A couple has achieved pregnancy after nearly two decades of unsuccessful attempts, thanks to an artificial intelligence system that discovered previously undetectable sperm.
The STAR (Sperm Tracking and Recovery) system, developed at Columbia University Fertility Centre in New York, offers renewed hope to men diagnosed with azoospermia, a condition where no sperm is found in semen.
INSPIRED BY ASTROPHYSICS
The system uses imaging technology inspired by space science, originally developed to detect distant stars and planets.
“We’re using the same tools designed to find life in the universe to help create life on Earth,” said Dr. Zev Williams, director of the Columbia University Fertility Centre.
As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, researchers used high-resolution imaging to capture over 8 million frames of a semen sample in under an hour. With the help of AI, they identified three viable sperm which traditional methods had missed entirely.
A SIMPLER PROCESS
Previously, men with azoospermia had few options beyond painful surgical procedures or using donor sperm. The STAR system eliminates the need for such invasive approaches. Once the sperm are located, a robot gently extracts them, preserving their viability.
In the couple’s case, the retrieved sperm was used to fertilise the woman’s eggs through IVF. The embryos were successfully implanted, and she is now five months pregnant.
While the STAR method is currently only available at Columbia, the cost of sperm retrieval is just under $3,000 — significantly lower than the total expense of IVF, which can exceed $30,000 with medications and testing.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, male infertility affects 10% to 15% of American men trying to conceive. With sperm counts declining globally, scientists are exploring environmental and lifestyle factors, including obesity, diet, and inactivity, as possible contributors.
Dr. Williams said several patients are already undergoing treatment using the STAR system. “Many men who were told they’d never father a biological child now have a real chance,” he added. The baby is expected in December.
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