The objective of the new saliva test is to reduce IVF side effects and improve pregnancy rate
A new genetic test using a person’s saliva can personalize hormone therapy to improve the success rate of the IVF process.
According to a new study by a simple saliva test Swedish researchers, IVF may help improve the possibility.
The findings published in the peer-reviewed frontiers in endocrinology have found that a genetic testing may reduce harmful side effects for women undergoing reproductive processes.
Proven, led by Yavon Lundberg Givaraman of Lund University, research states how individual hormone therapy based on genetic makeup of a woman can cause more successful pregnancies.
About 15% of the pairs of reproductive age struggle with infertility. The increasing number of people is postponing paternity, causing a sharp increase in aided reproductive methods such as IVF.
However, IVF treatment comes with challenges. The process involves hormone therapy to encourage egg production, but about 75% efforts of IVF fail.
Women experience side effects up to 20%, some require emergency care.
“One major issue is that doctors currently have to guess which hormone treatment is best for every woman,” said Ida Hazelmer, the first writer of the study and a laboratory researcher at Lund University.
To find a solution, the team analyzed the genes of 1,466 women passing through IVF.
They discovered that women with a specific version of the FSH receptor genes gave better reply to organic hormones, while others improved with synthetic hormones.
By matching treatment with genetic types, success rates improved significantly.
“We saw an increase of 38% in births among women who received hormone therapy that matched their gene variation. It is 110 more children for the treatment of every 1,000 women,” Givaraman said.
To make this process faster and more accessible, the team developed a simple oral swab test that shows the ideal hormone treatment within an hour, which appears as a pink or yellow result.
The test is expected to be available in early 2026, Givaraman also said, which is also the CEO of the company that has developed the Oral Swab test.
Researchers have applied for a patent and launched a company, DX4Life AB to bring the product to the market.
They hope that the test will lead to more successful IVF results, reducing the cost of health risks and health care.
