Will IVF Lab Technology Beat Human Embryologists? | Dr Richard Paulson (Former ASRM President)

If you’re doing IVF or thinking about it, will more technology in the lab actually be better than a human embryologist handling your eggs and embryos – and what do two new breakthroughs mean for your chances?

In this episode of Building Your Family, I’m joined by Dr Richard Paulson, former president of ASRM and early IVF pioneer, to unpack what’s really happening behind the lab door: automation, AI, robotics, and why the lab may matter more than almost anything else for your IVF success rates and safety.

We cover:

How IVF labs have evolved since the 1980s and why embryology is so sensitiveWhere technology, AI and automation are already helping embryologistsA new system that finds extra oocytes humans miss in follicular fluidWhat “automated day‑0” actually means and why it could be a turning pointHow these advances might change success rates, safety and standardization2–3 smart questions to ask your clinic about their lab and technologyWhat an IVF lab could look like 10–15 years from nowWhether you’re in the middle of IVF or just starting to research fertility treatment, this episode is designed to translate complex lab science into clear, humane decisions about your reproductive health and reproductive freedom.

Chapters:00:00 Introduction to IVF and Technological Advances02:15 Historical Context of IVF04:50 The Role of the Laboratory in IVF07:21 Automation and Future of IVF10:55 Recent Advances in IVF Technology20:04 Finding More Oocytes in Follicular Fluid25:47 Implications for Success Rates in IVF26:16 Practical Applications for Patients31:27 Safety and Reliability in IVF Technology33:36 Conclusion and Future Outlook

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Episode resources

School USC: https://keck.usc.edu/faculty-search/richard-j-paulson/Medicine USC: https://www.keckmedicine.org/provider/richard-j-paulson/F&S Reports: https://www.fertstertreports.org/