ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We tested the usefulness of swim-down technique using human follicular fluid (hFF) in sperm preparation. METHODS: Semen samples were obtained from twelve male partners showing asthenozoospermia (sperm motility < 50%) at the time of routine andrologic evaluation in Seoul National University Bundang Hospital. After dividing into two aliquots, each samples were processed either by swim-down using 100% hFF or density gradient using SpermGrad. Sperm quality was assessed by computer-assisted semen analyzer (CASA). RESULTS: Motility, Rapid motility, VCL (curvilinear velocity), ALH (amplitude of lateral head displacement), and hyperactivated sperms were significantly increased, and LIN (mean linearity) was decreased significantly after sperm preparation in both groups. Motility was significantly higher after swim-down using 100% hFF when compared with density gradient using SpermGrad (81.2+/-4.7 vs. 67.6+/-2.3, p=0.02). The other parameters assessed by CASA were not different between the two methods. CONCLUSION: Swim-down method with 100% hFF may be a useful method in preparation of sperm from asthenozoospermia.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Asthenozoospermia , Follicular Fluid , Head , Semen , Seoul , SpermatozoaABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to compare two methods for the extraction of high motility sperm; the swim-up and swim-down techniques. The result showed that both methods produced greater sperm motility than the original semen. The motility of the sperm was lower in the swim-down method compared with the swim-up method (65.5+11.2% vs 76.5+10.1%; p<0.01).