A one-hour mouth swab may make IVF more successful—here's what hopeful parents should know
For many families, IVF is a journey filled with unknowns—and often, heartbreak. The physical toll, the emotional rollercoaster, and the financial cost can be overwhelming. But new research from Sweden offers a glimmer of hope, introducing a simple tool that could make this process more effective—and a little gentler.
A recent study from Lund University has found that a quick, non-invasive mouth swab could help doctors personalize hormone treatments for IVF, potentially boosting success rates by up to 38%. That could mean 110 more babies born for every 1,000 women treated—offering not just data, but dreams made real.
IVF, or in vitro fertilization, involves stimulating the ovaries to produce eggs, which are then retrieved, fertilized, and implanted into the uterus. It sounds straightforward—but anyone who has walked this road knows how complex it really is. One of the biggest challenges? Finding the right hormone treatment for each woman's unique biology.
Hormone treatments are used to help eggs mature before retrieval. But not all women respond the same way. And when the hormones aren't the right fit, the chances of a successful pregnancy drop, and side effects rise.
According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, while IVF births are on the rise in the U.S.—with more than 95,000 babies born via IVF in 2023—up to 75% of IVF cycles still end in failure. That's a staggering statistic, and one that researchers have been working to change.
The Lund University study looked at the genetic data of 1,466 women undergoing IVF at Skåne University Hospital in Malmö, Sweden. They discovered that a woman's genes can actually predict how well she'll respond to different hormone treatments.
One gene in particular—the FSHR gene, which plays a key role in egg maturation—was found to influence outcomes. Women with a certain variation in this gene did better with biological hormones, while those without it had better results with synthetic ones.
This led researchers to create a test: a simple mouth swab that analyzes these genetic markers and gives a clear result in just one hour. The test uses colors—pink or yellow—to indicate the most suitable hormone treatment.
Related: This woman's reaction to her friend's pregnancy reveal sheds light on the hidden grief of infertility
For families struggling with infertility, this development could be life-changing. Matching treatment to genetics helped increase IVF success by 38%. That's not just a number—it's more babies, more happy endings, and fewer cycles of emotional and physical strain.
'Our hope is that this will reduce the risk of suffering for women, increase the number of successful treatments and cut costs for taxpayers,' said Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman, CEO of the company developing the test.
Related: Why we need National Infertility Awareness Week more than ever
If you're considering IVF—or supporting someone who is—this new swab test might be a key part of the journey in the near future. It's expected to be available by 2026, and could become a standard part of IVF preparation, helping doctors offer more tailored and compassionate care.
It's a step forward that doesn't just bring new science—it brings new hope. And for every parent holding on to the dream of a child, that hope means everything.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
They spent over $200K to expand their family. Doctors say it's common for LGBTQ+ couples.
Matt Tolbert and his husband Joshua Gonzales knew they wanted kids for at least a decade. The New York thirtysomethings began their research into surrogacy and adoption and determined they'd need upwards of $100,000. 'We didn't really know how we were going to get there,' Tolbert, 36, says over a Zoom call. But as they dove into the process, they quickly discovered the cost of surrogacy in the U.S. had increased. Estimates vary, but that cost could be as high as double or triple that $100,000 they'd planned on. It's a common story among LGBTQ+ people who want to grow their families but face a medical system that was built for heterosexual couples. While decades of technological advancements have improved fertility care, there's been little change to better accommodate same-sex, transgender or nonbinary couples, said Marea Goodman, a licensed midwife and founder of PregnantTogether, a virtual community for queer and solo parents. 'The history of fertility care is based in a lot of heterosexuality,' they said. 'The same tactics that they use for heterosexual people, who have been trying to conceive at home but can't, are not appropriate for the LGBTQ folks or solo parents who are accessing those same services.' Tolbert and Gonzales face what many LGBTQ+ couples do: The fact that insurance doesn't cover their fertility journey. Until recently, most insurance companies followed the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's definition for fertility, which defined infertility as a condition in which heterosexual couples couldn't conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse. 'If you're a gay couple, you're not infertile, or you may be, but that's not the reason for you going through fertility treatments,' Tolbert added. In October 2023, the organization expanded that definition to include all patients who require intervention. About two dozen states have laws mandating private insurers to cover fertility treatments, according to a KFF database. However, only Colorado, Illinois, Maine and Washington, D.C. explicitly include LGBTQ+ people. California's new law, which goes into effect July 2025, mandates coverage for IVF and expands the definition of infertility to include LGBTQ+ people. It would only apply to larger companies with more than 100 employees. Still, it's a step in the right direction, said Dr. Mickey Coffler, reproductive endocrinologist at HRC Fertility, a network of fertility clinics in California. 'We are responsible as providers to do the best in our abilities to educate patients and make them aware of their rights because this new state bill is quite revolutionary and it's going to be very helpful,' he said. Pride Month: What is it and why is it celebrated in June? Between July 2024 and February 2025, Tolbert and Gonzales underwent fertility and tested for sexually transmitted infections ($652); flew to Mexico and made semen deposits ($2,380); selected an egg donor with enough frozen eggs for two IVF journeys; and made embryo transfers. Today, one of the couple's surrogate is 18 weeks along and the other nine weeks. Tolbert and Gonzales used the same egg donor so their children would be half-siblings. The fees for their agency, donor, surrogates and other medical fees tallied $118,295, and overall, they spent $143,538 with an additional expected $78,028 for a total of $221,566. A limited supply of egg and sperm donors, and surrogates is also partly driving rising costs for LGBTQ+ people, Coffler said. American families are also competing with international families who are seeking similar services in the U.S. Rising fees "has become a huge barrier for these patients to be able to afford those services,' he said. Despite the mounting costs, Tolbert and Gonzales are excited to build their family. In the meantime, they aim to showcase their journey and educate their followers along the way. 'We're sharing this not for sympathy, but for transparency,' Tolbert said in a recent TikTok video, 'and for those of you exploring similar paths to have a real-world example. Every journey is unique, and costs can vary wildly, but knowledge is power.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Infertility, IVF: How LGBTQ couples navigate a heterosexual system
USA Today
9 hours ago
- USA Today
They spent over $200K to expand their family. Doctors say it's common for LGBTQ+ couples.
They spent over $200K to expand their family. Doctors say it's common for LGBTQ+ couples. Show Caption Hide Caption West Hollywood Pride parade kicks off in colorful fashion West Hollywood held its annual pride parade in vibrant fashion. Matt Tolbert and his husband Joshua Gonzales knew they wanted kids for at least a decade. The New York thirtysomethings began their research into surrogacy and adoption and determined they'd need upwards of $100,000. 'We didn't really know how we were going to get there,' Tolbert, 36, says over a Zoom call. But as they dove into the process, they quickly discovered the cost of surrogacy in the U.S. had increased. Estimates vary, but that cost could be as high as double or triple that $100,000 they'd planned on. It's a common story among LGBTQ+ people who want to grow their families but face a medical system that was built for heterosexual couples. While decades of technological advancements have improved fertility care, there's been little change to better accommodate same-sex, transgender or nonbinary couples, said Marea Goodman, a licensed midwife and founder of PregnantTogether, a virtual community for queer and solo parents. 'The history of fertility care is based in a lot of heterosexuality,' they said. 'The same tactics that they use for heterosexual people, who have been trying to conceive at home but can't, are not appropriate for the LGBTQ folks or solo parents who are accessing those same services.' Tolbert and Gonzales face what many LGBTQ+ couples do: The fact that insurance doesn't cover their fertility journey. Until recently, most insurance companies followed the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's definition for fertility, which defined infertility as a condition in which heterosexual couples couldn't conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse. 'If you're a gay couple, you're not infertile, or you may be, but that's not the reason for you going through fertility treatments,' Tolbert added. In October 2023, the organization expanded that definition to include all patients who require intervention. About two dozen states have laws mandating private insurers to cover fertility treatments, according to a KFF database. However, only Colorado, Illinois, Maine and Washington, D.C. explicitly include LGBTQ+ people. California's new law, which goes into effect July 2025, mandates coverage for IVF and expands the definition of infertility to include LGBTQ+ people. It would only apply to larger companies with more than 100 employees. Still, it's a step in the right direction, said Dr. Mickey Coffler, reproductive endocrinologist at HRC Fertility, a network of fertility clinics in California. 'We are responsible as providers to do the best in our abilities to educate patients and make them aware of their rights because this new state bill is quite revolutionary and it's going to be very helpful,' he said. Pride Month: What is it and why is it celebrated in June? Between July 2024 and February 2025, Tolbert and Gonzales underwent fertility and tested for sexually transmitted infections ($652); flew to Mexico and made semen deposits ($2,380); selected an egg donor with enough frozen eggs for two IVF journeys; and made embryo transfers. Today, one of the couple's surrogate is 18 weeks along and the other nine weeks. Tolbert and Gonzalez used the same egg donor so their children would be half-siblings. The fees for their agency, donor, surrogates and other medical fees tallied $118,295, and overall, they spent $143,538 with an additional expected $78,028 for a total of $221,566. A limited supply of egg and sperm donors, and surrogates is also partly driving rising costs for LGBTQ+ people, Coffler said. American families are also competing with international families who are seeking similar services in the U.S. Rising fees "has become a huge barrier for these patients to be able to afford those services,' he said. Despite the mounting costs, Tolbert and Gonzales are excited to build their family. In the meantime, they aim to showcase their journey and educate their followers along the way. 'We're sharing this not for sympathy, but for transparency,' Tolbert said in a recent TikTok video, 'and for those of you exploring similar paths to have a real-world example. Every journey is unique, and costs can vary wildly, but knowledge is power.' Adrianna Rodriguez can be reached at adrodriguez@
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Yahoo
A one-hour mouth swab may make IVF more successful—here's what hopeful parents should know
For many families, IVF is a journey filled with unknowns—and often, heartbreak. The physical toll, the emotional rollercoaster, and the financial cost can be overwhelming. But new research from Sweden offers a glimmer of hope, introducing a simple tool that could make this process more effective—and a little gentler. A recent study from Lund University has found that a quick, non-invasive mouth swab could help doctors personalize hormone treatments for IVF, potentially boosting success rates by up to 38%. That could mean 110 more babies born for every 1,000 women treated—offering not just data, but dreams made real. IVF, or in vitro fertilization, involves stimulating the ovaries to produce eggs, which are then retrieved, fertilized, and implanted into the uterus. It sounds straightforward—but anyone who has walked this road knows how complex it really is. One of the biggest challenges? Finding the right hormone treatment for each woman's unique biology. Hormone treatments are used to help eggs mature before retrieval. But not all women respond the same way. And when the hormones aren't the right fit, the chances of a successful pregnancy drop, and side effects rise. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, while IVF births are on the rise in the U.S.—with more than 95,000 babies born via IVF in 2023—up to 75% of IVF cycles still end in failure. That's a staggering statistic, and one that researchers have been working to change. The Lund University study looked at the genetic data of 1,466 women undergoing IVF at Skåne University Hospital in Malmö, Sweden. They discovered that a woman's genes can actually predict how well she'll respond to different hormone treatments. One gene in particular—the FSHR gene, which plays a key role in egg maturation—was found to influence outcomes. Women with a certain variation in this gene did better with biological hormones, while those without it had better results with synthetic ones. This led researchers to create a test: a simple mouth swab that analyzes these genetic markers and gives a clear result in just one hour. The test uses colors—pink or yellow—to indicate the most suitable hormone treatment. Related: This woman's reaction to her friend's pregnancy reveal sheds light on the hidden grief of infertility For families struggling with infertility, this development could be life-changing. Matching treatment to genetics helped increase IVF success by 38%. That's not just a number—it's more babies, more happy endings, and fewer cycles of emotional and physical strain. 'Our hope is that this will reduce the risk of suffering for women, increase the number of successful treatments and cut costs for taxpayers,' said Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman, CEO of the company developing the test. Related: Why we need National Infertility Awareness Week more than ever If you're considering IVF—or supporting someone who is—this new swab test might be a key part of the journey in the near future. It's expected to be available by 2026, and could become a standard part of IVF preparation, helping doctors offer more tailored and compassionate care. It's a step forward that doesn't just bring new science—it brings new hope. And for every parent holding on to the dream of a child, that hope means everything.
