[Comparison of the methods of separating high-quality sperm for intrauterine insemination].
OBJECTIVE
To analyze and compare the pregnancy rates of intrauterine insemination (IUI) achieved by 3 optimized methods of separating high-quality sperm.


METHODS
The data from 452 infertile couples who underwent 671 IUI cycles in our reproductive medicine center were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into three groups: 5% HSA Earle's swim-up, SpermRinse swim-up and SupraSperm density gradient centrifugation according to different methods for separating high-quality sperm, and the clinical pregnancy rates were compared.


RESULTS
In the 5% HSA Earle's swim-up group, 21 pregnancies were achieved in 221 cycles (9.5%) and in the SpermRinse swim-up group, 34 in 215 cycles (15.8%), with a significantly higher rate in the latter than in the former (P < 0.05). In the SupraSperm density gradient centrifugation group, there were 34 pregnancies in 235 cycles (14.5%), with no statistically significant difference from the other two groups (P > 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The SpermRinse swim-up method can improve the clinical pregnancy rate and is suitable for various types of sterile patients. SupraSperm density gradient centrifugation, as an effective method available for separating high-quality sperm, is particularly suitable for those with lots of inflammatory cells and dead and abnormal sperm in the semen.
She
Hong
H
Reproductive Medicine Center, Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital, Yangzhou, Jiangsu 225001, China. shehong@126.com
Dong
Nai-Jun
NJ
Yuan
Yang-Yang
YY
D000328:Adult; D002499:Centrifugation, Density Gradient; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007247:Infertility, Female / Q000628:therapy*; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility