A study led by Associate Professor Hideyuki Kobayashi from the Department of Urology at Toho University School of Medicine in Tokyo, Japan, has introduced an AI model that can predict the risk of male infertility using only hormone levels from a blood test, eliminating the need for semen analysis. This breakthrough, published in Scientific Reports on July 31, 2024, could significantly improve accessibility to infertility diagnosis.
Infertility affects approximately half of couples, with male factors contributing to about 50% of the cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). While semen analysis is a crucial diagnostic tool for male infertility, it is often unavailable at general medical facilities and requires specialized clinics for testing.
Professor Kobayashi’s research focused on creating an AI model that can predict male infertility with data from blood tests, including measurements of key hormones such as LH, FSH, testosterone, and E2. The model, developed using AI software that does not require programming skills, was trained on data from 3,662 patients and achieved an accuracy rate of 74%. Notably, the model correctly predicted non-obstructive azoospermia, the most severe form of male infertility, with 100% accuracy.
The study involved clinical data from 2011 to 2020, where both semen and hormone tests were performed on the patients. The semen analysis measured semen volume, sperm concentration, and motility, while the hormone tests measured several reproductive hormones. A total motile sperm count (calculated from semen volume, sperm concentration, and motility) was used as a key factor in the AI model’s predictions.
Further validation in 2021 and 2022 showed that the model’s accuracy varied with the data from those years. In 2021, the model achieved 58% accuracy, and in 2022, it reached 68%. However, the model remained 100% accurate in predicting non-obstructive azoospermia in both years.
Professor Kobayashi emphasized that this AI model is designed to serve as an initial screening tool before conducting more comprehensive semen analysis. It is not meant to replace semen tests but could offer a more accessible option for initial infertility assessments, especially in non-specialized healthcare settings.
CreaTact, Inc., a software development company in Japan, is working with Professor Kobayashi on commercializing the AI model. The goal is to make it available to clinical laboratories and health checkup centers, enabling easier access to male infertility screening.
This innovative AI model could help overcome barriers to infertility testing, making it more widely available to those in need of diagnosis.
The full study was published in Scientific Reports on July 31, 2024.
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