PERCOLL SEMEN PREPARATION ENHANCES HUMAN OOCYTE FERTILIZATION IN MALE-FACTOR INFERTILITY AS SHOWN BY A RANDOMIZED CROSS-OVER STUDY

The aim of this study was to compare two methods of semen preparation: multiple tube swim-up and Percoll separation, using a randomized cros s-over clinical study, in which sperm parameters, oocyte fertilization rates, embryo quality and cell stage were analysed. Overall, there wa s no difference between the two preparation methods in the normozoospe rmic cycles. In the male-factor cycles, Percoll extracted a higher tot al number of spermatozoa (P = 0.02), increased the concentration of mo tile spermatozoa (P = 0.02), increased the total number of motile sper matozoa per sample (P = 0.02), and enhanced the recovery rate of motil e spermatozoa (P = 0.04) compared to swim-up. There was a significant improvement in fertilization rates (P = 0.0006), in the percentage of embryos over 2-cell stage on day of transfer (P = 0.004), and in the n umber of replaced embryos per transfer (P = 0.01) in the Percoll as co mpared to swim-up cycles. There was no significant difference in embry o quality. We conclude, therefore, that in advanced reproductive proce dures where sperm dysfunction exists, semen preparation with Percoll s hould replace the swim-up technique.