Are high-tech goggles the key to finding a secret swimmer?

A couple is expecting their first child after nearly two decades of trying, thanks to a groundbreaking artificial intelligence technique that uncovered “hidden” sperm in a man previously thought to be infertile.

This futuristic treatment, currently available only in New York, might provide renewed hope for many men who have been told they could not father biological children.

Research indicates that about 10% to 15% of men in the U.S. facing infertility issues are affected by a condition known as Azospermia, which means very few or no sperm are present in their semen.

“Sometimes, seminal samples appear normal, but under closer examination, you find only fragments of cells where sperm should be,” explained Dr. Zev Williams, who heads the Fertility Center at Columbia University.

Previously, men with Azospermia had limited options—most often either using donor sperm or undergoing painful surgical procedures to extract sperm directly from the testes.

Frustrated with these challenges, Dr. Williams and his team sought inspiration from the stars.

Using artificial intelligence technology typically employed by astrophysicists to discover distant celestial bodies, they spent about five years developing a system known as STAR (Sperm Tracking and Recovery) to detect viable sperm.

Remarkably, when tested on a sample that embryologists had explored for two days without success, the STAR system located 44 sperm in just one hour.

“We’re using the same technology that searches for life beyond our planet to help create new life here on Earth,” said Dr. Williams.

In March 2025, a woman named Rosie became the first person to become pregnant using this innovative method.

“There was practically nothing before,” Rosie, who is 38, shared in an interview. “We were racing against time, feeling the pressure of age—it was overwhelming.” Her husband provided a sperm sample, which the researchers analyzed using high-powered imaging, capturing over 8 million images in under an hour, eventually identifying three viable sperm cells.

Once found, these sperm can be quickly extracted by a robot, minimizing damage, unlike traditional techniques that can harm the cells.

“It’s like finding a needle in a haystack much larger than you can imagine, but with remarkable speed and accuracy,” Dr. Williams remarked.

After extraction, sperm are ready for immediate use in in vitro fertilization or can be frozen for later attempts.

In Rosie’s case, the doctor fertilized her eggs within two hours after collecting the sample, and the embryo was successfully transferred days later. Now five months pregnant, Rosie is still in disbelief. “Every morning, I can’t shake the thought of whether this is really happening,” she stated. The baby is expected in December.

The STAR system is available exclusively through Columbia University’s Fertility Center, with several other patients already undergoing the process.

According to Dr. Williams, the complete procedure—including sperm extraction and freezing—costs under $3,000. Comparatively, standard IVF in the U.S. usually falls between $12,400 and $15,000, often exceeding $30,000 with additional costs related to medications and genetic testing.

While this new technology presents exciting possibilities, some experts remain cautious. “It seems promising, but with any new medical technique, especially in reproductive health, we must carefully assess the data and conduct further research,” commented Robert Brannigan, president-elect of the American Association of Reproductive Medicine.

The development of this system comes at a time when male infertility is on the rise. One study noted a staggering 52.4% decrease in sperm counts among Western men between 1973 and 2011. Researchers are still trying to pinpoint the exact reasons, though they suspect lifestyle factors—such as environmental exposure, obesity, poor diet, and lack of exercise—play significant roles.

As infertility rates rise, more couples are exploring fertility treatments like IVF and systems such as STAR to build their families.

“Many men who were once deemed incapable of having biological children may finally have a chance,” Dr. Williams stated.