June is World Infertility Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness, encourage dialogue, and support the millions of individuals and couples facing fertility challenges. Infertility is not a private battle, but a public health issue. One in five South African couples face difficulties conceiving, yet for many, the road to diagnosis, support, and treatment remains out of reach due to stigma, cost, and limited access to care.
As we mark World Infertility Awareness month, it is time to start a louder, more inclusive conversation about reproductive health. Next Biosciences is committed to making world-class fertility solutions more accessible and affordable.
What’s behind the rise in infertility in South Africa?
Infertility is increasing globally, and South Africa is no exception. The reasons are complex and often interconnected and include delayed childbearing, lifestyle factors (smoking, obesity, diet etc.) environmental factors and stress.
While infertility has many possible causes, a significant number are genetic in origin, ranging from inherited conditions to chromosomal abnormalities. Genetic testing doesn’t just offer answers, it also opens doors to better outcomes, fewer unknowns, and peace of mind.
For individuals, good reproductive health enables informed decision-making, supports emotional wellness, and promotes autonomy. For families, it can mean healthier pregnancies, safer deliveries, and empowered choices.
A personalised approach: Why every fertility journey is unique
Next Biosciences offers world-class genetic tests and services designed to support individuals at every stage, whether they are planning to start a family or expecting a child. Here’s how our key reproductive genetic tests contribute to more informed, empowered fertility care:
- Endometrial health testing: Ensures the uterine lining can support pregnancy.
Endometrial health testing involves the determination of the optimal time and environment for embryo implantation. It plays a crucial role in fertility evaluations, particularly for individuals undergoing IVF or those experiencing recurrent implantation failure or recurrent pregnancy loss.
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT): Screens embryos created by IVF to improve outcomes.
For patients undergoing IVF, PGT-A (for aneuploidies) screens embryos for chromosomal abnormalities before embryo transfer. This helps identify embryos with the correct number of chromosomes, which can improve implantation rates, reduce miscarriage risk, and increase the likelihood of a successful pregnancy.
- Carrier screening: Identifies genetic risks in prospective parents.
CarrierScreen helps identify whether an individual is a carrier of a recessive genetic condition. When both partners carry the same condition, there is a 25% chance of passing it on to a child. Early awareness allows couples to explore their options, such as IVF with PGT-M, donor gametes, or other planning strategies.
- POCScreen (products of conception screening) analyses miscarriage tissue to understand genetic causes of loss.
Recurrent pregnancy loss can be devastating and often, the underlying cause is unknown. POC testing analyses the genetic material from a miscarriage to determine whether a chromosomal abnormality contributed to the loss, and provides answers that can guide future treatment.
- TriScreen Non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT): Detects chromosomal abnormalities safely and early.
NIPT plays a critical role in early pregnancy care. Using a simple blood sample from the mother, NIPT screens for common chromosomal conditions such as Down syndrome, trisomy 18, and trisomy 13 with high accuracy and no risk to the fetus. NIPT offers reassurance and early insight.
- MiniMi: An early fetal sex test developed in-house, available from just 10 weeks, to accurately (98% accuracy) determine the sex of the baby.
- Netcells stem cell banking: Offers families the chance to store cord blood and tissue for future treatments, including through the Netcells Community Stem Cell Bank, a resource for underprivileged children with life-threatening conditions.
- Genetic counselling: offered through our in-house Genetic Counsellor who is trained in medical genetics and counselling.
They help you make sense of complex genetic information, discuss the available options and possible implications thereof whilst providing emotional support throughout the process. Genetic counsellors do not only focus on you as an individual but will enable you to understand the impact of genetic test results on your family.
For those struggling with fertility
This World Infertility Awareness Month, we honour the resilience of those navigating this journey and reaffirm our commitment to supporting them with science-backed solutions, compassionate care, and the promise of possibility.
If you or someone you love is exploring fertility options, speak to your healthcare provider or reach out to us to learn more about how these tests can support your path to parenthood.
Together, we can turn awareness into action and challenge into opportunity.
Visit www.nextbio.co.za for more information or contact us at info@nextbio.co.za | +27 11 697 2900.