Improvement in Semen Quality Using Glass Bead Column

Fertilizing ability of semen requires the presence of viable and motile spermatozoa whose surface-membrane integrity is maintained. Male infertility is often the result of these variables being suboptimal. Various in vitro methods have been reported that separate good-quality spermatozoa from such ejaculates. In this study we describe a simple procedure that uses a column of glass beads to separate spermatozoa from poor quality semen. The filtered spermatozoa have significantly better progressive motility and viability and also have enhanced fertilizing capacity. Such a method may have clinical use for semen preparation prior to intrauterine insemination and in vitro fertilization. It may also have a role in the assessment of semen to determine fertilization potential and hence provide prognostic information to infertile couples.