S迟补谤迟-耻辫听叠茅补听Fertility has raised 拢800,000听迟辞听launch听a pioneering at-home fertility treatment.听
Founded by embryologist David O鈥橰ourke and听FemTech听specialist Tess听Cosad, the听FemTech, based in London, aims to make fertility treatments more affordable.听
The round was led by Calm/Storm VC and joined by Q Ventures.听It听includes an innovation grant from the recent听InnovateUK听SMART competition.听听
Currently, the next step for those who are unable to conceive naturally is to receive either Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) or In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) treatments at a fertility clinic; interventions which can take a physical and emotional toll on those involved听and听also present a financial burden.听听
Whilst some people are eligible for initial IVF treatments through the NHS, this provision is patchy and contingent on meeting a range of criteria. Those who don鈥檛 qualify or who need to听continue on听their conception journey after that point must cover the costs themselves.听听
One cycle of IVF can cost upwards of 拢5,000 and one IUI treatment can cost upwards of 拢1,500.听听
The听叠茅补听product, set to launch later this year,听will enable couples to carry out听鈥�IntraCervical听Insemination鈥�听at home.听叠茅补鈥檚听ICI method involves placing a small cup of semen close to the cervix, where it鈥檚 left in-situ for 4-12 hours. During that time, women can go about their days normally.听听
Following over 90 design iterations led by some of the UK鈥檚 leading embryologists, the听叠茅补听team believes听its听method will improve the chances of conception by 40% if used over听three听months, and by as much as 60% if used over听six听months.听听
It says the ICI method has been scientifically proven to have similar efficacy rates to IUI treatments.听听
叠茅补听Fertility will operate on a monthly subscription basis, providing users with two ICI devices, ovulation tests, pregnancy tests and access to an app to help track ovulation dates and the progress of their fertility journey.听听
The subscription will cost around 拢300 per month, meaning 5 months of the听叠茅补听ICI treatment will be the same price of one round of IUI at a fertility clinic.听
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鈥淥ur mission at听叠茅补听is to democratise access to effective fertility treatments; providing people with more options,鈥� said听Cosad.听听
鈥�ICI is clinically proven to be highly effective when it comes to increasing the chances of conception, but it鈥檚 not made available to people at the beginning of their fertility journey. Instead, they听have to听take a big leap into the expensive world of invasive treatments.听听
鈥�But for people where there鈥檚 no听medically-identified听issue causing infertility, ICI can be the ideal way of maximising their chances of getting pregnant. We鈥檙e designing a product that enables people to do this easily and affordably, all from home.听听
鈥淚nfertility is sadly still a taboo and something we don鈥檛 talk enough about, meaning people often struggle through it alone. There鈥檚 something so empowering about taking your fertility journey into your own hands, and听this is why听I鈥檓 so passionate about launching听叠茅补听Fertility.听听
鈥�Through听叠茅补, we鈥檙e breaking down barriers,听driving听 inclusion, improving access, and fundamentally cracking open the fertility market.鈥�听