Comparison of the methods of separating high-quality sperm for intrauterine insemination / 中华男科学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To analyze and compare the pregnancy rates of intrauterine insemination (IUI) achieved by 3 optimized methods of separating high-quality sperm.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>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.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>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).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>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.</p>