How a London Diagnostic Centre Built an AI-Driven Semen Analysis Platform
From Manual Microscopy to Machine-Assisted Insight — and Why This Shift Matters for Male Fertility Care in 2026
Why Semen Analysis Needed a Rethink
Semen analysis remains one of the most important tests in reproductive medicine. Yet, for decades, the core process barely changed.
Across many laboratories, results still depend on manual microscopy, human judgement, and time-pressured workflows. That approach works — but it has limits.
Variability between observers. Inconsistent reporting. Difficulty comparing results over time. Limited ability to turn observations into structured data.
At Marylebone Diagnostic Centre (MDC), we reached a clear conclusion:
male fertility diagnostics must move from observation-led testing to data-led systems.
That decision triggered a multi-year journey — one that led MDC to develop an AI-assisted semen analysis platform, embedded within a wider diagnostic stack that includes hormones, urine testing, PSA monitoring, and clinical interpretation.
This article explains why MDC built it, how it works, and what it changes for patients, clinicians, and fertility pathways.
The Problem with Traditional Semen Analysis
Semen analysis looks simple on paper. In practice, it is one of the most technically sensitive tests in diagnostics.
Core Challenges in Conventional Workflows
| Challenge | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Observer variability | Two scientists can score the same sample differently |
| Subjective morphology grading | Borderline forms often lead to disagreement |
| Limited reproducibility | Hard to track subtle changes over time |
| Manual data entry | Increases error risk |
| Snapshot reporting | Results often lack trend context |
These issues do not reflect poor laboratory practice. They reflect human limits in a test that demands precision, consistency, and repeatability.
As male fertility awareness grows, patients increasingly ask deeper questions:
- Has my motility changed since last year?
- Is morphology improving or worsening?
- How does this relate to hormones or lifestyle?
Answering those questions requires structured data, not just descriptive text.
Why MDC Chose to Build, Not Buy
Many systems promise automation. Few integrate properly into clinical workflows.
MDC’s goal was not to replace scientists. It was to augment expertise with technology that improves consistency and long-term insight.
Several principles guided the development process:
- Clinical control remains central
- Data quality must improve, not just speed
- Results must support patient conversations
- Systems must scale across profiles and services
Rather than adopting a black-box solution, MDC focused on building a platform that works with laboratory professionals, not around them.
From Microscope Slides to Structured Data
At the heart of MDC’s platform is the SCA System — technology that allows software to identify, track, and quantify sperm characteristics across video microscopy.
What Machine Vision Changes
| Parameter | Manual Approach | AI-Assisted Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Motility | Visual estimation | Object tracking across frames |
| Concentration | Manual counting | Automated field analysis |
| Morphology | Subjective grading | Pattern-based recognition |
| Documentation | Notes | Structured datasets |
| Review | Single snapshot | Time-based analysis |
Instead of relying solely on what the eye sees in one moment, the platform analyses movement, shape, and behaviour over time, producing consistent datasets that can be reviewed, audited, and compared.
The Role of Scientists: Augmented, Not Replaced
A common misconception is that AI removes clinical judgement. In reality, MDC’s system strengthens it.
Every result is:
- Generated using automated analysis
- Reviewed by trained laboratory professionals
- Interpreted within clinical context
This hybrid approach delivers the best of both worlds:
- Consistency from machines
- Judgement from experts
Why Data Matters in Male Fertility
Male fertility is not static. It changes with age, stress, illness, medication, lifestyle, and environment.
Traditional reports struggle to reflect that reality. MDC’s platform enables trend-based insight, not just single-point assessment.
Example: Longitudinal Fertility Tracking
| Timepoint | Concentration | Progressive Motility | Morphology |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 48 million/ml | 42% | 6% |
| Year 2 | 44 million/ml | 38% | 5% |
| Year 3 | 39 million/ml | 31% | 4% |
Seen individually, each result may appear “acceptable”. Seen together, the pattern tells a different story.
This is where diagnostics become predictive, not just descriptive.
Integrating Semen Analysis with Hormone Profiles
Semen analysis alone is rarely enough. At MDC, semen results are routinely paired with male fertility hormone panels, including:
- Testosterone
- Free testosterone
- FSH
- LH
- SHBG
- Prolactin
Why Integration Matters
| Finding | Semen Data | Hormone Context |
|---|---|---|
| Low motility | Reduced movement | Low testosterone |
| Poor morphology | Structural changes | Elevated FSH |
| Declining count | Progressive trend | Pituitary imbalance |
This layered approach transforms isolated numbers into actionable clinical insight.
The Overlooked Role of Urine Diagnostics
Urine testing plays a quiet but essential role in male reproductive health.
At MDC, urine analysis supports semen interpretation by identifying:
- Genitourinary infections
- Inflammatory markers
- Metabolic contributors
- Renal function indicators
Urine–Semen Correlation Examples
| Urine finding | Potential impact |
|---|---|
| Infection markers | Reduced motility |
| Elevated protein | Systemic health stress |
| Inflammatory cells | Sperm DNA damage risk |
Without urine data, these links are often missed.
PSA: Fertility, Ageing, and Long-Term Risk
While PSA is not a fertility test, it plays a crucial contextual role — especially in men over 40.
MDC integrates PSA testing as part of broader male health profiling to:
- Establish baseline prostate markers
- Monitor trends over time
- Support informed clinical decisions
PSA in a Diagnostic Ecosystem
| PSA role | Clinical value |
|---|---|
| Baseline | Long-term monitoring |
| Trend analysis | Risk awareness |
| Contextual review | Avoids isolated interpretation |
This reflects MDC’s philosophy: no test should exist in isolation.
Where IV Therapy Fits — and Where It Doesn’t
IV therapy is often misunderstood.
At MDC, IV therapy is supportive, not diagnostic. It is used after data-driven assessment, not before.
Common use cases include:
- Nutrient repletion following deficiencies
- Recovery support during fertility optimisation
- Clinical supervision for safety and appropriateness
Diagnostic-First Approach
| Step | MDC process |
|---|---|
| 1 | Blood, semen, urine testing |
| 2 | Clinical review |
| 3 | Targeted IV support |
| 4 | Follow-up testing |
This avoids guesswork and reinforces evidence-based care.
Why This Matters to Patients
Patients today expect more than a PDF result.
They want:
- Clarity
- Consistency
- Context
- Confidence
MDC’s AI-assisted semen platform delivers:
- Reduced variability
- Clearer explanations
- Better longitudinal tracking
- More meaningful consultations
Why This Matters to Fertility Clinics
For partner clinics, MDC functions as a diagnostic intelligence layer.
Benefits include:
- Reliable data inputs
- Faster decision-making
- Reduced repeat testing
- Improved patient trust
This shifts diagnostics from a bottleneck to a strategic asset.
The Bigger Picture: Diagnostics as Infrastructure
The most important insight from MDC’s journey is this:
Diagnostics is no longer a service. It is infrastructure.
In fertility, longevity, and preventative medicine, outcomes depend on the quality of data beneath them.
By building its own AI-assisted semen analysis platform, MDC positioned itself not just as a laboratory, but as a data-driven diagnostic centre prepared for the next decade of healthcare.
Final Thoughts
Male fertility deserves the same technological attention as imaging, genomics, and oncology.
By combining:
- Machine vision
- Laboratory expertise
- Hormone profiling
- Urine diagnostics
- PSA monitoring
- Evidence-led IV therapy
MDC has created a modern fertility diagnostic ecosystem, designed for accuracy, continuity, and trust.
This is not automation for its own sake.
It is diagnostics done properly.
