Sperm immobilization test and quantitative sperm immobilization test using frozen-thawed sperm preparation applied with computer-aided sperm analysis.

PURPOSE: In a previous study, a new method was described using the sperm immobilization test (SIT) with computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA). However, obtaining high-quality sperm as needed was a known issue. Here, we compared the results of using frozen-thawed sperm and fresh sperm for the SIT using the CASA method. METHODS: For the frozen-thawed preparation, 500 µL of condensed semen and 500 µL of Sperm Freeze were mixed in a cryovial and cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Density gradient centrifugation was used for the collection of motile sperm in both the fresh and frozen-thawed sperm preparations. A total of 50 serum samples were prepared for both the fresh and frozen-thawed sperm with each sample tested containing 10 µL of serum, 1 µL of either fresh or frozen motile sperm suspension, and 2 µL of complement. Sperm motilities were measured using CASA after a 1-hour incubation period for both fresh and frozen-thawed sperm. RESULTS: Both fresh and frozen-thawed sperm reacted similarly when exposed to serum containing sperm-immobilizing antibodies asserting the use of frozen-thawed sperm for the diagnosis of immunological infertility. CONCLUSION: These results suggest the possibility of using cryopreserved sperm for the SIT when fresh sperm is unavailable.

Association between spontaneous ovulation and serum anti-Müllerian hormone levels in a premature ovarian insufficiency patient after a multimodal treatment for breast cancer.

The high toxicity of chemotherapy can damage a patient's gonadal function, leading to premature ovarian insufficiency (POI). Here, we report the case of a patient suffering from POI after chemotherapy for breast cancer, who 3 years later ovulated spontaneously and became pregnant. The patient, a 31-year-old infertile women, nulligravida, was diagnosed with breast cancer. The Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) level in her serum was 1.85 ng/mL before multimodal treatment for cancer. She later visited our hospital for amenorrhea and 2 years after cancer treatment, she was diagnosed with POI. Her AMH level at that point was less than 0.1 ng/mL. One year after the diagnosis of POI, the patient's AMH level increased slightly to 0.14 ng/mL and she ovulated spontaneously. The patient later became pregnant using Assisted Reproductive Technology on the fourth attempt.During the course of treatment for infertility at our hospital, the AMH levels in her serum changed along with the recovery of ovarian function. These findings suggest the possibility that ovulation and pregnancy could be predicted by the chronological changes of the AMH levels in the patient's serum.