The new technology offers a faster, safer, and more affordable alternative to traditional artificial insemination.
The new technology offers a faster, safer, and more affordable alternative to traditional artificial insemination.
The world's first child conceived using Fertilo's new technology has been born, writes Interesting Engineering.
A new fertilization technology developed by Gameto uses stem cells to help embryos mature outside the body.
Since the birth of the world’s first “test tube baby” in 1978, in vitro fertilization (IVF) has become a common treatment for couples struggling with infertility. While IVF has helped millions of people become parents, it has its challenges. The process can be long, expensive, and emotionally draining. It also carries risks, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which causes painful swelling of the ovaries.
During the Fertilo procedure, instead of relying on hormone injections to mature eggs, ovarian support cells (OSCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are used to help immature eggs mature in the laboratory.
This method mimics the natural process of egg maturation, making the procedure faster and less invasive. “With fewer injections and a gentler, less invasive egg retrieval process, it has given me hope and reassurance during a deeply personal journey,” said the baby’s mother.
A 2023 study found that Fertilo significantly improved egg maturation and embryo formation. Gameto claims that their method eliminates 80% of the hormone injections required in traditional IVF and shortens the treatment cycle to three days.
The first live birth using the Fertilo method took place in Lima, Peru, at the Santa Isabel Clinic. The procedure is now approved in several countries, including Australia, Japan, Argentina, Paraguay, Mexico, and Peru. Gameto is also preparing for a third phase of trials in the United States, which could make the technology more accessible to a wider range of people.
