Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, May 13: In a groundbreaking development that could transform fertility treatment across the globe, Swedish researchers have unveiled a new oral swab test that may significantly improve the success rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. The test, which provides results in under an hour, helps determine the most suitable hormone therapy for women undergoing IVF—thereby enhancing pregnancy outcomes and reducing health risks.
IVF is a widely used fertility treatment where a woman’s eggs are matured through hormone therapy, retrieved, fertilised in a lab, and later implanted in the uterus. However, selecting the appropriate hormone therapy—biological or synthetic—has long been a challenge, often leading to unsuccessful cycles and, in some cases, severe side effects that require intensive medical care.
To address this concern, researchers at Lund University in Sweden, led by Prof. Yvonne Lundberg Giwercman, developed a cost-effective and time-efficient oral swab test that indicates which hormone therapy would yield the best response based on the individual’s genetic profile.
“Our hope is that this will reduce the suffering for women, increase successful IVF outcomes, and also lower the financial burden on healthcare systems. We aim to make the test accessible by early 2026,” said Prof. Giwercman, expressing optimism about the clinical impact of the innovation.
The research involved 1,466 women undergoing IVF across Sweden. Of these, 475 were randomly assigned to receive different hormone therapies, while the rest served as controls. Through gene sequencing, the team focused on the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and its receptor (FSHR) gene, which plays a pivotal role in egg maturation.
The study found that women with a specific variant of the FSH receptor gene responded more positively to biological hormones, while others benefitted more from the synthetic version. With the oral swab test, researchers could now swiftly identify this genetic variant, displaying the result visually in pink or yellow within an hour.
According to the study published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology, the innovation promises a new chapter in IVF care—offering personalized hormone therapy, minimizing unnecessary side effects, and improving the chances of conception for aspiring parents worldwide.
The simple test, affordable and easy to administer, stands poised to bring hope to thousands of couples facing fertility challenges, potentially revolutionising IVF protocols not just in Sweden, but around the world.