Researchers led by Lund University have unveiled a simple genetic test using a painless oral swab that could revolutionize IVF treatments by increasing success rates and reducing side effects. The innovative swab test determines the most suitable hormone therapy based on a woman’s genetic profile.
A new study from Lund University, published in Frontiers in Endocrinology, promises to revolutionize in vitro fertilization (IVF) by introducing a simple genetic test that significantly increases success rates and reduces severe side effects. The test aims to tailor hormone treatments according to a woman’s genetic makeup, potentially increasing pregnancy rates and live births.
About 15% of couples of reproductive age face involuntary childlessness, and many turn to IVF for assistance — a trend expected to rise globally.
“In Europe alone, 1 million IVF treatments are carried out each year; in Sweden, the corresponding number is 25,000,” lead researcher Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman, a professor at Lund University, said in a news release.
Currently, IVF involves stimulating the ovaries with powerful hormone treatments to mature eggs, which are then fertilized in a lab before being implanted back into the uterus.
But the process is fraught with risks, including serious side effects and a high failure rate. Up to 75% of IVF attempts fail, and 20% of patients experience adverse effects that can require emergency care.
“There is an over-reliance on IVF treatments,” added first author Ida Hjelmér, a laboratory researcher at Lund University. “A major challenge is that healthcare today to some extent has to guess which treatment is best for the woman.”
The researchers focused on genetics to uncover why different women respond differently to hormone treatments.
In a randomized clinical trial involving 1,466 women undergoing IVF, the team found a significant genetic marker: a variant in the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) gene. Women with this variant responded better to biological hormone treatments, while others benefited more from synthetic hormones.
By understanding a patient’s genetic profile, treatments can be personalized, thereby increasing the chances of successful pregnancy.
“We see an increase in the number of pregnancies and a relative number of 38% more babies born among women who received hormone therapy that matched their gene variation compared with those who did not,” Giwercman added.
The team has now developed an easy-to-use oral swab test that reveals the most suitable hormone treatment within an hour. The result is apparent to the naked eye as a pink or yellow color. This test paves the way for more efficient and less risky IVF treatments.
The team has filed a patent application for the test and founded a company, Dx4Life AB, to commercialize the test.
“Our hope is that this will reduce the risk of suffering for women, increase the number of successful treatments and cut costs for taxpayers,” added Giwercman, who is also the CEO of Dx4Life AB, the company founded to commercialize the test.
The team’s goal is to have the test available by early 2026.
Source: Lund University