Sperm count in ejaculates and after sperm selection with discontinuous percoll gradient centrifugation technique, as a prognostic index of IVF outcome.

Abstract

Success of IVF with low sperm count will depend on the retrieval of the maximum number of normal motile sperms, and this makes the selection of an appropriate technique critical. Various in vitro methods have been developed for selecting human sperm cells. Sperm selection using percoll gradient has been reported to yield upto 60% motile and morphologically normal spermatozoa from a normal semen sample. In this study, we have attempted to determine a possible relationship between sperm count in ejaculates before and after selection with percoll gradient centrifugation on one hand, and fertilization, cleavage and pregnancy rates in an IVF program on the other. With increased sperm count at the time of IVF treatment using selected sperm, we observed higher fertilization, cleavage and gestational rates. In conclusion, sperm concentration before and after selection with percoll may be considered a prognostic parameter for the determination of fertilization potential and pregnancy rates in an IVF program.