About This Article
Zoom Health has more than 20 years’ experience providing health information and home health products in the UK. This article looks at experimental research into a small intrauterine monitoring device developed to help researchers better understand the environment inside the womb.
Published: 28 October 2018 | Last Updated: 30 August 2026 | By: Anthony Cunningham
Infertile couples having trouble conceiving naturally may get a little bit of help thanks to fertility specialists and researchers at the University of Southampton and their tiny implant.
The device, approximately the size of a small coin, was designed to monitor the womb’s temperature, oxygen and pH levels. The objective was to compare data from women with and without fertility problems to understand what constitutes a healthy womb environment.
NHS figures have determined that around one in seven UK couples have difficulty getting pregnant. This equates to millions of people across the country.
There are numerous reasons why people suffer from infertility, affecting either partner. In around one quarter of cases, a cause of infertility cannot be identified.
Current fertility tests can cause anxiety for couples because there can be a wait to receive results. Researchers have been trying to devise a device that could make it as easy as taking your blood pressure to find out what makes a womb a healthy environment. This includes getting measurements and understanding the environment.
Similar to the contraceptive coil, the device is implanted into the body and stays there for a week. While there, it sends information wirelessly back to a data chip inside a special pair of underwear worn by the patient.
After the study period is over, doctors take the device out and look at the information obtained.
Researchers hoped the device could improve understanding of the uterine environment and potentially help clinicians investigate reproductive disorders. It remains an experimental research technology rather than an established fertility test or treatment.
People who have problems conceiving naturally often turn to in vitro fertilisation as a chance to get pregnant. However, IVF does not guarantee a pregnancy, and private treatment can be expensive.
The original research planned to recruit women through fertility and miscarriage clinics, as well as women without fertility problems. Subsequent research continued to investigate the technology and its potential to monitor uterine oxygen, pH and temperature.
About the Author
Anthony Cunningham, BA (Hons), MA, is a UK-based health writer and editor with over 20 years’ experience running Zoom Health, a trusted source for home health tests, preventive care, and wellness guidance. He creates clear, evidence-based articles using NHS, NICE, and WHO guidance. Where possible, content is reviewed by practising clinicians to enhance accuracy and reliability, helping readers make informed healthcare decisions.
