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. 2023 Feb 6;11(2):467.
doi: 10.3390/biomedicines11020467.

Analyzing the Differential Impact of Semen Preparation Methods on the Outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Techniques

Riffat Bibi  1 , Sarwat Jahan  1 , Tayyaba Afsar  2 , Ali Almajwal  2 , Mohamad Eid Hammadeh  3 , Houda Amor  3 , Ali Abusharha  4 , Suhail Razak  2
Affiliations

Analyzing the Differential Impact of Semen Preparation Methods on the Outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Techniques

Riffat Bibi et al. Biomedicines. .

Abstract

Sperm separation plays a critical role in assisted reproductive technology. Based on migration, density gradient centrifugation and filtration, a properly selected sperm could help in increasing assisted reproductive outcomes in teratozoospermia (TZs). The current study aimed to assess the prognostic value of four sperm selection techniques: density gradient centrifugation (DGC), swim-up (SU), DGC-SU and DGC followed by magnetic-activated cell sorting (DGC-MACS). These were evaluated using spermatozoa functional parameters. A total of 385 infertile couples underwent the procedure of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), with an isolated teratozoospermia in the male partner. Semen samples were prepared by using one of the mentioned sperm preparation techniques. The improvements in the percentage of normal mature spermatozoa, rate of fertilization, cleavage, pregnancy and the number of live births were assessed. The normal morphology, spermatozoa DNA fragmentation (SDF) and chromatin maturity checked by using chromomycin A3 (CMA3) with DGC-MACS preparation were better compared to the other three methods. Embryo cleavage, clinical pregnancy and implantation were better improved in the DGC-MACS than in the other tested techniques. The DGC-MACS technique helped in the selection of an increased percentage of normal viable and mature sperm with intact chromatin integrity in patients with teratozoospermia.

Keywords: assisted reproductive technique; density gradient centrifugation; magnetic-activated cell sorting; sperm DNA fragmentation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Values of CMA3+ % (a) from neat semen samples and (b) measured after spermatozoa selection using DGC-SU, DGC, SU and DGC-MACS. Semen samples separated here by ≤20 and >20% SDF. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of different semen preparation methods on assisted conception outcomes. (a) Number of MIIs (mature oocytes), number of day three embryos, number of grade one embryos and number of embryos transferred; (b) percentage of mature oocytes, fertilization rate, cleavage rate and blastocyst rate.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of different semen preparation methods on assisted conception outcomes. (a) Number of MIIs (mature oocytes), number of day three embryos, number of grade one embryos and number of embryos transferred; (b) percentage of mature oocytes, fertilization rate, cleavage rate and blastocyst rate.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Box plot showing clinical (a) pregnancy rate and (b) implantation rate in couples in which semen preparation was done using the DGC-SU, DGC, SU and DGC-MACS methods.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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