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Tel Aviv University researchers have developed a groundbreaking fertility technology that significantly boosts the success rates of in vitro fertilization (IVF), offering renewed hope to couples struggling with infertility.
The innovative method, which enhances sperm selection, has demonstrated a dramatic increase in pregnancy rates—from 34% to 65%—marking a potential paradigm shift in fertility treatments worldwide.
Early clinical data highlights the efficacy of the technology, with 20 successful pregnancies achieved from just 31 embryo transfers. This is a significant improvement over the 14 pregnancies from 41 transfers recorded in the control group.
The success stems from a precise and advanced approach to selecting the highest-quality sperm cells based on World Health Organization criteria, ensuring improved fertilization and healthier pregnancies.
Developed in the lab of Natan T. Shaked, chair of Tel Aviv University’s Biomedical Engineering Department, the technology has gained recognition in esteemed scientific journals such as Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Advanced Science, and Fertility and Sterility.
Shaked expressed his astonishment at the results. “We knew sperm selection was important, but nearly doubling the success rate of IVF exceeded our expectations. This proves sperm selection is a much more critical factor than previously believed,” he said.
Infertility affects millions globally, with sperm quality contributing to nearly half of all cases. Traditional IVF techniques primarily focus on egg selection, as sperm assessment methods have remained rudimentary.
“Until now, sperm selection was mostly based on movement and basic shape. But key factors like internal structure and DNA integrity were nearly impossible to assess without damaging the cells,” Shaked explained.
The Tel Aviv University team overcame this challenge by developing an optical imaging technique that evaluates sperm in real time without the need for chemical staining, which would render the cells unusable.
Using light interference and holography, the technology simultaneously assesses three crucial sperm parameters: internal morphology, motility, and DNA fragmentation.
This allows clinicians to select only the highest-quality sperm for fertilization, significantly increasing the chances of a successful pregnancy.
The technology is being commercialized through QART Medical, a startup co-founded by Shaked and CEO Alon Shalev. Clinical trials are currently underway in five Israeli hospitals—Barzilai, Meir, Assuta, HaEmek, and Galilee—as well as at UCSF Medical Center in California and the University of Tokyo Hospital in Japan.
These international collaborations aim to validate the technology across different medical environments.
Shalev described the system as a next-generation microscope utilizing 3D holographic imaging, allowing embryologists to see the full internal structure of sperm cells in real time. “Clinicians who hear about our results say it sounds too good to be true,” he said.
Beyond its current success, QART Medical is working on automating the sperm selection process to eliminate human bias and further improve precision.
“Right now, embryologists use our device to make informed choices. In the future, the system will select the best sperm cells automatically,” Shalev explained.
With its early success and promising future developments, the technology is poised to revolutionize fertility treatments, giving new hope to couples worldwide.
“We are giving embryologists a new way to see sperm—like giving them glasses that reveal the invisible,” Shaked said. “This will not only increase pregnancy chances but also improve the health of babies born through IVF.”
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members