What is Sperm Washing? - Fellowship in Embryology

 

In this article today, we will talk about semen washing. You must have heard many times that if you are taking infertility treatment, whether it is IUI or IVF, semen sample is not used raw like this, it is washed to utilise the sperm. So today we will know why semen washing is done, how it is done, what are the methods and which method is better and which method can help you in gender selection or not.

So first of all, why semen washing is done? Semen is just a component of sperm; the rest of the volume comes from the male's glands. There are secretions of glands that come in ejaculate through semen. Now there are 2-3 things in the secretion of these glands.

·       The first is prostaglandin. So if prostaglandin goes in the female's tract as it is, then it can cause allergy, contraction in the uterus.

·       The second is that there can be a risk of infection transmission.

·       And the third thing is that there are some factors in semen. If they are removed, only then sperm can achieve the potential to meet its egg.

So due to these three reasons, semen is first washed, the sperms are separated and placed in a neutral medium which does not cause any problem in the female's tract if they are being used.

Sperm preparation methods like density gradient and swim-up are taught at Medline Academics not only as laboratory procedures but also as important therapeutic choices that affect therapy results. Embryology training in India places a strong emphasis on comprehending semen factors, selecting the right technique, upholding stringent laboratory standards, and making sure prepared samples are used on time. The reasoning behind each stage of sperm washing is taught to trainees through organised academic instruction as covered in Fellowship in Embryology and practical experience, giving them the self-assurance to use these methods appropriately in actual clinical settings. This method aids in bridging the knowledge gap between textbooks and daily embryology practice.

When is this washing procedure done?

If the semen sample is being used for intrauterine insemination, which means a couple who are not able to get pregnant while trying normally, now they do IUI to enhance their chances. Husband's semen is taken through masturbation and after washing it, concentrating it in a small amount, when the egg is released, we see that the follicle ultrasound has ruptured. That day, after washing, within one and a half hours, it is placed around the uterus line in the female's uterus so that good sperm can meet the egg.

So, this semen washing helps in intrauterine insemination in such a way that when the speed is less, the motility is affected, the concentration of sperm is less, then it can be enhanced. If there is any kind of infection, which can be transmitted from male to female, then its chances of transmission can be less. So, in IUI, semen washing is used in this way.

The second is for IVF, In Vitro Fertilisation, when we mix one egg with a sperm, which is called ICSI or IVF Conventional, then a washed semen sample is placed around the egg so that the sperm can fuse with the egg. So, in this also, the semen sample is used after washing. What are the ways of washing? And is there any better way? There are two main ways of washing.

·       One is Swim Up, in which good sperm swim up in a medium or a liquid from outside and are separated and used for IUI or IVF. This is called Swim Up method.

·       The second is Density Gradient.

It is seen that the sperm which are structurally good, they have a specific density. So through a medium or a liquid, a semen sample is prepared. And through centrifugation, these good sperms are passed through this semen sample and they go down and become sediment due to being heavy. So, in this, all the good sperms are collected down in a tube and in Swim Up, they swim up. Both the methods are good, but both have some advantages and disadvantages. And there is a specific type of semen which can be prepared.

If the semen sample has a good motility, then Swim Up is a good method. But if any parameter is affected, then in that case, Density Gradient is better. These two approaches can also be merged, wherein high-quality sperm settles in a Density Gradient, allowing us to suspend them and permitting the viable sperm to rise through Swim Up. The choice of which technique to employ for sperm cleansing is made by Embryologists. Nonetheless, irrespective of the sperm washing method selected, it is crucial that the semen sample is returned for IUI within a period of 1.5 hours or utilized for IUA fixation. Subsequently, any particular approach can assist in determining the sex, whether for male or female sperm selection.

So it is not like that. Sperm choice strategies are not so minutely leveled that they can partitioned X and Y sperms independently. So this is a myth and there is moreover a trust of couples with barrenness treatment that if they go for semen washing in IUI or IVF, at that point they can do boy or young lady choice.

Because sperm washing directly impacts treatment safety and outcomes, the expertise of the laboratory and clinical team becomes extremely important. At Dr. Kamini Rao Hospitals, each treatment is shaped by expertise, compassion, and a profound awareness of the emotional path associated with infertility support. With years of expertise in reproductive medicine this IVF Centre in Bangalore, the hospital merges cutting-edge laboratory methods with individualized clinical strategies, guaranteeing that every couple gets care customized to their specific requirements. Security, openness, and ethical behavior are still prioritized in everything from advanced helped regenerative innovation to fastidious strategies like sperm planning. The hospital's accentuation on patients—where logical information is combined with compassion, open communication, and a unfaltering commitment to making a difference families realize their dream of parenthood—is what truly sets it separated.

Ever ponder what vital step happens behind the scenes to amplify your chances amid an intrauterine insemination, or IUI, strategy?

Fertility centers plan sperm for IUI by cleaning it to isolated the most incredible, sound sperm from seminal liquid, which may initiate cramping and disturb fertilization. This strategy is significant since seminal liquid contains compounds known as prostaglandins, which may lead to torment and uterine compressions if they are presented straightforwardly. Furthermore, it dispenses with non-moving sperm, flotsam and jetsam, and other components that might discourage conception, coming about in a concentrated determination of high-quality sperm.

Let us walk through how this essential preparation happens.

·       First, a semen test is collected, more often than not through masturbation, after a period of forbearance. The clinic at that point regularly employments one of two primary strategies for washing, the density-gradient strategy or the swim-up strategy. The density-gradient strategy is a exceptionally common procedure. Here, the crude semen test is carefully layered on best of diverse arrangements with changing densities, like a logical sandwich. Envision layers of fluid, each a small thicker than the final.

When this stratified sample is rotated rapidly in a centrifuge, the healthy, modal sperm, which possess greater weight and agility, move through these layers. At the same time, the non-modal sperm, along with debris and components of seminal fluid, remain caught in the upper layers or settle at the bottom. This process efficiently distinguishes the high-quality sperm, separating them from unwanted materials.

The swim-up method takes advantage of the sperm's natural ability to move towards a more favourable environment. In this technique, the semen sample is placed at the bottom of a test tube. A special culture medium is then carefully layered on top of the sample.

·       Over a period of time, often around 30 minutes to an hour, the most active and healthiest sperm actively swim upwards into this fresh medium, away from the original seminal fluid. This leaves behind the slower sperm, any dead sperm, debris, and the seminal fluid itself. This method is often preferred when the initial sperm quality is already quite good and demonstrates good motility.

The separated sperm are frequently rinsed once more using the density gradient or swim-up approach. By eliminating any leftover fluid or debris, this stage further cleanses the sample. This entails re-spinning the isolated sperm pellet in the centrifuge after adding extra fresh culture liquid.

This nonstop washing ensures a test that is both profoundly immaculate and concentrated. Eventually, the sperm pellet that has been concentrated is delicately resuspended in a negligible volume of modern, sterile culture medium, planning it for the IUI handle. Earlier to insemination, the clinic more often than not conducts a last check and evaluates motility to confirm the quality of the arranged test.

The last result, known as a sperm concentration, is suspended in a culture medium that reenacts the uterine environment. This ensures that the sperm remains valuable and dynamic amid its travel. Besides, this whole handle significantly brings down the threat of contamination and unfavorably susceptible reactions, making the IUI method more secure and more fruitful. Understanding this fastidious handle makes a difference you appreciate the care and accuracy included in amplifying your chances for a fruitful IUI. It is all almost giving the best conceivable sperm the clearest way to conception, making your richness travel a small more confident and deductively backed.