Hyperactivated motility of human spermatozoa: a review of physiological function and application in assisted reproduction

Hyperactivated motility is a specific movement pattern which has been recog nized in mammalian spermatozoa for over 25 years. During this time, it has been established that hyperactivation is part of the complex process of spe rm capacitation, which is necessary before fertilization can occur. The rec ent introduction of computed sperm motility analysis has allowed detailed s tudies of sperm movement characteristics to be undertaken, and evidence is accumulating that hyperactivated motility may correlate with fertility. In this review, the physiological consequences of hyperactivated motility, met hods of measurement and their application in assisted reproduction are disc ussed.