Before starting a pregnancy program, sperm selection is conducted to choose sperm with good quality, enhancing the chances of conception. What types of sperm selection are performed on men?
Are you preparing to start a pregnancy program? Before beginning, you will undergo a series of fertility tests. The basic examination for women is a transvaginal ultrasound, while men will undergo sperm analysis.
But do you know how sperm selection for a pregnancy program works? Before starting the program, sperm with the best quality will be selected to maximize fertilization.
Types of Sperm Selection for Pregnancy Programs
Sperm selection or sperm preparation is the process where sperm cells are chosen based on their movement (motility), shape (morphology), or are separated from poor-quality sperm. There are 7 types of sperm selection methods to choose sperm with the best quality. What are they? Let’s explore them.
Selecting the Sperm Washing Method According to the Husband’s Initial Condition
This type of sperm selection is tailored to the father’s condition. There are 4 types of sperm preparation methods; not all fathers need to undergo all four, but one is chosen.
Density Gradient Centrifugation
Density gradient centrifugation is a sperm preparation method where sperm is separated from seminal plasma. This process is carried out to improve sperm quality, separate motile sperm from non-motile ones, and remove less desirable components of the seminal plasma that could affect the sperm. This sperm selection method is usually used for intrauterine insemination programs.
Tanya Ferly tentang Promil?
“It’s like using a filter, so the sperm is forced to pass through this filter. The sperm we collect will be the ones at the bottom,” said Dr. Gito Wasian, Sp.And, an andrology specialist at Bocah Indonesia.
Swim Up
Swim up is a sperm selection method used to enhance sperm quality during the fertilization process, helping to increase the chances of pregnancy. In this method, sperm cells with better motility migrate to the top, where the sperm culture is located.
Unlike density gradient centrifugation, according to Dr. Gito Wasian, Sp.And, the sperm collected through the swim up method are those at the top.
“Swim up is like giving some space, so the sperm will swim upwards. The sperm at the top are the ones we collect,” he added.
Simple Washing
Simple washing is a sperm washing method where sperm is separated from the seminal fluid. The washed sperm is then used in intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization (IVF) programs.
Combination
Combination is a mix of the above methods: density gradient centrifugation and swim up.
2. Side Migration Technique (SMT)
The side migration technique (SMT) is a sperm selection method used to prepare a very low-quality semen sample for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
3. Barrier Technique with PVP (Polyvinylpyrrolidone)
In the barrier technique, sperm is filtered using a specific medium like polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP), where abnormal sperm is trapped in the PVP, and high-quality sperm can penetrate the barrier formed.
4. Fastest Sperm Capture
Fastest sperm capture is a sperm selection method based on sperm motility. The fastest-moving sperm are captured, and their tails are broken to enhance fertilization success.
PICSI (Physiological Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is a method used to select the highest quality sperm before injecting it into an egg. This process is done using a special dish coated with the enzyme hyaluronan. It is typically used for couples with fertility issues involving high levels of DNA fragmentation.
The IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morphologically-Selected Sperm Injection) method is a sperm selection technique that uses a microscope with a special lens. This technique is even more advanced than ICSI, as it allows magnification up to 6000 times to select the best sperm.
7. Laser-Assisted Sperm Selection/Immobilization
Laser-assisted sperm selection/immobilization is a technique for selecting sperm using a laser to differentiate between live and dead sperm in cases where the spermatozoa are completely immobile. This technique is used for specific indications, such as sperm retrieved through MESA and TESA methods, and conditions like asthenospermia, where sperm are immobile or dead. Spermatozoa that exhibit a bending reaction are considered viable and can be used for ICSI treatment.
Genetically, sperm contributes 50% of the embryo’s genetic quality, so it’s crucial to perform optimal sperm selection. Sperm selection is done in andrology and embryology laboratories.
Those are some of the sperm selection methods used before starting a pregnancy program, helping to maximize the chances of conception. Make sure to check your fertility conditions!
Source:
Lestari, SW. (2023). Inovasi Seleksi Sperma pada Teknologi Reproduksi Berbantu: Pentingnya Kesehatan Reproduksi Pria Dalam Rangka Menciptakan Sumber Daya Manusia yang Sehat, Menuju Indonesia Emas 2045.https://dgb.ui.ac.id/wp-content/uploads/123/2023/11/Buku-Pidato-Pengukuhan-Prof.Silvia-FINAL.pdf
Davies, NJ. (1999). Sperm Preparation for Intra—Uterine Insemination. Journal Sogc 1295 December 1999.https://www.jogc.com/article/S0849-5831(16)30051-9/pdf
Lopez, IO., et al. (2019). Novel Techniques of Sperm Selection for Improving IVF and ICSI Outcomes. Front Cell Dev Biol. 2019; 7: 298.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6896825/
Hinting, A., Lunardhi, H. (2001). Better sperm selection for intracytoplasmic sperm injection with the side migration technique. Andrologia. 2001 Nov;33(6):343-6.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11736794/
Suyono, SS. (2020). Density Gradient Centrifugation Pra-freezing Mengoptimalkan Persentase Morfologi Normal Spermatozoa Pasca-thawing. Majalah Kedokteran Bandung, Volume 50 No. 3, September, 2018.https://repository.unair.ac.id/95962/1/Density%20Gradient%20Centrifugation%20Pra-freezing%20Mengoptimalkan%20Persentase%20Morfologi%20Normal%20Spermatozoa%20Pasca-thawing.pdf
Suyono, SS., et al. (2018). Density Gradient Centrifugation Pra-freezing Mengoptimalkan Persentase Morfologi Normal Spermatozoa Pasca-thawing.
