ARTIFICIAL intelligence is helping women having IVF to get pregnant.

An AI programme matches the strongest sperm with the best quality eggs.

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The first woman to conceive using the programme, a 36-year-old from South London, identified only as Elena, is now 23 weeks pregnant.

She said: “The technology is incredible. It is like a miracle.”

Elena’s treatment was carried out at Avenues Fertility Clinic in Camden, North London.

Medical director Dr Jyoti Taneja said: “We have traditionally selected sperm by analysing shape and other features under the microscope.

“But AI can assess the health in ways such as movement patterns.

“It can make these assessments with more accuracy, in real time and at greater speed.”

One in six couples experience infertility and more than 50,000 patients undergo IVF in the UK every year, with annual increases reported regularly.

It’s claimed the new tech will provide hope for many couples and individuals facing fertility issues.

On average, IVF treatment costs more than £5,000 and only has a one-in-three positive outcome.

Typically, doctors rely on individual evaluations and opinion based decisions concerning the health of the sperm or the egg.

But using AI, doctors are better able to select high quality sperm and eggs.

AI can also analyse massive spreadsheets of data and ultra sound images.