Artificial intelligence - a novel tool in assisted reproduction technology

The fertility rates have declined in many industrialized countries during the last decades. This can partly be explained by social and economic conditions, but may also be due to a rise in fertility problems. Between 10 and 15 percent of couples are involuntarily childless.

Over the last decades, there has been a development of assisted reproduction technology, and the use of such treatment, also called in vitro fertilization (IVF), is increasing.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a treatment for couples where the male has reduced semen quality, although sometimes also used when the semen quality is normal. By this method, the sperm is injected directly into the egg cell, whereas in ordinary IVF, sperm and egg are mixed in a dish, and one of the sperm cells fertilizes the egg.

The decision about which fertilized egg, called embryo, should be transferred to the woman is based on the appearance of the embryo and how it develops during the first few days after fertilization. Likewise, the sperm used for ICSI is selected upon examination of some characteristics, like the movement and appearance.

The evaluation of embryo and sperm is performed by embryologists, but there are no clear criteria for prediction of pregnancy. And this subjective assessment may not recognize important information for achieving pregnancy.