Banner by Sarah Lindley

Conceiving the Future: Startups Revolutionizing IVF

by Abigail Glezer

For millions yearning to build a family, in vitro fertilization—or IVF—is much more than a scientific breakthrough. It serves as a lifeline to a dream that may have otherwise appeared unattainable. This revolutionary fertility treatment, which fertilizes a mature egg outside the body before implantation, has given hope to those facing infertility due to medical, genetic, or unexplained reasons. But while IVF represents a triumph of modern medicine, the journey remains challenging physically, emotionally, and financially. Fortunately, the fertility landscape is rapidly evolving, with the coming years poised to bring transformative innovations that could reshape the future of reproductive health care.

The story of IVF begins in the early twentieth century, with the discovery of the hormone estrogen. Decades of relentless research followed, culminating in the birth of Louise Joy Brown in 1978, the world’s first IVF baby. Since then, over eight million babies have been born through IVF, a testament to the power of medical progress. However, the cost and physical demands of IVF have often placed it out of reach for many hopeful parents. Today, a wave of trailblazing companies is rewriting this narrative, making fertility care more accessible, less invasive, and more aligned with the lives of modern women.

Take Cofertility, a company tackling one of the biggest barriers to fertility: cost. With the growing trend of women delaying childbirth for career and personal aspirations, egg freezing has become a crucial option in not having to choose separate paths between family and self. Yet, at $8,000 to $15,000 per cycle, it remains financially unattainable for many at the very window of age where egg-freezing is most beneficial. Cofertility’s solution is the innovative Split program, which allows women between the ages of 21 and 30 to freeze their eggs for free if they are willing to donate half to families in need. This empathetic, human-centered approach bridges two communities—giving aspiring parents a chance, while enabling young women to take control of their reproductive futures. As one participant shared, “Helping someone who wants to be a parent so badly conceive is truly life-changing. Cofertility gave me the opportunity to make a difference while preserving my own fertility.”

However, even after overcoming financial hurdles, the IVF process itself is grueling. Hormonal injections over multiple weeks can lead to pain, mood swings, and severe side effects. The burden is immense, but a biotech startup called Gameto is rewriting the rules and putting women’s experiences first with groundbreaking science. Their Fertilo technology uses stem cell-based lab-grown ovary cells to mature eggs outside the body, reducing the need for high-dose hormone treatments. This innovation could shorten IVF and egg-freezing cycles from fourteen days to just three. Dina Radenkovic, Gameto’s CEO, personally enrolled in her startup’s human trials, a testament to her dedication to making IVF safer and more accessible. In December 2024, the world’s first baby conceived through Fertilo was born, marking a pivotal moment in fertility science. Dr. Luis Guzman, who oversaw the historic IVF cycle, remarked, “The ability to mature eggs outside the body with minimal hormonal intervention significantly reduces risks such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome and alleviates the side effects caused by high hormone doses. Fertilo is a major advancement for women who cannot tolerate or do not want to undergo the burden of the traditional IVF protocol, bringing hope and new possibilities to a broader patient population.”

These advancements signal a new era in reproductive medicine, one where science, empathy, and accessibility intersect to bring life-changing possibilities to more people than ever before. The future of fertility is not just about conception; it is about empowering individuals to make choices that align with their dreams, health, and well-being. As we move into 2025, one thing is clear: the journey to parenthood is evolving, and innovation is leading the way.