Human Sperm Penetration into Cervical Mucus in vitro: Correlation between Its Quality, Penetration Capacity and Velocity

Abstract

In vitro penetration tests of human sperm into cervical mucus were introduced in order to study the interaction between sperm and cervical mucus. In the present study the correlation between sperm velocity and penetration value has been assessed. 197 semen samples were run in the in vitro penetration test using semen of different qualities and cervical mucus of good quality. No differences were found either between sperm velocity in cervical mucus (17.3 ± 0.9 µm/s) and in semen (19.9 ± 0.8 µm/s) or at different distances measured along the flat capillary tube (1,2 and 3 cm). A highly significant correlation was found between sperm velocity and penetration value rates (p < 0.0001, r = 0.9). Thus, sperm velocity in semen is a variable of great importance in the assessment of the quality of the ejaculate.

Relationship between human sperm motility characteristics and sperm penetration into human cervical mucus in vitro

“…The (Table 4). (Ulstein & Fjallbrant, 1976;David et al, 1979;Insler, Bernstein, Glezerman & Misgav, 1979;Matthews, Makin & Cox, 1980;Amit et al, 1982;Schats et ai, 1984;Aitken et ai, 1985). However, the significant influence of sperm concentration, especially the concentration of progressive spermatozoa, has been less well described (Insler et al, 1979;David et al, 1979;Katzorke et ai, 1985).…”

Laboratory Efforts to Improve Motility of Human Sperm

“…The incidence of pregnancy is a multifactorial statistical probability which increases when the quality of the sperm is good, since a widely scattered range of sperm quality was found among fertile males. 6 Second to fertilization, the best biologic test to examine most of the characteristics of sperm cells is the cervical mucus penetration test. The postcoital test is preferred because it takes into account the interaction between the sperm and the mucus in vivo.…”