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

TL;DR

This survey reviews 30 years of computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) methods, focusing on image processing techniques for sperm detection and tracking, highlighting advancements, challenges, and future prospects in microscopic video analysis.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of CASA methods over three decades, emphasizing technical steps and future challenges in sperm detection and tracking.

Findings

Recent algorithms improve CASA speed and accuracy.

Detection and tracking remain challenging due to microscopic video complexities.

Future methods may overcome current detection and tracking limitations.

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.