AI and Genetic Testing: Enhancing IVF Success

TL;DR: “AI in IVF” typically means software that helps clinics analyze and organize lab data (often embryo images) to support more consistent assessments. Genetic testing (often called PGT) can provide additional information about embryos created through IVF, but it isn’t required for everyone and it does not guarantee pregnancy. If you’re an intended parent considering surrogacy, these decisions usually happen before embryo transfer and can affect timeline, budget, and clinic protocols.

What people mean by “AI in IVF”

AI is used differently depending on the clinic and embryology lab. In practice, it’s most often a decision-support tool (not an automated “replacement” for clinical judgment).

Common examples include:

• Embryo image analysis: helps standardize observations from embryo images (including time-lapse systems in some labs).
• Prediction models: supports risk/benefit discussions by summarizing patterns from lab and patient data.
• Quality control and lab workflow: flags outliers and helps teams track consistency across procedures.

If a clinic says they use “AI,” ask what system they use and what decisions it influences (and what it doesn’t).

What genetic testing can do (and what it can’t)

Genetic testing in IVF is commonly discussed under the umbrella of PGT (preimplantation genetic testing). It may be recommended depending on medical history, age-related considerations, or known genetic risks.

High-level takeaways:

• PGT is optional in many IVF plans.
• Different types of PGT exist (your clinic can explain which applies).
• Results are information, not certainty. A “normal” result doesn’t guarantee pregnancy, and an “abnormal” result doesn’t always mean an embryo could never lead to a healthy birth.

If you’re evaluating PGT, prioritize a clear discussion of:

• what question the test is trying to answer,
• what the limitations are,
• how results change your transfer plan.

How this connects to surrogacy journeys

If you’re pursuing gestational surrogacy, embryo creation and any embryo testing generally happen before embryo transfer to the surrogate. That means:

• Embryo planning can influence when you can match and schedule the medical cycle.
• Testing can affect the number of embryos available for transfer, which may affect how you plan for future siblings.
• Your IVF clinic, legal team, and agency may coordinate around timing and documentation.

You can explore how the overall journey fits together here:

• Intended parents process: /intended-parents/process
• Surrogacy overview: /surrogacy

Questions to ask your clinic (practical checklist)

• Which AI tools do you use (if any), and how do they influence embryo selection discussions?
• If you recommend PGT, which type and why?
• What are the limitations of the test you’re proposing, and what outcomes can’t it predict?
• How will results change your transfer strategy?
• How does testing affect timeline and cost?
• If we’re pursuing surrogacy, what does coordination look like between your clinic and the surrogate’s monitoring clinic?

Next steps

If you’re early in planning, focus on building a coherent plan across medical, legal, and logistical steps:

1. Clarify your medical goals with a fertility specialist.
2. Align your embryo plan with your intended-parent/surrogacy timeline.
3. Use clear documentation and ask for written summaries of recommendations.

If you want help mapping your journey, contact Patriot Conceptions.