Sperm Quality and Deoxyribonucleic Acid Fragmentation after 5 and 10 min Centrifugation with Swim-Up Processing Technique: A Prospective Cohort Study

Abstract

AIM: This study aimed to assess the difference in sperm concentration, total motility, progressive motility, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation index (DFI) before and after processing with 5 and 10 min swim-up (SU). METHODS: Fifty patients who met the study inclusion criteria from June 2020 to October 2020 were subjected to routine semen and sperm DNA fragmentation analysis. Each of the samples was then divided into three tubes, one as control and the others were processed using the SU method with 5 and 10 min centrifugation time, respectively. After being processed, the samples were subjected again to routine semen and sperm DNA fragmentation analysis. The results were being compared among three groups. RESULTS: The sperm concentration after 5 and 10 min SU (27.78–39.79 and 35.36–51.09, respectively; p < 0.05) was significantly higher compared to fresh semen (24.85–32.33). The total motility before and after 5 and 10 min SU were 43.78–51.08, 97.66–98.20, and 97.86–98.20, respectively. The progressive motility after 5 and 10 min SU (0–41 and 0–54, respectively) was significantly higher than fresh semen (0–24; p < 0.05). The DFI was significantly better after 5 min SU (3.82–6.98) compared to fresh semen and after 10 min SU (13.48–19.04 and 1–25, respectively; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Prolonged centrifugation time may yield a higher number of sperm concentration and motility, but it may also lead to a higher DFI. Hence, a shorter centrifugation time should be used for a better semen quality intended for assisted reproductive technologies.