A Survey of Semen Quality Evaluation in Microscopic Videos Using Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis

Abstract

The Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) plays a crucial role in male reproductive health diagnosis and Infertility treatment. With the development of the computer industry in recent years, a great of accurate algorithms are proposed. With the assistance of those novel algorithms, it is possible for CASA to achieve a faster and higher quality result. Since image processing is the technical basis of CASA, including pre-processing,feature extraction, target detection and tracking, these methods are important technical steps in dealing with CASA. The various works related to Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis methods in the last 30 years (since 1988) are comprehensively introduced and analysed in this survey. To facilitate understanding, the methods involved are analysed in the sequence of general steps in sperm analysis. In other words, the methods related to sperm detection (localization) are first analysed, and then the methods of sperm tracking are analysed. Beside this, we analyse and prospect the present situation and future of CASA. According to our work, the feasible for applying in sperm microscopic video of methods mentioned in this review is explained. Moreover, existing challenges of object detection and tracking in microscope video are potential to be solved inspired by this survey.

TOD-CNN: An Effective Convolutional Neural Network for Tiny Object Detection in Sperm Videos

“…With the continuous development of computer technology, researchers have tried to use computer-aided image analysis in many fields, such as whole-slide image analysis [2], histopathology image analysis [3,4,5], cytopathological analysis [6,7], COVID-19 image analysis [8,9], and microorganism counting [10]. In addition, in the field of semen analysis and diagnosis, researchers have also proposed many Computer Aided Semen Analysis (CASA) systems [11]. As the first step of the CASA system, sperm detection is one of the most important parts to support the reliability of sperm analysis results [12].…”