In Japan, scientists have found another way of assessing the probability of male sterility. The novel technique is based on artificial intelligence (AI) and a mere blood analysis. Easier than what used to be done.
Key points
Normally, doctors test for fertility issues in men by testing their semen. This can embarrassing for some men. Additionally, not all hospitals have the capability to perform this test hence making it difficult for some individuals to get tested.
However, things are different now because a group from Toho University in Tokyo has taught a computer how to examine results from a simple blood test and tell if someone may be having fertility problems or not. This new method of AI is correct about 74% of the time, which is quite good.
The best part? This new test can identify the most severe forms of male infertility with unerring accuracy every time! Professor Hideyuki Kobayashi, one of the creators of this latest assessment tool clarifies that it was not designed to totally replace its predecessor but as an initial step towards more robust investigations. If suspicions arise from AI during evaluation, then patients will still require specialist physicians for further screening.
A lot of people could benefit from this new approach. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 50% of couples who cannot conceive are due to men’s factors alone; however many men don’t get checked out because they find it inconvenient or hard.
More men might accept being examined through this fresh blood check-up instead. In addition, it is more convenient and less embarrassing and can be carried out at multiple locations. Consequently physicians could detect issues earlier on and assist more couples aspiring for kids.
Between 2011 till 2020, over three thousand six hundred males underwent both semen and blood tests whose data were used in training their AI program on prior patients before being rechecked on new samples between January 2021-May 2022 (Toho University). Although it cannot be termed as a perfect program, the current AI method had a good performance and was excellent particularly in terms of identifying acute male infertility.
These researchers are now collaborating with CreaTact Inc., which is expected to let this test become available at regular clinics and health centers. They expect that checking for male sterility will be as simple as having any other blood test during a visit to the healthcare facility soon.
This again is an example of how technology has impacted on medicine. This has made some things that were previously considered difficult much easier and has increased the ability of doctors to help more patients. As technological advancements improve, we may see even more ways that AI can improve healthcare services for everybody.
