Improved techniques for collecting motile spermatozoa from human semen

Abstract

A simple apparatus to collect moving sperm by non-traumatric means which can be used for artificial insemination [and in vitro fertilization] is described. The technique is based on enhancing the process of migration from the seminal fluid into a top-layered artificial medium in an ordinary test tube. When 58 semen specimens were analyzed, motility increased from 42 to 87%, velocity from 24.5 to 27.3 .mu.m/s, while abnormal forms dropped from 37 to 15%. The final concentration of motile sperm was 23 .times. 106/ml, compared to an original mean concentration of 34 .times. 106/ml, indicating a relative recovery of 68%. Oligoasthenospermic specimens revealed similar changes in sperm motility, velocity, morphology and recovery. However, due to the low initial content of moving sperm (4.8 .times. 106/ml), their final concentration was also low (2.7 .times. 106/ml). Such specimens required additional preliminary preparation to increase the sperm concentration prior to the migratory procedure.