Latest news with #infertility
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
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.
Washington Post
a day ago
- Science
- Washington Post
Finding viable sperm in infertile men can take days. AI did it in hours.
After 18 years of infertility a couple finally got pregnant thanks to artificial intelligence. The father had a rare condition that left him with almost no detectable sperm. Then fertility specialists found a novel path to pregnancy: a tiny camera capturing millions of images in a semen sample. AI scoured them for viable sperm in hours — a process that might have otherwise taken days. The result was a speedy extraction of the sperm that could at last fertilize an egg. Researchers at the Columbia University Fertility Center say this procedure, conducted in March, amounts to the first-known use of AI-enabled conception using this particular technology. While AI has long been used in other ways to assist couples who want a baby, including assessing embryo viability, Columbia's work shows how the technology can offer a chance at biological parenthood for those experiencing severe male infertility. Normally, in-vitro fertilization involves taking sperm from a semen sample and fertilizing an egg. But for men with azoospermia, which causes extremely low sperm counts, the sperm is difficult to find and can be damaged through existing methods of searching for viable cells. Zev Williams, director of Columbia's fertility program, said that identifying viable cells can take hours or days of searching under a microscope and often results in no usable sperm. 'Labs searched for two days and found nothing,' said Williams. 'We ran the same sample and found 44 sperm within an hour. That changes everything for a couple who thought they had no path forward.' The process starts with a semen sample loaded onto a small, single-use chip designed to move fluid through a controlled channel. As the sample flows, it is illuminated and imaged by a microscope linked to a high-speed camera. The system captures millions of individual frames. Artificial intelligence then analyzes these images in real time, scanning for the presence of sperm and then, within milliseconds, isolating that sperm. Once isolated, the sperm can be frozen for future use or used in IVF through intracytoplasmic sperm injection, a procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg. In many cases, only two or three sperm are found in the entire sample, making preservation important. Robert Brannigan, president-elect of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, said this technology seems promising for those with azoospermia, which affects 10 to 15 percent of infertile men. 'Even the discovery of a single viable sperm can be life-changing,' said Brannigan, a urologist at Northwestern University who was not involved with this treatment. 'I see it more as a tool,' said Brannigan. 'It enhances the work of laboratory technicians, especially in cases that are like searching for a needle in a haystack.' For men with azoospermia, other options for IVF are available but have traditionally been limited. Embryologists can spend hours manually scanning a semen sample in hopes of spotting a viable sperm cell. In other cases, surgeons perform procedures to search for sperm directly from the testicles. These surgeries can be painful, carry risks and are not always successful. Some lab techniques use stains, dyes or lasers to help identify cells, but these substances can be toxic to sperm and make them unusable for fertilization. 'This could help some men avoid surgery altogether,' said Allison K. Rodgers, a reproductive endocrinologist at the Fertility Centers of Illinois who was not involved with the recent AI case. 'I was pleasantly shocked by the findings. We assume that with our current lab techniques, if sperm are present, we'll find them, but in this [Columbia] case, embryologists searched for 48 hours and found nothing.' Rodgers said the system challenges assumptions about the limits of current laboratory methods. 'It's amazing and makes me realize that maybe what we thought was advanced still has a long way to go,' she said. 'I think AI is going to absolutely revolutionize IVF. The future of reproductive medicine is going to look a lot like this.' Brannigan said more testing is needed at other clinics to make sure the results hold up. He also said doctors should carefully track how well the procedure helps people get pregnant. 'At face value, this looks promising, but as with any new technology in medicine, especially in reproductive care, we need to follow the data and study it further,' Brannigan said. Gianpiero Palermo, a male infertility specialist at Weill Cornell Medicine and the physician who pioneered the method to inject a sperm directly into an egg, said he is not convinced the technology marks a significant breakthrough. 'You are attracting patients who have been told they have no sperm and offering what may turn out to be false hope,' Palermo said. Williams, the director of Columbia's fertility program, said the tool should not be used to give false hope, but it's an avenue to increase the chance of success. 'If sperm are present, this method can find them,' said Williams. 'Instead of relying on a microscope and declaring a sample empty, this approach gives us a way to counsel men realistically before undergoing a microTESE procedure. If sperm exist, there's now a good chance we can identify them.' Williams said the team plans to explore how the technology could be adapted to help patients with other forms of infertility, such as searching for the healthiest sperm in a sample, and trying to help assess egg and embryo health in cases of female infertility. 'This opens the door for people who had no chance,' Williams said. 'It is one of those moments in medicine where you realize you are seeing something that was always there but could never be found.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE After 14 devastating miscarriages, I found a surrogate couple who promised to change my life - but then they did the unthinkable
A Queensland woman's dream of becoming a mother after losing 14 babies has been cruelly snatched away, just hours after the birth of the baby she thought would finally be hers. Gold Coast photographer Kirby Hood, 36, says she was blindsided when the woman she trusted to be her surrogate booted her from the hospital after changing her mind at the last moment - and deciding to keep her baby. Ms Hood had battled infertility for more than 12 years, enduring loss after loss, before the 'experienced surrogate' offered her what she called 'the chance of a lifetime'. 'I trusted her, and she kept my baby after leading me on for nine months believing that the baby would be coming home with me,' Ms Hood told Daily Mail Australia. 'My baby was born in February and I'm only just coming up for air. 'I have everything in writing - the card she gave me offering to be my surrogate, the paperwork from the lawyers, and all the texts.' Hood attended doctors' appointments regarding the pregnancy, and viewed ultrasounds - all with the encouragement of the birth mother - and also paid the medical costs throughout the process. She threw a baby shower, held a gender reveal party and documented her journey to motherhood on social media. Kirby announced her happy news on social media 'At first I wanted to keep it private,' Ms Hood said. 'I told her once the baby was born I wouldn't be sharing her photo on social media, and she said, "Oh, you are one of those, are you?" 'She said she didn't go through all of this for me not to experience things like a gender reveal party, and it made me feel guilty, so I had those things as much for her as me. 'She even came to the gender reveal party and met all my friends and family who were all so clucky and wanted to touch her tummy and fuss around her.' Ms Hood, a newborn photographer, first met the surrogate, who lived in her local area, in 2019. 'I was told she was having her "third and final child",' Hood said. 'I was called into the hospital to take photos of the siblings and meet the baby. 'In September 2021, the woman rebooked for some family photos, and in 2022 I was booked again as the woman was entering her first surrogacy journey, and I was hired as her photographer to capture her first surrogacy birth. Ms Hood said that having witnessed the woman faithfully fulfil her surrogate role for someone else, she trusted her to do the same again. 'I physically witnessed, felt, experienced her hand a baby to another family that had longed for this moment in their life,' she said. Meanwhile Ms Hood continued with her own quest to become a mother and underwent an embryo transfer. 'I met a beautiful family through an IVF group and they kindly donated them for me, but in 2023 I suffered a miscarriage,' she said. 'During the early days of my loss I made an Uber Eats order and the surrogate's sister was the Uber Eats driver. 'She said to her sister, "Hey it's Kirby your photographer friend - jump in the car and come for a run to drop this order off." 'I was lying in bed and my mum came in and said, "Kirby, someone is at the door for you - she says she is a birth mum." 'I went out and it was the surrogate, and we hugged and I cried. She had a package with chocolates and magazines and flowers and a card. 'I read the card and it said, "When the time comes, you know I'm good for it. Love to be your surrogate".' The pair kept in touch about a potential surrogacy, but Ms Hood gradually came to the conclusion that she did not want to risk more potential heartbreak. However, a call out of the blue changed everything. 'It was July 12, 2024 - it was a Friday, and I was working, I actually had twins coming into the studio for newborn photos,' she said. 'My surrogate Facetimed me, and I said I was done, I was out, my heart can't take much more heartbreak. 'And she held up a pee stick and said, "Well, you can, because you are having a baby!" I was just mind-blown.' Confused, Ms Hood asked if the woman had transferred eggs without her knowing. 'She explained she had accidentally fallen pregnant with her husband, but they do not want another child,' Ms Hood said. 'At first I was cautious - how does this work? How does this happen? I'm pretty sure you can't just cook a baby for someone and just hand it over. 'Aren't there laws? I only knew of the laws of surrogacy [not adoption].' In a state of shock, Ms Hood handed the phone to her mum who was at the photography studio at the time. 'I remember this because it's etched on my soul,' she added. 'Mum said: "What does this mean?", and the surrogate said: "It means Kirby is going to be a mama," and I just bawled. 'This woman had been an egg donor prior - from memory, she told me five times. 'She showed me the living children on Facebook that she still follows and the families that were successful from her donations 'We'd talked in depth about how she felt seeing those children and she was just so exceptional on the whole donor process.' But given the situation had changed from a standard surrogacy to an agreement to hand over a baby that was both conceived and carried by the birthing mother, Hood sought legal advice. 'I called the Queensland adoption hotline and they explained that if the parents didn't want to keep her, the baby had to go to foster care and would be assessed a fair order and placed with a registered family,' Ms Hood said. Ms Hood called the woman to pass on that disappointing news, but she already had an alternative plan. 'She told me that was rubbish and that I can be on the birth certificate as a same-sex couple, and so with a lawyer we drew up parentage orders,' she said. 'As part of that, you can legally name [the child] before birth so it's in the paperwork. I named her Xanthe and we agreed I was going to be at the birth.' Then came another shock. Throughout the long process of trying to become a mum, Ms Hood's husband had been by her side, but just when it appeared imminent, she said he moved out. 'He had been to the scans, he even had the ultrasound photo made into a keyring he carried around but he walked out the weekend after Father's Day,' Ms Hood said. 'I have lost 14 babies and it was too much for him. 'He told me two IVF rounds before that he was done, but I didn't want to listen, I just wanted one more chance to try.' Ms Hood called the surrogate and her husband to tell them her husband had left, but they said they had no issues with her being a single mum and assured her everything remained on course. 'We had the baby shower not long after and everything was fine,' she added. Ms Hood threw herself into work, needing to generate enough money as a sole income earner to be able to support herself and a baby. 'I actually missed one of the scans because a birth shoot took 10 hours and overlapped with the scan,' she said. 'I sent a text explaining what had happened but they didn't even reply and then later she sent me a text questioning my priorities. 'I was feeling there were red flags by this point, but I had come so far and I didn't want to believe anything may be wrong.' A few weeks before the birth, Hood was asked to meet the couple in a nearby park, where they told her that they no longer wanted her at the birth, explaining it was for minor medical reasons. It was at this point that Ms Hood started to have serious doubts, wondering whether the couple had had a change of heart about handing the baby over. On the birth day, she received a text to tell her the baby had arrived, and she drove to the hospital unsure of what to expect when she got there. 'Things felt off, and I knew it wasn't happening,' she admitted. 'But before that day, the hospital was going to make up the room next door for me, so I just went there in hope or desperation. Ms Hood asked for a social worker to be present, but was instead asked to leave. 'The hospital went into lockdown as if I was a danger,' she said. 'I just left and bawled in my car. 'She called me two days later and told me Child Services were involved now and there's nothing she can do about it.' Riddled with anxiety that the baby had been placed into foster care, Ms Hood spent hours calling authorities, trying to track her down so she could be considered as a legal parent. It was weeks later that she found out the couple had not given the child up, but had decided to keep the little girl after all. 'Someone sent me a screenshot of the surrogate's Facebook where she had announced the birth of her little girl,' she said. 'I wasn't angry, just hurt. If they changed their minds, why didn't they just tell me? 'Of course, I would have been upset, but I would have understood. I know how hard it is to lose a baby. I would have understood.' Hood has not heard from the couple since March, and they have refused her requests that they refund the thousands of dollars she had spent on medical costs and baby equipment. 'They said they will see me in court,' she said. 'But I want people to know about it, about what happened and for legislation to be changed.
Khaleej Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Khaleej Times
UAE to establish federal fertility centre as citizens' birth rates decline
The UAE is moving forward with a plan to establish a federal fertility centre offering advanced services to support Emiratis struggling with infertility, as part of a broader strategy to reverse declining national birth rates. The proposal was discussed on Wednesday during the Federal National Council (FNC) session in Abu Dhabi, with Minister of Family Sana Suhail confirming that feasibility studies are underway. The centre, she explained, is being developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Prevention and Emirates Health Services. The plan has entered the stage of identifying a suitable location and the scope of services, with the aim of integrating early reproductive counselling and fertility services into primary healthcare nationwide. 'The issue of fertility and reproductive health is a national priority,' Suhail said, adding that a unified national strategy to enhance birth rates is expected to be approved and announced before the end of 2025. The strategy is being drafted in collaboration with 17 federal and local entities, with a clear governance framework and oversight from the country's leadership. Official statistics presented at the session revealed a worrying 11 per cent drop in births among Emiratis between 2015 and 2022, while non-citizen births increased by 5 per cent over the same period. In 2022, just 30,889 Emiratis were born compared to 65,762 expatriates. 'If we do not act quickly, Emiratis could make up less than 10 per cent of the population in 25 years,' warned FNC member Sultan Al Zaabi. 'This threatens economic growth, social stability, and the preservation of our national identity.' The council adopted 15 recommendations, including revisiting maternity leave and breastfeeding entitlements, introducing childcare leave, and reviewing remote work policies to prioritise working mothers. It also urged the government to ensure nationwide insurance coverage for fertility treatments and accelerate the establishment of a federal fertility centre, particularly to serve citizens in the Northern Emirates where access remains limited and treatment costs high. The minister confirmed that integrating services into primary healthcare centres and training medical staff were key parts of the implementation plan. Members also raised concerns about the rising average age of marriage and a growing reluctance among young people to marry. Dr Moza Al Shehhi noted that some young Emiratis now marry after 30, a trend that directly affects fertility and marriage rates. Suhail acknowledged the behavioural and psychological aspects of the issue. 'We are rethinking how we support young people at every stage — before and after marriage. The focus is not only on financial support, but on addressing emotional and societal challenges as well.' Lifestyle factors linked to infertility were also raised. FNC member Amna Al Adidi pointed to unhealthy habits, smoking, and the use of performance-enhancing substances among young men as potential causes. Suhail responded that reproductive health is a dedicated track within the national strategy and that data collection and policy-making will be grounded in medical evidence. Economic pressure was another key theme. Several members cited rising living costs, inadequate housing, and insufficient family allowances as significant deterrents to larger families. Member Mohammed Hassan Al Dhahouri urged policymakers to 'treat family incentives not as social aid, but as a national investment.' Suhail confirmed the strategy would include economic proposals aligned with family size and long-term social stability. 'We are not approaching this from a traditional welfare perspective. This is about building a supportive environment for sustainable population growth,' she said. The council also called for a reassessment of housing plot sizes and policies, noting that smaller family homes may discourage couples from having more children. Suhail said the ministry is working with the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to explore housing solutions that support extended families. Local community councils will play a role in shaping mindsets, the minister added, with awareness campaigns planned across social media and national platforms to promote a culture of 'positive and responsible parenthood.' 'The goal is to embed family values and the importance of parenthood from early life stages, and to empower citizens to make confident choices,' Suhail said. FNC members urged the ministry to ensure the upcoming strategy results in actionable decisions, not just ideas. 'This should not be another cycle of studies and recommendations,' said member Najla Al Shamsi. 'The numbers are clear, the challenge is real — now we need action.'
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Selling Sunset' Chrishell Stause Talks 'Last Attempt' At IVF Amid Infertility Struggles: 'If It's Meant To Be'
is not giving up on her dream of starting a family with her wife, . The "Selling Sunset" star revealed that she recently resumed her in vitro fertilization journey after past failed attempts that left her heartbroken. Stause, who lost her beloved pet dog months ago, confessed that she and G-Flip might consider other options if this IVF round fails. In an Instagram Story update, the reality star informed fans she is now receiving IVF treatment. She shared a snap of pills and an injection alongside a candid message about her bittersweet feelings. "Back on the IVF hell train. I think this may be my last attempt," she explained. "There are other alternatives, but this route needed to be tried first bc of timing." The realtor continued, "So if it's meant to be, it will be. If not, pivot. Stause, however, didn't go into details about her other options. Concluding the post, she expressed her appreciation to fans for their support. "Live footage of me reading all the beautiful supportive messages on the last slide, THANK YOU," she wrote alongside a still image of a character from the show "Twin Peaks." Stause's Instagram Stories update comes after she and G-Flip got candid about their infertility struggles. The couple, who have been married for almost two years, have always wanted a family. In a joint interview, the pair admitted the journey to becoming parents has been difficult, mainly because they are queer: "We're in a situation where it's not easy to have kids. It's not like we can have one naturally. There are so many steps, there's so much planning, there are so many complications and things that can go wrong." G-Flip seconded the sentiment, telling US Weekly that conceiving a child has "been very stressful" on their marriage. The Australian singer added, "Queer couples having kids, things not going your way, it's been pretty sad at times." However, the disappointment isn't making them give up. "We're still on that road, and we've had a few setbacks. But we're just navigating and going through the process," Stause added. Although the lovebirds are now on the same page about children. It wasn't always that way. The Netflix star knew she wanted to be a mother from the start, but the "About You" songstress had doubts. "When we met, I was ready, and G wasn't," Stause told the publication. The lovebirds met in 2021 shortly after Stause ended things with her "Selling Sunset" co-star Jason Oppenheim because he didn't want children. Luckily, the lovebirds were able to overcome the "hurdle", and G Flip changed their mind. Ever since, Stause says she has received nothing but support from her wife. "This is the first time I feel really confident going through this journey," she said before praising Melbourne producer for their parenting skills. Stause noted that G-Flip is naturally good with kids, and it is something she always loved. When G-Flip and Stause eventually become parents, they plan to raise their children in the singer's hometown of Australia. The "All My Children" alum called the country a "beautiful place" to raise a family. As for why she thinks so, Stause noted that the nation's politics, health care, and school systems are favorable. It also helps that her wife's family is there. "There's not a lot of bullying culture there," she added. However, the major concern for the 43-year-old is how America has become less progressive in recent times. "America's going backward and Australia is becoming more progressive," she candidly explained. Australia feels a little bit more like a good decision as opposed to every headline we see here lately." Back in March, Stause made headlines following the painful loss of her terrier mix, Gracie. The late pet, who often featured on "Selling Sunset," was adopted in 2016. She paid a tear-jerking tribute to her furry loved one, recalling fond memories they shared. "Our beloved Gracie left us peacefully today," she wrote. "Thank you to anyone that was a friend to her and helped make her life here better. It's impossible to post a fraction of the joy this angel brought me." In honor of Gracie, the realtor encouraged fans to adopt from the Burbank Animal Shelter, where she was gotten. "if you tell them Gracie's name, all adoption fees will be covered," Stause added.
