Virtual fertility clinic, Apricity has launched an online fertility predictor tool designed to predict a woman's chances of conceiving naturally based on information input about her lifestyle choices.

The tool combines a woman’s age with questions about her lifestyle choices via a short quiz in order to predict her chances of conceiving naturally, with the result displayed as a percentage.

Users can then see how that percentage would change on the back of lifestyle changes.

WHY IT MATTERS

The online fertility tool is designed for women to learn how their lifestyle might be affecting their chances of falling pregnant.

The tool’s findings takes into consideration factors such as weekly alcohol intake, smoking habits and body mass index.

The platform found that, weight makes a big difference: for women with a BMI greater than 25, losing just seven kilograms can increase chances of pregnancy by almost 60%. 

Drinking less than four drinks per week can increase chances of pregnancy by almost one fifth (19%) and quitting smoking can increase chances of pregnancy by almost half (49%).

Quitting smoking can increase your chance of pregnancy by almost half (49%)

THE LARGER CONTEXT

Fertility tech has shown to pose significant market opportunities for the future, with an Octopus report indicating that fertility focused startups have raised $2.2 billion in the last five years.

Last month, femtech company Lady Technologies announced the launch of its FDA-registered fertility tracking and pelvic floor exercising device called kegg.

Also in the same space, femtech hypnotherapy company Clementine recently raised £1 million. Fortunis Capital awarded the company a place in its top 20 UK Impact Investment Fund.

ON THE RECORD

Dr Mara Kotrotsou, leading fertility doctor and Apricity’s chief medical officer, said: “Doctors often struggle to have frank discussions with patients about the impact of weight on the chances of pregnancy. In reality, being outside of a healthy BMI can cause hormonal imbalances that interfere with female cycles, normal development of eggs and implantation of embryos.

"Our fertility predictor has found that losing just 6 or 7 kilos to reach a BMI that’s in the healthy range can increase the chance of pregnancy by more than half, which is very significant. We want hopeful couples to use the tool as motivation that some small lifestyle changes can dramatically increase their chances of conceiving.”