Media Release

IVF patients will soon be able to monitor hormone levels from the comfort of their homes using a world-first wearable patch, thanks to a partnership between Monash IVF and Melbourne start-up Symex Labs.

Currently, IVF patients rely on their doctor to pinpoint the optimal window for an egg collection or embryo transfer through blood tests, which requires frequent clinic visits, excess travel and painful injections.

The new patch currently in development, will be able to continuously monitor hormone levels using tiny microneedles, it will then send results directly to the IVF patient’s clinical team, who can determine if the patient is ready for an egg collection or embryo transfer.

The patch will eliminate the need for multiple blood tests and potentially increase the chances of a successful pregnancy.

Monash IVF Research Director, Associate Professor Mark Green said for Monash IVF, the investment in Symex Labs aligns with the company’s focus on innovation and improving the patient journey.

“This technology will save patients time and money as they can conveniently wear the device in the comfort of their own home, resulting in fewer visits to the clinic and fewer painful injections,” Associate Professor Mark Green said.

“The biosensor would also be a gamechanger for women living in regional areas, who often have to travel long distances for blood draws.”

Symex Labs, founded by Edgar Charry and Muhammad Umer, whose partners both have experienced infertility, has partnered with Monash IVF to translate its research into a commercial product which also has capabilities outside of IVF treatment.

“Our wearable hormone biosensor has strong potential well beyond fertility care, particularly in PCOS management, perimenopause and menopause symptom management, where continuous hormone insight can replace today’s indirect, symptom-based tracking,” said Symex Labs co-founder Muhammad Umer.

“By integrating directly with consumer health apps, the technology can enable personalised, data-driven management of chronic hormonal conditions and life-stage transitions that currently lack real-time biomarkers.”

The research has received $2.5 million in funding from a joint initiative by Monash IVF, the Australian Government, the University of Melbourne’s Genesis Fund, RMIT and Breakthrough Victoria.

The first in-human pilot study is expected to start within the next 12 months, with commercialisation plans slated for early 2028.

Information on Symex Labs

The start-up company Symex Labs, founded by Edgar Charry and Muhammad Umer, has partnered with Monash IVF to translate its research into a commercial product.

Edgar and Muhammad’s partners have experienced infertility, and in response have created a reproductive health solution by developing a biosensor that can detect progesterone and estradiol levels using fluid found in the skin, rather than in the blood.

“Previous research shows nearly all hormones that exist in blood, are also present in interstitial fluid,” said Symex Labs co-founder Edgar Charry.

“Interstitial fluid is clear fluid just under the skin that sits between cells, delivering nutrients and carrying away waste.”

“Our biosensor will eventually be worn as a patch and will work by penetrating the skin using small microneedles to attract progesterone molecules in the patient’s interstitial fluid. These molecules will bind to the surface of the probe, generating electrical activity. The technology then translates the electrical activity to progesterone levels, ultimately informing the IVF clinical team if the patient is ready for embryo transfer. This data will be sent directly to the clinic’s monitoring system, allowing IVF nurses to review the results and advise the patient.”

As the exact amount of progesterone in interstitial fluid is not well understood, Symex Labs is conducting a world-first clinical study at Monash IVF to establish baseline levels by benchmarking them against concentrations measured in blood samples.

Read more about Symex Labs