Sperm Washing

Sperm Washing: A laboratory technique for separating sperm from semen, and separating motile sperm from non-motile sperm, for use in assisted reproduction.

Sperm washing is another male infertility treatment. This practice involves the separation and concentration of the patient's strongest and most vigorous sperm in order to inseminate it into the female's uterus.

Sperm washing and other assisted reproductive techniques have also added to the tricks up a infertility doctor's sleeve to stack the deck the prospective parents' way.

Sperm washing
A technique that separates the sperm from the seminal fluid in preparation for use in assisted reproduction.
Spermicide
an agent that kills sperm ...

Sperm washing
The dilution of a semen sample with various tissue culture media in order to separate viable sperm from the other components of semen. (See Sperm Preparation) ...

Some choose to use fertility techniques such as artificial insemination, IVF, sperm washing or sperm donation to help reduce the risk of transmitting the infection (RCOG 2005).

SWIM-UP TEST - A useful diagnostic procedure that also can be used to remove sperm from semen. It has some advantages to sperm washing because the live sperm will swim up to the culture media leaving behind most of the debris.

A machine that separates materials with different densities by spinning them at high speed. Used in sperm washing.
Cerclage
A surgical stitch (suture) used to try to keep cervix tightly closed. Used for women with Incompetent Cervix.

Centrifuge -- A machine that separates materials with different densities by spinning them at high speed. Used in sperm washing.

Prostaglandins - These hormone-like substances are found in both men and women while sperm washing techniques remove prostaglandins during artificial insemination to reduce cramping in the woman's body.

Sperm washing concentrates the more active, normally formed sperm. It is a method used in fertility therapy with intrauterine insemination and IVF.

See also: Infertility, Pregnancy, Fertility, Ovulation, Sperm