A Star in Fertility Care

A couple conceived after 18 years of infertility, using Columbia University’s AI-powered STAR system, which detected hidden sperm non-invasively. The breakthrough offers new hope for men with azoospermia. “AI-assisted sperm tracking tools like the Colombian university Star are transforming male fertility care. What’s fascinating is this technology was originally developed to detect new stars in the universe through pattern recognition,” said Dr Sumina Reddy, senior fertility consultant & Gynaecologist, Fertilica IVF & Women Care.

This innovative technology offers new hope for couples struggling with infertility, particularly those who have been told they have no viable sperm, says Dr Seeram Lakshmi, consultant infertility specialist at Kamineni Fertility. “The non-invasive nature of this system is a significant advantage, reducing the risk of complications and making the process more comfortable for patients,” says Dr Seeram.

A breakthrough

Infertility affects approximately 10-15% of couples in India, according to the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction. “We understand it is still in ongoing research, but the present results are looking very optimistic and could be the future of IVF for Azoospermia,” says Dr Preethi Reddy G, fertility consultant, Rainbow BirthRight Fertility.

“AI is significantly transforming IVF in all aspects, including sperm selection, egg analysis, optimising treatment protocols, embryo selection, noninvasive viability testing, and others, enhancing IVF success rates and minimising human errors. AI models are more precision-driven and provide an objective, efficient, and personalised approach to reproductive care,” says Dr Preethi.

“Previously, donor gametes were the only option when there were no sperm traced in surgically retrieved samples. Now AI is helping embryologists select the most viable sperm with remarkable precision, like finding a single golden needle in the haystack-improving outcomes and reducing repeat procedures, reducing the need for donor gametes, and enabling the couple to have their own biological babies,” says Dr Sumina.

WHAT IS Azoospermia

Azoospermia is a medical condition characterized by the absence of sperm. It is a significant cause of male infertility, affecting about 1% of the male population and contributing to 10-15% of infertility cases. “The current diagnostic methods often fall short. The STAR system’s ability to detect hidden sperm could lead to more effective treatment options and increased chances of conception,” says Dr Seeram.