Characteristics of sperm donors and the eligibility rate of screening for sperm donation / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To investigate the relationship of the characteristics of sperm donors with the results of screening and provide some reference for the screening of sperm donors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We statistically analyzed the screening data about 12 362 sperm donors at the Guangdong Human Sperm Bank from January 2003 to June 2017 and the relationship of the eligibility rate of screening with the donors' age, education, occupation, marriage, and fatherhood.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Of the 12 362 sperm donors, 3 968 (32.1%) met the standards of semen quality and 3 127 (25.3%) filled all the requirements of sperm donation. The eligibility rate of screening was 27.7% in the donors aged 20－24 years, 24.3% in those aged 25－29 years, 23.8% in those aged 30－34 years, and 17.5% in those aged =≥35 years (P < 0.01); 23.5% in the senior high school students, 24% in the junior college students, 25.9% in the undergraduates, and 30.3% in the postgraduates (P < 0.01); 29.3% in the students versus 22.9% in the others (P < 0.01), 41.5% in the married versus 20.7% in the unmarried (P < 0.01), and 45.6% in the fathers versus 20.9% in the childless husbands (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>A higher eligibility rate of screening was found among the sperm donors aged <35 years or with a bachelor's or higher degree, particularly among students.</p>

Povidone-iodine versus the benzethonium chloride wipe for penile skin disinfection before semen collection from sperm donors / 中华男科学杂志

<p><b>Objective</b>To study the influence of povidone-iodine (PI) versus that of the benzethonium chloride wipe (BCW) on semen collection and semen quality of sperm donors undergoing penile skin disinfection and provide some evidence for the selection of disinfection methods for semen collection.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>We used PI from August to December 2015 and BCWs from January to July 2016 for penile skin disinfection before semen collection, with two samples from each donor, one collected with and the other without penis skin disinfection (the blank control group). After semen collection, we conducted a questionnaire investigation on the influence of the two disinfection methods on semen collection and compared the semen parameters between the two groups of sperm donors.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Totally, 185 sperm donors were included in this study, of whom 63 underwent penile skin disinfection with PI and the other 122 with BCWs before semen collection. Statistically significant differences were found between the PI and BCW groups in the adaptability to the disinfectant and rigid disinfection procedures (P <0.05), but not in the other items of the questionnaire (P >0.05). Compared with the sperm donors of the blank control group, those of the PI group showed statistically significant difference in the percentage of progressively motile sperm (PMS) (［63.02 ± 3.18］% vs ［61.45 ± 4.78］%, P<0.05), but not in the abstinence time (［4.97 ± 1.79］ vs ［4.7 ± 0.94］ d, P >0.05), semen volume (［4.11 ± 1.54］ vs ［4.15 ± 1.61］ ml, P >0.05), sperm concentration (［110 ± 29.6］ vs ［107.5 ± 31.79］ ×10⁶/ml, P >0.05), or total sperm count (［439.10 ± 170.13］ vs ［434.02 ± 186.91］ ×106/ejaculate, P >0.05), while those of the BCW group exhibited no remarkable difference in any of the above parameters (P >0.05). Among the samples with abnormal semen quality, significantly fewer were found with abnormal PMS in the BCW than in the PI group (1.64% ［2/122］ vs 9.68% ［6/62］, P <0.05). However, there were no significant differences between the PI and BCW groups in the abnormal semen volume, abnormal sperm concentration, or the rate of semen bacterial contamination (P >0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Before semen collection from donors, penile skin disinfection with povidone-iodine may affect both the semen collection process and the quality of donor sperm, while the benzethonium chloride wipe can reduce the influence on the semen collection process and does not affect the semen parameters.</p>

Inquiry Survey of Infertile Couples for Sperm Donation and Artificial Insemination by Donor

BACKGROUND: Artificial insemination by donor (AID) is important to chance the pregnancy in male infertile couples by requiring appropriate medical, legal and ethical reviews. The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception changes of AID to collect the basic information for establishing the sperm donation, cryopreservation and artificial insemination management system. METHODS: We evaluated the people's thought of sperm donation, cryopreservation, and artificial insemination by donor by means of national inquiry survey from 247 infertile couples for 4 weeks from October 2016. The questionnaires were composed of 4 areas, and each questionnaire consisted of 15 items. Changes in the perception of AID by year were investigated after review of domestic journals. RESULTS: 67.6% of respondents knew the growth of couples with difficulty getting pregnant due to male infertility. 82.2% of respondents replied the necessary of sperm bank as a treatment option for infertility and 40.5% knew the donation and receipt system of sperm. In the survey of change perception of AID according to year, 37.5% and 39.5% of respondents were got information about AID from doctor in 2003 and 2004, but 49.6% from broadcasting in 2016. As a child grows up, 4.0% (2003), 9.0% (2014), and 42.8% (2016) of respondents answered to tell the child about AID. CONCLUSIONS: Infertile couple's thought of AID about the extension of opportunities for male infertility treatment is changed. In conclusion, it is necessary to establish institutional system of sperm donation, cryopreservation and artificial insemination prior to public sperm bank operation.

Survey and Reflection on the Ethical Cognition of Human Sperm Bank among Sperm Donors / 中国医学伦理学

Objective:To investigate the ethical cognition of human sperm among the volunteers who intend to donor sperm,and to analyze the voluntteers' thoughts for donor behavior and its countermeasures.Methods:A questionnaire survey was conducted to investigate the volunteers who were the first time consulted sperm donation in the human sperm bank of the affiliated reproductive hospital of Shandong university.The cognition on the purpose of sperm,the causes of sperm shortage,privacy protection of the offspring,and the future of sperm banks in China were collected.Results:Donors were not well known the uses of sperm and privacy protection of the offspring.They thought traditional values and ethical worry caused sperm shortage and worried about the future of human sperm banks in China.Conclusion:The overall cognition on the sperm bank of the volunteers still exist certain one-sidedness and blind,which has seriously affected the enthusiasm of volunteers to donate sperm.The relevant departments should pay more attention to this,focus on promoting the propaganda and supervision work of ethical system of human sperm bank,construct objective,justice,and dedicative atmosphere for sperm donation,in order to dispel the volunteers' psychological concerns,and promote the healthy,fast and sustainable development of human sperm bank.

Multivariate model for predicting semen cryopreservation outcomes in a human sperm bank / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

Semen cryopreservation is widely used in assisted reproductive technologies, but it reduces sperm quality dramatically. The aim of this study was to develop a model using basal semen quality to predict the outcome of postthaw semen parameters and improve the efficiency of cryopreservation in a human sperm bank. Basal semen parameters of 180 samples were evaluated in the first stage, and a multiple logistic regression analysis involving a backward elimination selection procedure was applied to select independent predictors. After a comprehensive analysis of all results, we developed a new model to assess the freezability of sperm. Progressive motility (PR), straight-line velocity (VSL) and average path velocity (VAP) were included in our model. A greater area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was obtained in our model when compared with other indicators. In the second stage of our study, samples that satisfied the new model were selected to undergo freeze-thawing. Compared with the first stage, the rate of good freezability was increased significantly (94% vs 67%, P = 0.003). By determining basal semen quality, we have developed a new model to improve the efficiency of cryopreservation in a human sperm bank.

The current status of public sperm bank in Korea

Sperm banking is an important option to maintain the male fertilization capacity or induce pregnancy even though under the era of in vitro fertilization. The medical indications for sperm banking are generally consisted of 3 categories. There are cases on planning the permanent contraception like vasectomy or cancer patients to be scheduled the chemotherapy or radiotherapy as first category, male infertile patients with severe oligozoospermia or artificially harvested sperm ie, from microscopic epididymal sperm aspiration or testicular sperm extraction et cetera for the artificial insemination with husband sperm as second category, and the therapeutic donor insemination as third category. Of these three categories, the sperm donation program accompanies various complicated practical, ethical and legal issues. Therefore, highly regulated statements are mandatory in order to secure safety and the complete practices for voluntary sperm donors and infertile couples both. In aspect of administrative structure of sperm bank, there are 3 types that are national based to be established in the most of European countries and China, public based in Japan, and commercially available in the USA. Additionally, each country has different standard guidelines, regulation statements, act and law to control the sperm donation program as well as different cultural or religious background. Nevertheless, we need a consensus document to operate the sperm bank with the standard guidelines to be well revised according to each country's ethical perspectives as well as contemporary scientific evolution. This article will provide what is the Korean model for ideal sperm bank with the history of sperm cryopreservation and banking, background and prerequisite for the public sperm bank operation, and also expected effects.

Rapid thawing human sperm does not affect basic parameters in normozoospermic men: a double-blind prospective study

PURPOSE: To compare sperm recovery from slow versus rapid thawing technique using thirty-eight normozoospermic human sperm samples, as follows. Twenty-one samples from men taking part in routine infertility screening exams (infertile group) and seventeen from proven fertile volunteer men with at least one child (fertile group). MATERIALS AND METHODS: After analysis of motility, concentration, strict morphology and functional integrity of membranes, sperm was divided into two aliquots of 0.5 mL each and frozen in TyB-G medium. Samples were thawed at room temperature (25 ± 2º C) for 25 minutes (slow thaw) or in a water bath at 75º C for 20 seconds followed by water bath at 37º C for 3 minutes (rapid thaw). After thawing, motility, strict morphology and functional integrity of membranes were evaluated by a blinded investigator. The results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation for parametric variables and analyzed using Student's t-test. Data with unpaired non-parametric variables were expressed as median (interquartile range) and analyzed by the Mann-Whitney test. Wilcoxon test was used to analyze non-parametric paired variables. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between techniques for total and progressive motility, percentage of normal morphological forms, hypoosmotic swelling test. CONCLUSIONS: Although the rapid thawing protocol was completed in a shorter time (three minutes and 20 seconds versus 25 minutes, respectively), it wasn't harmful since both techniques showed comparable spermatozoa recovery. Additional research is needed to confirm its safety in clinical research before introducing this methodology in routine assisted reproduction.

Research on the Ethical Problems Caused by the Sperm Bank / 中国医学伦理学

This article explains the purpose of setting up the sperm bank, the role of the sperm bank in auxiliary reproduction technology, and exhaustively clarifies the ethical problems in the various aspects of the social life that are caused by the sperm bank, and finally it also proposes some relevant suggestions to these problems.