How Tech Will Change Fertility
The U.S. birth rate has fallen to a record 1.73 births per mother.
Most importantly, it reflects changing times, with more mothers giving birth for the first time in their 30s or 40s than in their 20s. Changing times are driving demand for fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and egg freezing, and birth rates will rise again if these treatments are effective.
However, the average success rate for fertility treatment today is still less than 50%, accounting for only 2% of live births. So the question remains: How will the industry measure up?
This is where technology comes into play.
1. Create access
Access to reproductive health care is hindered today by indirect and primary costs. Indirect costs include the significant amount of time spent researching and finding solutions, as well as arranging appointments, not to mention the time spent administering the treatment itself.
Then there’s the base cost. The average IVF cycle costs about $20,000, and in most cases, this is an out-of-pocket expense not covered by insurance.
Technology will address overhead costs by creating less disruptive ways to access information, including but not limited to online ordering, digital consultations that cancel outpatient visits, and outpatient treatment. Includes automatic pairing and booking. These services will reduce friction when receiving care.
Like most medical services, telehealth will help replace doctor visits where possible, reducing costs and providing better care.
Speaking of basic costs, here comes the financial innovation. There are already many fertility loan solutions online, which will give way to more personalized and innovative fertility financial products as the industry develops.
2. Create a better experience
As with much of healthcare, the promise of technology is a better user experience (UX), both figuratively and literally. Technology can personalize care and ensure continuity of experience, not to mention 24/7 support.
The experience today is very impersonal and mostly self-administered outside of the doctor’s office, including medication administration. With a telehealth layer and digital journey, customers can connect and receive on-demand support from the app of their choice. They can access their personal fertility information, profiles and files in one place. Partners will be able to share information and combine your information to create a holistic picture. Patients will be equipped with reminders and medication tracking to ensure they are following their fertility treatment plan, increasing their effectiveness. Finding an egg or embryo donor or surrogate will be a simple numerical comparison exercise rather than the manual process that exists today.
3. Consequences of actions
Last but not least, the most important way in which technology changes fertility is by affecting outcomes.
Big data is coming to fertility, which will allow us to analyze data to predict which options will be most effective based on the many factors that make up an individual’s fertility profile, including age, race, and medical history. .
Big data will also improve medical decision-making. The data will be used to train algorithms to improve the timing of procedures such as egg retrieval, embryo selection and implantation.
A second, less obvious way in which technology alters outcomes is by bending the cost curve in place of probability of success. It turns out that the financial part is as important to the result as t
