The Future Use of AI to Improve Accessibility of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Mendizabal-Ruiz et al., 2025
In many developing countries, fertility treatments remain out of reach due to high costs, lack of specialized facilities, and cultural barriers. This comprehensive review examines how artificial intelligence and automation could help overcome these obstacles and democratize access to fertility care.
The authors analyze how AI could improve each step of fertility treatment, from selecting the best embryos and analyzing sperm to planning personalized treatments, while reducing the need for highly specialized expertise. They discuss how automation could streamline laboratory procedures, potentially enabling smaller clinics with fewer resources to offer IVF services.
The paper also addresses critical challenges, including the risk of AI systems trained on data from wealthy populations not working well for diverse populations, ensuring equitable access to these technologies, and respecting cultural sensitivities around fertility.
The authors conclude that while AI and automation offer tremendous potential to expand fertility care access, their implementation must be carefully managed to ensure they reduce rather than widen existing healthcare disparities.