Femtech Fes! Vol. 8 "Femtech + Mentech Supporting Fertility Treatment ~Fertility Treatment for Two~"

In recent years, various Femtech & Mentech products have appeared on the global market. Among them, products related to infertility and fertilityaccount for a large proportion, attracting attention for how they will change the current state of fertility treatment.

In the 8th Femtech Fes! Online!, with the theme "Femtech + Mentech Supporting Fertility Treatment ~Fertility Treatment for Two~", we invited Ryo Irisawa, business manager of "Seem", a service that allows self-checking of sperm at home, as a guest and explored fertility treatment situations in Japan and overseas.

In Japan, approximately 1 in 5.5 couples have experienced infertility testing or treatment*, and this ratio has been increasing year by year. *FET cycle, ICSI cycle, IVF cycle

However, in most cases of couples struggling with infertility or fertility treatment, it is overwhelmingly women who first seek medical attention. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), more than half of infertility causes are male, but men's awareness of their involvement remains low. Possible reasons include men's late participation in the flow of fertility treatment, and limited opportunities to learn about women's bodies and the mechanisms of pregnancy.

Examples of Fertility Treatment Flow
[Self-guided fertility treatment (~1 year) → Timed intercourse (6 months: ~300,000 yen) → Artificial insemination (6 months: 600,000-700,000 yen) → In vitro fertilization/ICSI (2-3 years: 1,300,000-1,700,000 yen)*]
*Fertility treatment in Japan is not covered by insurance (private medical care), so prices are set by each medical institution.

Discussing the gender gap in fertility treatment using several keywords (differences in stress perception, pressure, miscommunication, proactive engagement in fertility treatment, etc.) revealed comments such as "feeling a gap in motivation," "anxiety about the biological time limit of one's body," and "difficulty communicating when starting fertility treatment."

In the latter half of the event, we introduced several examples of Femtech & Mentech products useful for fertility treatment.

Inne: A next-generation "digital contraception" product that measures hormone levels from saliva. It can be used by both those seeking natural contraception and those trying to conceive.

Kegg / Lady Technologies Inc.: A device that identifies the fertile window from vaginal discharge. It can predict ovulation and the fertile window up to 7 days in advance.

Peanut: The app that helps connect moms launched "Peanut TTC (=trying to conceive)" for women undergoing fertility treatment. Services for men are also under consideration.

Expectful: A meditation app tailored for fertility treatment, pregnancy, and postpartum stages. It supports fertility treatment by accelerating hormone secretion from the brain and ovaries.

Dadi: A service that allows at-home sperm testing and sperm cryopreservation. It is designed for young, single men, enabling them to proactively consider future child-rearing with the question, "Can I have children in the future?"

Sperm.fit: Online and in-person consultations specializing in male infertility. Counseling for men who find it difficult to discuss their health issues, including infertility.

Seem: A self-check for sperm using an app and a kit. Sperm concentration and motility are measured with the app by recording a video of semen using a dedicated microscope lens and a smartphone's front camera.

Femtech & Mentech products are expected to not only help individuals better understand their and their partners' bodies but also make it easier to receive support from outside their partnership. Meanwhile, many people who struggle with fertility treatment with their partners often face challenges in how to share information with each other. On social media, there was a viral sensation with "The Fertility Treatment Bible for Couples, Made by Men," a document that compiled all information about fertility treatment, from the mechanism of pregnancy to subsidy systems.

While we have focused on fertility treatment and infertility, topics that had fewer opportunities for discussion compared to contraception, it is hoped that femtech connecting fertility treatment and sexual wellness will emerge in the future. Furthermore, this session highlighted the potential of Femtech & Mentech, as there are still unaddressed needs among people from various backgrounds who wish to have children.