PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare sperm concentration, motility, viability, and morphology using Percoll gradient, PureSperm gradient, and the swim-up method in normal semen samples. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten normal semen samples were divided into three fractions. Motile sperm were isolated with Percoll gradient, PureSperm gradient, and swim-up method. Sperm concentration, motility, viability, and morphology were determined before and after separation. RESULTS: The sperm concentrations were not significantly different among the three METHODS: Percoll gradient(34.3+/-9.4x10(6)/ml), PureSperm gradient(37.6+/-16.6x10(6)/ml), and swim-up(27.3+/-6.4x106/ml). There was no significant difference in sperm motility among the three METHODS: Percoll gradient(93.5+/-1.6%), PureSperm gradient(92.7+/-4.4%), and swim-up(95.7+/-2.7%). When sperm motility was measured 24 hr later, the results were similar among the three METHODS: Percoll gradient(81.7+/-15.5%), PureSperm gradient(84.3+/-12.2%), and swim-up(89.4+/-5.1%). Sperm viability and morphology were slightly higher in swim-up method than the other methods, but the differences were not statistically significant. Sperm viability datas were: Percoll gradient(85.5+/-5.5%), PureSperm gradient(85.6+/-3.7%), and swim-up(88.6+/-6.6%). Morphology datas were: Percoll gradient(82.0+/-10.7%), PureSperm gradient(73.9+/-9.3%), and swim-up(83.7+/-8.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The swim-up method resulted in viability and morphology that were slightly higher than the other methods. However, all methods were useful for sperm preparation in normal semen samples.
Semen* ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

No abstract available.
Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa*

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Sperm Motility* ; Spermatozoa*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of the depth of the sperm counting chamber on sperm motility.

METHODSWe measured the depths of sperm counting chambers using the Filmetrics F20 Spectral Reflectance Thin-Film Measurement System. Then, according to the WHO5 manual, we analyzed 36 semen samples for the percentages of progressively motile sperm (PR) and non-progressively motile sperm (NP) and sperm motility (PR + NP) with the Ruiqi CFT-9201 computer-aided sperm analysis system, and compared the results of analysis.

RESULTSThe depths of the 4 sperm counting chambers were 9.8, 12.7, 15.7 and 19.9 microm, respectively, and the obtained PR were (44.00 +/- 11.63), (41.96 +/- 12.62), (40.86 +/- 11.71) and (37.78 +/- 11.38)%, NP (13.54 +/- 3.01), (14.13 +/- 2.94), (14.91 +/- 3.02) and (16.53 +/- 2.77)%, and sperm motility (57.53 +/- 11.06), (56.08 +/- 11.97), (55.78 +/- 11.55) and (54.31 +/- 12.11)% from the 4 chambers, respectively. The depth of the sperm counting chamber was correlated negatively with PR (r = -0.993, P < 0.05) and sperm motility (r = -0.978, P < 0.05), but positively with NP (r = 0.989, P < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences between the 9.8 microm and 19.9 microm deep chambers in PR and NP (P < 0.05) though not in sperm motility among the 4 chambers of different depths.

CONCLUSIONThe impact of the depth of the sperm counting chamber on sperm motility should not be ignored, for the deviation of the results from the chambers of different depths may lead clinicians to incorrect diagnosis and consequently inappropriate therapeutic approaches. Different reference ranges of sperm motility need to be normalized in correspondence to the depths of sperm counting chambers.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the sperm quality of college students in Chengdu area.

METHODSA computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was made of the sperm concentration, grade A sperm, grade B sperm, sperm viability rate and movement parameters (VCL, VAP, VSL, LIN, STR) of 549 volunteers from 14 colleges in Chengdu area. The volunteers were divided into normal and abnormal groups according to the criteria (sperm concentration > or = 20 x 10(6)/ml, grade A and B sperm > or = 50% or grade A sperm > or = 25%). The results were compared with the data reported in China.

RESULTSAmong the 549 volunteers, the sperm concentration was (50.90 +/- 27.31) x 10(6)/ml, grade A and B sperm was (42.21 +/- 15.38)%, grade A sperm was (29.48 +/- 13.71)%, and the sperm viability rate was (56.40 +/- 14.77)%. The volunteers with normal sperm accounted for 62.84% (345/549) in contrast with abnormal (37.16%, 204/549). Among the 204 volunteers with abnormal sperms, there were 187 (90.67%) with abnormal motility, 39 (19.21%) with abnormal concentration, 22 (10.78%) with both abnormal concentration and abnormal motility. There were no volunteers without sperm. Among the 345 volunteers with normal sperm, the VCL, VAP and VSL were above 25 microns/s, and the VCL, VAP, VSL, LIN and STR were significantly higher than those of the abnormal group (P < 0.01). Moreover, the sperm concentration and the sperm viability rate in 549 volunteers, including 345 volunteers with normal sperm, were lower than the data reported in China.

CONCLUSIONSDue attention should be paid to the sperm quality of the college students in Chengdu area, whose sperm concentration and sperm viability rate have a tendency to decrease.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare the semen parameters of two successive samples obtained within an interval of less than 60 minutes from patients planning to undergo intrauterine insemination (IUI) whose first samples exhibited low semen quality. METHODS: Thirty-two consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. On the day of IUI, the semen analysis of the samples initially presented by all patients met at least two of the following criteria: sperm concentration <5×10(6)/mL, total sperm count <10×10(6), progressive sperm motility (a+b) in the native sample <30%, and total motile sperm count (TMSC) <4×10(6). A successive semen sample was obtained no more than 60 minutes after the first sample. RESULTS: Compared to the first sample, the second exhibited significantly (p<0.05) improved sperm concentration, TMSC, progressive motility, and vitality. Regarding TMSC, the most critical parameter on the day of IUI, 23 patients (71.8%) improved it, while nine (28.2%) displayed poorer outcomes. CONCLUSION: In defined cases, requesting a second successive ejaculate on the day of insemination may result in a high percentage of cases in an improvement of the quality of the sample.
Humans ; Insemination* ; Semen Analysis ; Semen* ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa

The analysis of sperm morphology can be used to evaluate sperm fertilizing ability and spontaneous conception status, and especially the overall analysis of the sperm head, neck and tail, along with the patient's living habits, occupation and clinical manifestations, may contribute to the primary diagnosis of the patients potentia generandi. It can also be employed to assess the effects of the treatment of semen samples. Although oocyte fertilization can be achieved by the technologies of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME) and intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) regardless of sperm morphology and / or motility, which may somewhat weaken the clinical application of sperm morphology analysis, the standardized procedure and the practice of quality control for the analysis of sperm morphology can significantly improve the accuracy of its results and largely promote its clinical application. Therefore, it is of positive necessity as well as clinical application value to perform sperm morphology analysis in andrology laboratories, reproductive centers, sperm banks and the department of laboratory medicine.
Humans ; Male ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic ; methods ; Sperm Motility

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of two different surgical methods for varicocelectomy, and to assess the effects of varicocelectomy on semen parameters in subinfertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 63 patients with clinically palpable varicocele and abnormal semen parameters who underwent varicocelectomy. Thirty-three patients underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy, and 30 received microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy. Semen analyses were performed 5.3 months later, and compared with the pre-operative data. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 32.1+/-1.3 years old. Comparison of the semen parameters between pre and post-varicocelectomy revealed significant improvement in the sperm count (p<0.05). In laparoscopic and microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy, the sperm counts were increased from 16.2+/-4.3 to 30.6+/-7.5 and from 15.4+/-3.8 to 37.5+/-7.7, respectively. Sperm motility also tended to improve. CONCLUSIONS: Varicocelectomy enhanced semen parameters after both laparoscopic and microsurgical methods. In subfertile men, early varicocelectomy is recommended.
Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Varicocele

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of two different surgical methods for varicocelectomy, and to assess the effects of varicocelectomy on semen parameters in subinfertile men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 63 patients with clinically palpable varicocele and abnormal semen parameters who underwent varicocelectomy. Thirty-three patients underwent laparoscopic varicocelectomy, and 30 received microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy. Semen analyses were performed 5.3 months later, and compared with the pre-operative data. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 32.1+/-1.3 years old. Comparison of the semen parameters between pre and post-varicocelectomy revealed significant improvement in the sperm count (p<0.05). In laparoscopic and microsurgical inguinal varicocelectomy, the sperm counts were increased from 16.2+/-4.3 to 30.6+/-7.5 and from 15.4+/-3.8 to 37.5+/-7.7, respectively. Sperm motility also tended to improve. CONCLUSIONS: Varicocelectomy enhanced semen parameters after both laparoscopic and microsurgical methods. In subfertile men, early varicocelectomy is recommended.
Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Semen Analysis ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Varicocele

Humans ; Male ; Protein Kinases ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatozoa