Artificial intelligence in sperm morphology analysis: a comprehensive review

Sperm morphology is a crucial indicator for evaluating male fertility potential, as a morphologically normal spermatozoon is a prerequisite for successful fertilization. Consequently, sperm morphology analysis constitutes an essential component of semen analysis, aiming to assess the developmental integrity of spermatozoa. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been increasingly applied to sperm morphology assessment, with numerous research groups currently exploring its applications. This review provides a comprehensive overview of AI applications in sperm morphology analysis, focusing on current implementations, recent advancements, inherent advantages of AI and potential future directions. The objective is to provide a balanced assessment of both the capabilities and current limitations of these technologies, offering insights that may guide further development and facilitate future clinical translation in this field.