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 sensitive Where technology, AI and automation are already helping embryologists A new system that finds extra oocytes humans miss in follicular fluid What “automated day‑0” actually means and why it could be a turning point How these advances might change success rates, safety and standardization 2–3 smart questions to ask your clinic about their lab and technology What an IVF lab could look like 10–15 years from now Whether 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 Advances 02:15 Historical Context of IVF 04:50 The Role of the Laboratory in IVF 07:21 Automation and Future of IVF 10:55 Recent Advances in IVF Technology 20:04 Finding More Oocytes in Follicular Fluid 25:47 Implications for Success Rates in IVF 26:16 Practical Applications for Patients 31:27 Safety and Reliability in IVF Technology 33:36 Conclusion and Future Outlook Subscribe to Building Your Family for more expert‑led conversations that turn IVF science into real‑world guidance you can actually use. 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/