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Carolynn Dubé reflects on the immense pressure she faced during her in vitro fertilization (IVF) journey, particularly when it came to administering the necessary medications. “You’re standing there at your bathroom counter and you’re thinking, I can’t screw this up,” recalls Dubé, who serves as the executive director of Fertility Matters, located in Moncton, New Brunswick.
The timing and execution of IVF medications are critically important, and while fertility clinics provide necessary instructions, it is ultimately the patients and their partners who manage the injections at home. Dubé notes, “It does create increased anxiety and worry, especially when you get to the point of mixing or injecting. You want to be absolutely certain that you’re doing it right because so much depends on these medications.”
According to Fertility Matters Canada, infertility affects approximately one in six Canadian adults. For many, IVF represents a pathway to starting or expanding a family, although it often entails significant financial and emotional investments without guaranteed outcomes.
Patients undergoing IVF frequently encounter challenges when urgent questions arise—especially about dosing at night—due to the limited availability of clinic staff during off-hours.
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Entrepreneur Jessica Schaefer can relate to these frustrations. “If you’ve gone through the process, it feels very much like ‘do-it-yourself doctor,’” she explains. “You find yourself at home alone, or your partner is leading the effort. You might be mixing between 10 to 12 different fertility medications, which can be quite complicated. I remember feeling completely lost when I underwent the process.”
In response, Schaefer founded a concierge fertility service named Lushi, which is set to launch in December 2024. At a recent Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon, Portugal, she emphasized, “Many people shy away from IVF due to a lack of information and fear. With Lushi, we aim to simplify access to top-tier medical professionals from the comfort of your own home.”
Since its inception, Lushi has attracted over 15,000 users in the United States. The app, which has recently expanded into the Canadian market, features various service tiers. Users can opt for a basic package that allows them to pose questions and receive AI-generated answers regarding egg retrieval and IVF treatments.
Rather than waiting at a clinic for hours to address simple queries, Schaefer highlights, “You can use our AI technology to get immediate access to information.” There are also upgraded packages available that offer consultations with trained professionals via online appointments or even in-home visits for injection administration.
Dr. Mana Baskovic, Lushi’s chief medical officer, points out that the platform is designed to bridge the gaps that fertility clinics often cannot manage due to limited resources. “There has been a lack of innovation in healthcare technology, especially within the fertility sector,” Baskovic explains. “Many individuals are not comfortable mixing medications or dealing with needles and the associated waste.”
Advocates for enhanced fertility services, including Dubé, believe that the online platform will significantly improve access to care, especially in vast and remote regions like Canada. “For someone situated in Gander, Newfoundland, or the Northwest Territories, being able to connect through an app to a medical professional who can guide you through the process… it’s a remarkable opportunity for increased access to care,” Dubé adds.
Source
globalnews.ca