After nearly two decades of unsuccessful attempts to conceive, a couple has finally achieved pregnancy with the help of artificial intelligence (AI). Despite undergoing multiple IVF treatments across the world, the couple was unable to conceive due to azoospermia — a rare condition where no detectable sperm is present in the male partner’s semen.
Desperate for a breakthrough, the couple turned to the Columbia University Fertility Center (CUFC) in the US, where doctors employed a new AI-powered technique known as STAR (Sperm Tracking and Recovery). This technology uses machine learning to locate hidden sperm in samples previously deemed infertile.
According to a CNN report, CUFC researchers scanned the male partner’s semen using STAR, and remarkably, the AI detected viable sperm missed by human technicians. That sperm was used for in vitro fertilisation (IVF), successfully leading to pregnancy — marking the world’s first conception using the STAR method.
“It took me two days to believe I was actually pregnant,” said the woman. “I still can’t believe it’s real until I see the scans.”
What Is the STAR Method?
Developed over five years by Dr. Zev Williams, Director of CUFC, and his team, STAR represents a breakthrough in fertility treatment. In one case, after trained lab professionals failed to detect sperm even after two days of microscopic examination, the AI system found 44 sperm in just one hour.
“That’s when we realized this was a game-changer,” said Dr. Williams.
STAR uses a specialized chip and high-powered imaging to scan the entire semen sample, capturing over 8 million images in under an hour. The AI, trained to distinguish sperm cells from other particles, then pinpoints viable sperm for IVF use.
This innovation could bring hope to thousands of couples worldwide who have been told their chances of biological parenthood were impossible.