No abstract

Introduction.

Summary To improve the quality of sperm for intra‐uterine insemination (IUI) or in‐vitro fertilization (IVF) swim‐up (SU) and migration‐sedimentation (MS) methods were compared, for the selection of morphologically normal and motile sperm. In 74 patients consulting for couple infertility, it was shown that MS gave a better yield of motile sperm than did SU. An improvement in morphology and motility was achieved, especially in asthenospermia (motility <40%) and/or teratospermia (normal shape <40%). The percentage of midpiece and tail abnormalities was lowered by the MS technique. It is proposed that the MS method be used for IUI and IVF, adapting the number of tubes to the initial sperm concentration.

We have examined the IVF results in couples in which the husband had low fructose level as the only abnormal semen parameter. Oocyte cleavage level and pregnancy rate were not different in this group when compared to the overall population. A sperm factor responsible for the oocyte cleavage failure was found in only three couples out of seventeen. It was not possible to define its caracteristics.