A new AI breakthrough helped one couple get pregnant after 19 years—here's what it could mean for others
For nearly 19 years, Rosie and her husband tried to grow their family. Their journey spanned 15 IVF cycles, countless doctor visits, and emotional highs and lows that left them exhausted but still hopeful. Each attempt came with the quiet ache of disappointment. Still, they held onto their dream.
In March 2025, something changed. Doctors at Columbia University Fertility Center helped the couple achieve what had always felt just out of reach—a successful pregnancy. What made the difference wasn't a new medication or procedure, but a scientific advance that sounded almost improbable: artificial intelligence.
A novel AI-powered tool, developed by a team led by Dr. Zev Williams, found what doctors had never been able to detect in her husband's semen sample—viable sperm. That discovery led to the first pregnancy in the world using this new technology.
Fertility care has long focused on women, despite male factors contributing to nearly 40% of infertility cases. Azoospermia—a condition where no sperm are found in the ejaculate—is among the most challenging to treat. Even with advanced microscopes, sperm can be nearly impossible to detect, and options are often limited to surgery or donor sperm.
For many couples, especially those with religious or cultural reasons to avoid donor conception, that leaves few alternatives. This gap in care reflects deeper assumptions in reproductive medicine, where male fertility is often underexamined.
The system, called STAR, is designed specifically to help address cases of azoospermia in a noninvasive and sperm-preserving way—offering a long-overdue shift in how male infertility is approached.
Related: The Truth about Men's Infertility
To tackle azoospermia, researchers at Columbia University developed a system called STAR (Sperm Track and Recovery). It uses artificial intelligence and a microfluidic chip to scan millions of microscopic images, identifying and isolating rare sperm that would otherwise go unnoticed.
If sperm are detected, the system isolates and collects them—gently enough for use in IVF. In tests, STAR found dozens of sperm in samples that human embryologists had spent days analyzing without success.
The inspiration came from astronomy, where AI helps spot new stars in a sky full of noise. Here, the system scans semen samples with similar precision. When STAR detects sperm, it diverts that tiny portion for collection—preserving viable cells for fertilization.
In one early test, embryologists spent two days combing through a sample without success. STAR found 44 sperm in under an hour. It's opening doors for couples who were once told they had no options—offering more than just speed.
This marks the first reported case where AI has been used not only to detect sperm in complex samples, but also to physically recover them for use in fertility treatment—offering new hope to families who previously had few or no options.
Related: It's time to stop calling infertility a women's health issue
For nearly two decades, Rosie and her husband dreamed of starting a family. After 15 unsuccessful IVF cycles and years of searching for answers, they were told that her husband's azoospermia left them with few options beyond using donor sperm—something they weren't ready to accept.
Then they heard about STAR.
Through a community group, Rosie connected with Dr. Zev Williams' team and learned about the new AI technology. For the first time, there was a tool that could potentially find viable sperm in a noninvasive, chemical-free way. That was enough to give them the courage to try one more cycle.
This time, STAR found sperm—enough to fertilize Rosie's eggs. Just days later, she got the call she never thought she'd receive: she was pregnant. Now four months along, she says she still wakes up in disbelief. But the scans are real—and so is her baby.
Related: The powerful documentary 'One More Shot' captures infertility on film like never before
The success of STAR marks a technological milestone and signals a new frontier in understanding and treating infertility. Traditionally, couples facing azoospermia had few options beyond donor sperm. Now, STAR offers a potential path forward by making it possible to locate and retrieve even extremely rare sperm without damaging them.
Here's what STAR could mean for the future of fertility care:
Faster, more precise sperm selection: STAR scans millions of frames per hour, identifying and isolating viable sperm in real time.
Expanded options for couples facing male-factor infertility: The technology may help those who were previously told they had no viable options.
Less reliance on invasive or costly procedures: By improving sperm detection, STAR could reduce the need for more aggressive interventions.
A shift in how infertility is approached clinically: STAR's success could signal a broader rethinking of diagnostic and treatment pathways.
Potential to democratize access to advanced fertility care: As the technology becomes more scalable, it may increase availability and affordability.
As Dr. Zev Williams explains, this AI doesn't replace the human touch; it extends it. With STAR, the goal is to give couples facing daunting odds a better chance—something that's long felt out of reach.
AI is quietly transforming the way fertility challenges are understood and treated. Tools like STAR aren't science fiction—they're already helping families who've spent years navigating heartbreak and uncertainty. By spotting what even the most skilled eyes can miss, AI is opening new doors in cases that once seemed hopeless.
For parents and parents-to-be, this isn't just about technology—it's about renewed possibility. As research continues, innovations like STAR could offer more families the chance to grow, with less guesswork and more hope.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
32 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Investigation into Florida condo collapse is expected to finish in 2026
More than four years after a Florida condominium collapse killed 98 people , federal investigators have yet to make a final determination of the cause — but they do have some leading theories. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, the agency handling the probe, said this week it hopes to conclude the investigation in 2026.
New York Times
44 minutes ago
- New York Times
Newsom Signs Budget That Includes Health Care Cuts for Undocumented Immigrants
Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a California budget on Friday that relied on scaling back health care for undocumented immigrants, even as he and other California Democrats in recent weeks have condemned the Trump administration for cracking down on immigrant workers. In signing the budget, Mr. Newsom backtracked on his earlier pledge to insure all low-income residents, regardless of their immigration status. But it came as the state faced a $12 billion deficit, driven in part by a large cost overrun in the state's insurance plan for undocumented immigrants, and it would have been politically difficult to cut programs for citizens without reducing benefits for undocumented immigrants. When Mr. Newsom initially proposed the cuts in May, it was seen as a centrist pivot for a governor who is a potential presidential candidate in 2028. But after President Trump sent National Guard troops to Los Angeles nearly three weeks ago to thwart protesters, Mr. Newsom returned to his role as a liberal antagonist of the Republican administration and accused Mr. Trump of endangering American democracy. The California budget for the fiscal year that starts Tuesday relies on prohibiting new enrollment of undocumented immigrants in the state's Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal, starting in January. Adults between the ages of 19 and 59 who were already enrolled will have to pay a new $30 monthly premium beginning in 2027. And the state will eliminate dental care in July 2026 for undocumented adults and other noncitizens. Medi-Cal serves roughly 15 million people, including 1.6 million undocumented immigrants. Because the federal government does not pay for most health care for undocumented immigrants, it costs California more to insure noncitizens than it does to cover citizens. Democrats have argued that the state has a moral responsibility to provide health care to its immigrant work force, and they have said that preventative treatment can avert more costly emergency care down the road. Democrats who control the State Capitol cast their decisions on Friday as a necessary move to help close the budget deficit and said it was not an ideological shift away from supporting immigrants. Some choked back tears in emotional floor speeches about their undocumented family members as they voted for cuts to Medi-Cal. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Health Line
an hour ago
- Health Line
Should You Be Concerned about White Stool After Diarrhea?
While white stools can result from certain over-the-counter medications, they can also be a symptom of a more serious condition. The color of your stool can tell a lot about your health, so any time you see a different color in the toilet bowl, it's natural to wonder why. If you've recently had a bout of diarrhea, you may have pale or white-colored stool. These light-colored stools can be the result of various factors, so it's important to note your symptoms and get a diagnosis from a doctor. Keep reading to learn about the more serious causes of white stool, including symptoms and treatments. Antidiarrheal drugs If you've been taking large doses of certain antidiarrheal drugs, such as bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol, Kaopectate), this could result in very light stools. Your stool color should return to brown after you stop taking the medication, so you don't have to do anything. However, if you continue to have white poop after a few days, you may need to consult a doctor. Blocked bile duct A lack of bile can often cause white stool or stool with a claylike consistency, which can indicate a more serious problem. What is bile? Bile is a digestive fluid. Your liver produces it, and it's stored in your gallbladder. During the digestive process, bile is excreted into your small intestine to break down fats into fatty acids. Among other important functions, bile helps eliminate cholesterol and waste products, such as bilirubin. Bile also gives your stool its typical brownish color. A lack of bile in your stool is often the result of a blockage in the bile duct, which is a tube that delivers the bile to the small intestine. A number of conditions can cause a blockage, including: Symptoms of bile duct obstruction Along with white stools, you may also experience symptoms such as: jaundice (yellowing of the skin, eyes, or both) abdominal pain (upper right side) nausea vomiting fever dark urine Treatment for a blocked bile duct Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the underlying cause. For example, for gallstones, your doctor might suggest a cholecystectomy, which involves surgery to remove the gallbladder. For liver flukes, your doctor may prescribe albendazole or praziquantel. Liver disease White stool can sometimes be a symptom of liver disease. There are many causes for liver disease, including: infection, such as: hepatitis A hepatitis B hepatitis C cancer (and other growths), such as: liver cancer bile duct cancer liver adenoma genetic conditions, such as: alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (a condition where the body doesn't produce enough of the AAD protein) hemochromatosis hyperoxaluria and oxalosis (when oxalate build ups in urine, blood vessels, bones and organs) Wilson's disease immune system abnormality, such as: autoimmune hepatitis primary biliary cirrhosis primary sclerosing cholangitis (a rare liver disease that affects the bile ducts) other conditions, such as: chronic, heavy alcohol use nonalcoholic fatty liver disease Symptoms of liver disease Along with white stools, you may also experience symptoms such as: jaundice abdominal swelling and pain chronic fatigue nausea vomiting swelling in the ankles and legs dark urine bruising skin itchiness loss of appetite Treatment for liver disease Your doctor will recommend treatment based on the specific diagnosis. While some liver problems require medication or surgery, many can be addressed with lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a moderate weight or stopping alcohol use. In all cases, treatment for liver disease should include careful monitoring of your liver function. Liver disease that leads to liver failure may ultimately require a liver transplant.
