Preparation of oligozoospermic and/or asthenozoospermic semen for intrauterine insemination using the SpermPrep semen filtration column.
OBJECTIVE
To improve the quality of oligozoospermic and/or asthenozoospermic semen by the SpermPrep (Fertility Technologies Inc., Natick, MA) semen filtration column.


METHODS
The SpermPrep column was applied for semen manipulation in oligozoospermia and/or asthenozoospermia (sperm count less than 20 x 10(6)/mL, sperm motility less than 40%). After concentration of motile sperm using a 40% Percoll density gradient centrifugation, the sperm suspension was filtered through the SpermPrep column. The percentage yield of motile sperm by the SpermPrep method was compared with those by a two-layer Percoll density gradient (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) centrifugation and a swim-up method. Infertile couples with poor quality semen were treated with intrauterine insemination (IUI) with motile sperm by the three preparations through three cycles.


METHODS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-one couples with long-standing infertility because of poor quality semen.


METHODS
Recovery of motile sperm, sperm motility, and outcome of IUI were evaluated among three semen preparations.


RESULTS
Motility was improved by the SpermPrep method in 32 of 33 cases of oligozoospermia and/or asthenozoospermia. Percentage yield of motile sperm by the SpermPrep method was significantly greater than those by the two-layer Percoll density gradient and swim-up methods (42.7 +/- 4.6 versus 22.1 +/- 3.1 and 13.8 +/- 3.5), but there is no significant difference in the sperm motility among three semen preparations. After one treatment cycle for each preparation, 2 of 21 women conceived after IUI with motile sperm separated in the SpermPrep method.


CONCLUSIONS
The SpermPrep method is an improved semen manipulation method for oligozoospermia and/or asthenozoospermia.
Ohashi
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan.
Saji
F
F
Wakimoto
A
A
Kato
M
M
Tsutsui
T
T
Tanizawa
O
O
D002469:Cell Separation; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient / Q000379:methods; D004209:Disposable Equipment; D005260:Female; D005374:Filtration / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011205:Povidone; D012661:Semen; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology; D014599:Uterus
C016039:Percoll; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D011205:Povidone