title: A comparative study of raw and prepared semen samples from two consecutive days.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study and compare raw and prepared semen samples from two consecutive days by conventional sperm parameters, various motility characteristics of spermatozoa determined by computer-aided sperm analysis and calcium ionophore-induced acrosome reaction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Semen samples of male partners in couples undergoing 81 cycles of double intrauterine insemination were studied. The first sample was produced after abstinence of 2-7 days and the second, 24 hours after the first. Both samples were processed by isolate sperm separation medium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Semen volume, sperm concentration and total motile spermatozoa were significantly reduced in day 2 raw and prepared samples, whereas normal morphology, motility characteristics and percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa increased significantly in day 2 inseminated samples as compared to day 1. Oligospermic, asthenospermic and teratozoospermic samples showed a significant improvement in concentration, various motility characteristics and normal morphology of spermatozoa in day 2 samples as compared to day 1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Men with normal samples showed improvements in normal morphology and acrosome-reacted spermatozoa, whereas those with subnormal semen samples from day 1 showed a significant improvement in concentration, various spermatozoal velocities and normal morphology on day 2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Queen Mary Hospital, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Makkar
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Ho
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000328:Adult; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D006801:Humans; D007315:Insemination, Artificial; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D012746:Sexual Abstinence; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013997:Time Factors