IVF alternative bears fruit

Marie and Mirco Martinelli believed they would never be able to have children after suffering three miscarriages in just two years. They signed up for IVF but were told there was a two-year waiting list for treatment. So they took part in a trial for DuoFertility, a ground-breaking temperature measuring device that promised pregnancy within 12 months, reports the Daily Mail.

They began using the device in January 2009 and were delighted when Marie became pregnant just after seven months. Baby Alec was born on March 20 this year and is the first baby to be born through the device — which claims to be statistically as good as IVF.

In May 2008, Marie and Mirco married in Italy and decided their only option was to use fertility treatment — but lost hope when they were told of the lengthy waiting list for IVF.

Shortly after, Marie noticed an ad for DuoFertility — a small coin sized patch which takes 20,000 temperature readings every night to pinpoint the exact moment of ovulation.

She began using the product in January 2009 and was delighted when she fell pregnant just months later.

The non-invasive device comprises a tiny patch thermometer worn under the arm. It promises to alert a woman to the moment her temperature rises half a degree as a result of ovulation.

Dr Shamus Husheer, who invented the device said the company was “delighted” with their success and the birth of baby Alec.

He said: “What we now know as a result of our work, is that for certain causes of infertility, DuoFertility is as effective as IVF. Clearly there are some infertility issues where the use of the device is unable to aid pregnancy such as a complete lack of sperm, however for a range of common causes such as moderate male factors, cycle irregularity, unexplained infertility, our monitoring device is achieving results.”