected, an alert notifies lab staff immediately, preventing errors before they occur.
By automating tracking and verification, RI Witness reduces the risk of human error and adds an extra layer of security.
Many clinics report that this technology increases patient confidence and reduces stress, knowing that every precaution is in place to protect their treatment.
Ferticentro was also the first to introduce automated witnessing systems to Portugal, setting new standards for precision. Again, this technology is integrated into every treament, without additional costs.
Artificial intelligence in embryo selection
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising IVF by helping embryologists select the best embryos for implantation. Traditionally, embryo selection relied on visual assessment and expert judgment, which, while effective, could vary between embryologists.
Now, AI brings objective, data-driven insights to the process. By analysing time-lapse images and embryo development data, AI can predict embryo viability with incredible accuracy—spotting details that are not visible to the human eye and that even experienced embryologists might miss.
Key benefits of AI in embryo selection
Unbiased assessments:AI provides a consistent and objective evaluation of embryo quality.
Higher success rates: By identifying embryos with the best implantation potential, AI can reduce the time to pregnancy, leading to a better usage of the available embryos.
Faster and more accurate decision-making: AI can analyse large amounts of data quickly, helping embryologists make informed choices faster and more accurately.
Some AI systems even predict the likelihood of a live birth or of an embryo being euploid (having a normal chromosomal constitution), offering new hope for patients who have experienced multiple failed IVF cycles. With AI, IVF clinics can optimize success rates, making treatment more precise, efficient, and personalised for every patient.
At Ferticentro, we use AI to support our embryologists in selecting the best embryos. While the final decision is always made by the embryologist, AI provides valuable insights by analysing embryo development in detail. This helps identify the embryos with the highest potential for implantation, making the process even more precise and effective.
The future of IVF: what can we expect in the next 20 years?
While current technologies like the EmbryoScope, RI Witness, and AI are already making a significant impact, the future of IVF holds even more exciting possibilities. Researchers are working on several groundbreaking innovations that could further revolutionise fertility treatments.
Remember, these technologies are still developing. They’re being researched right now, so it’ll take some time before they’re routinely used in treatment. But we’re committed to keeping you informed about new advances that could soon benefit your journey.
In vitro gametogenesis (IVG)
One exciting breakthrough in fertility research is in vitro gametogenesis (IVG). This technique aims to create eggs and sperm from stem cells, offering hope to people who cannot produce them naturally.
For example, it could help:
Women with premature ovarian failure
Men with non-obstructive azoospermia (a condition where no sperm are found in the semen)
Although IVG is still in the early research stage, studies in animals have shown promising results. If developed for human use, this technology could open new possibilities for IVF and give more people the chance to have biological children.
Gene editing and embryo screening
New technologies like gene editing and advanced genetic testing could shape the future of IVF.
Scientists are studying CRISPR, a gene-editing tool, to see if it could correct genetic disorders in embryos before implantation. While this raises ethical concerns and is tightly regulated, it has the potential to prevent hereditary diseases.
According to SciTechDaily, a major breakthrough in early 2025 showed how gene editing could help correct trisomy at the cellular level. Scientists used CRISPR-Cas9 to successfully remove extra copies of chromosome 21 in Down syndrome cell lines, allowing the genes to function normally.
Researchers believe this could lead to future treatments, potentially helping brain cells work more effectively in people with the condition.
At the same time, improvements in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) could make screening for genetic abnormalities even more accurate. This would help increase the chances of a successful pregnancy and reduce the risk of miscarriage.
Artificial wombs
Another futuristic concept is the development of artificial wombs, which could provide an alternative to traditional gestation.
While this technology is still in its infancy, researchers believe it could one day be used to support the development of embryos outside the human body. This could be particularly beneficial for individuals with uterine abnormalities or those who are unable to carry a pregnancy to term.
Personalised treatment plans through AI and big data
In the future, AI could play an even larger role in creating personalised IVF treatment plans. By analysing data from previous cycles, genetic profiles, and other factors, AI systems could tailor treatment protocols to each individual patient, optimising outcomes and minimising risks.
We’ve come so far, but the future is even more promising future for IVF
Technology has already transformed IVF, making it more efficient, accurate, and accessible.
Innovations like the EmbryoScope, RI Witness, and AI-driven embryo selection have improved success rates and provided patients with greater peace of mind. As we look ahead, advancements in stem cell research, gene editing, and AI hold the potential to further revolutionize fertility treatments, offering hope to even more individuals and families.
The next 20 years could see IVF evolve in ways we can only imagine today, but one thing is clear: technology will continue to play a central role in helping people achieve their dreams of parenthood.
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