“OvulaRing can prevent unnecessary IVF treatments” – Exclusive interview with Prof. H. Alexander, MD.

Behind OvulaRing is the team at VivoSensMedical, a young company based in Leipzig. Its work is grounded in more than 40 years of medical research conducted by its co-founder Prof. Dr. Henry Alexander. He is one of Europe’s leading reproductive medicine specialists and was responsible for one of the first IVF babies born in Germany. The vision: To use OvulaRing to advance diagnostics in the field of Women’s Health to bring about lasting change—moving away from standard therapies and toward personalized, individualized, and thus more effective treatments, with reduced costs and side effects.

Note: This interview is intended to provide information and context. It is not a substitute for medical advice or a medical diagnosis. Please consult a fertility clinic for personalized advice on diagnostic and treatment options (including IVF).

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Quick Summary: Key Points from the Interview

• In Vitro Fertilization & ICSI: IVF was originally developed primarily for women with blocked fallopian tubes; today, it is also used for other indications (e.g., “unexplained infertility,” male factor infertility/ICSI).
• Consider conservative options before IVF: If medically feasible, less invasive treatments (e.g., ovulation induction, insemination) should be exhausted before proceeding with in vitro fertilization.
• Menstrual cycle tracking helps make decisions more personalized: Objective tracking of fertility patterns (e.g., the timing of ovulation) can help to better personalize diagnosis and treatment.
• Natural pregnancies are still possible in some cases: Even after unsuccessful IVF, spontaneous pregnancies can occur; monitoring the menstrual cycle can be helpful in this regard.

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Our Interview with Prof. Dr. Henry Alexander

Prof. Alexander, do you still remember your first IVF treatment?

The world’s first birth following a successful IVF—that of Louise Brown—took place in July 1978. In Leipzig, in the early 1980s, we were among the first German clinics to begin offering this specialized treatment. At that time, egg retrieval was still performed via laparoscopy. In 1984, we were able to report our first birth following IVF. That was, of course, a very exciting and busy time! The main challenge was creating the right culture conditions outside the uterus. We had to gain a lot of experience, which we shared with other centers. Today, more than 20,000 children are born annually in Germany as a result of IVF.

For which women was IVF actually developed?

IVF was actually developed for women with blocked or removed fallopian tubes. Today, so-called unexplained infertility is also considered an indication for IVF treatment. Since the 1990s, male infertility has been addressed as a treatment option through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Can artificial insemination harm the children?

IVF treatment has been available for a good 40 years now. To date, over 8 million children have been born worldwide as a result. Children conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) have always been under special monitoring, and only a few abnormalities (e.g., a slightly increased risk of cancer, skin conditions) have been reported so far. However, over the past two years, the results of more recent studies have been published. These studies report on older individuals conceived through IVF who were already suffering from high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and prematurely aged blood vessels during their teenage years. All these findings underscore the necessity of ensuring that all conservative treatment options—such as ovulation induction and insemination—are exhausted before proceeding with ART.

Women must be fully informed about the risks of the treatment, including the risks to children conceived through IVF. If there are no other treatment options available, women must decide whether they are willing to take that risk. However, the doctor should always verify that all possibilities for so-called conservative treatment—that is, treatment without IVF—have been exhausted.

Can OvulaRing help prevent premature IVF?

Yes! Thanks to modern diagnostic methods Thanks to OvulaRing, it is now possible to gain more accurate insights into women’s menstrual health. Core body temperature is used as a biomarker for this purpose. Individual Fertility Patterns indicate exactly when the Ovulation takes place. Doctors can use this knowledge to determine, prior to in vitro fertilization, when follicular aspiration is indicated.  A low-dose, carefully planned, and tailored IVF treatment could therefore be the way forward to reduce side effects and costs. Until now, there has been no method for objectively tracking a woman’s menstrual cycle. With the new capabilities of OvulaRing, objective measurement of the cycle is now possible, whereby the cycle and Fertility Testing is created using a cyclofertilogram (CFG).

A conservative, less invasive fertility treatment is often not pursued. This is justified by the argument that women are impatient and have been trying for a very long time to Desire to Have Children However, this should not lead fertility specialists to rush into artificial insemination. OvulaRing can help prevent premature IVF by reliably detecting both early and late ovulation. As a result, pregnancy through natural means is possible in many cases, making IVF treatment unnecessary.

How can OvulaRing support IVF?

By continuously and objectively tracking the female cycle (cyclofertilogram), OvulaRing enables personalized diagnostics and can thus support individualized IVF treatment. Women should always undergo a thorough examination before a decision is made regarding the type of treatment. This should definitely include OvulaRing diagnostics.

Until now, however, IVF has not taken a woman’s cycle biology into account. This should be a thing of the past, as success rates can be significantly increased by considering individual cycle patterns. Women with a short cycle and early ovulation should be stimulated and treated differently than those with a long cycle and late ovulation.

Is it possible to get pregnant naturally despite unsuccessful IVF?

Of course! Experience shows that spontaneous pregnancies can occur even after previous rounds of artificial insemination. The OvulaRing can be a valuable aid in this process. Many success stories from grateful women show that even after a long and unsuccessful course of artificial insemination, using the OvulaRing getting pregnant naturally have become.

Prof. Alexander, thank you very much for this interesting conversation!

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FAQ: IVF, Alternatives, and Next Steps

For whom is IVF medically indicated?

IVF is typically used when the fallopian tubes are blocked or have been removed. Depending on the findings, IVF/ICSI may also be considered for other causes (e.g., male factor, certain forms of “unexplained infertility”). Whether IVF is appropriate always depends on diagnostic findings, medical history, age, and individual factors.

What conservative treatment options are available before IVF?

Before undergoing IVF—depending on the cause and test results—less invasive options are often worth considering, such as cycle optimization/ovulation induction and insemination. The appropriate medical steps should be determined during a fertility consultation based on the diagnostic findings.

What role does cycle monitoring play in fertility treatment?

Structured cycle monitoring can help better determine the timing of ovulation and identify individual patterns. This can facilitate discussions about appropriate treatment steps and allow for more personalized treatment plans.

What risks or side effects should be discussed before IVF/ART?

Before starting ART, it is important that patients are informed about the challenges, side effects, and potential risks. It is advisable to discuss the current state of research, individual risk factors, and what alternatives are (still) available.

What questions should I ask at the fertility clinic?

• What are the diagnoses—and how reliable are they?
• What treatment options are available for me before IVF/ICSI?
• What are my chances of success (by age) — and over what time period or cycle?
• What risks and side effects are relevant, and how are they monitored?
• What does the treatment plan entail (timeline, tests, costs, steps to take if the treatment is “unsuccessful”)?

How can I tell if I should get a second opinion?

If you feel pressured, if the rationale for IVF/ICSI remains unclear, if conservative options haven’t been thoroughly evaluated, or if you aren’t getting answers to important questions, a second opinion can help.