Oral Swab Test May Boost IVF Success and Reduce Side Effects: Study Finds

The study revealed that women with a specific FSHR gene variant responded better to biological hormone treatments, while others benefited more from synthetic alternatives. Tailoring hormone therapy to a woman’s genetic makeup resulted in significantly higher pregnancy rates.

To make this approach practical and cost-effective, the team developed a simple oral swab test that determines the most suitable hormone treatment within an hour. The result is visible to the naked eye as a pink or yellow color. The test is expected to be commercially available by early 2026.

"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. This means that for every 1,000 women undergoing IVF treatment, the equivalent of four more school classes are born: 110 more babies," says Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman, professor at Lund University who led the research. She has been researching fertility in both men and women for many years.

Researchers hope the test will improve IVF outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and spare women unnecessary physical and emotional strain.

References: https://www.lunduniversity.lu.se/article/higher-success-rate-using-simple-oral-swab-test-ivf