Objective:To evaluate the laboratory performance of a standardized gradient-based sperm preparation system designed to improve progressive motility recovery during density gradient centrifugation for intrauterineinsemination (IUI). Design:Retrospective, multicenter laboratory cohort study. Patients:A total of 13,416 semen samples processed for IUI. Interventions:Comparison between a conventional density gradient centrifugation method and a standardized gradient-based preparation system (RS system)...Read More

In animals, mature sperm are stored in males before ejaculation and sometimes in females before fertilization. Sperm storage provides evolutionary advantages; however, storage can also cause sperm deterioration owing to post-meiotic sperm senescence (PMSS). Yet, the extent of such deterioration, the mechanisms driving it and its fitness consequences remain poorly understood. We perform a meta-...Read More

One-third of infertile couples struggle to conceive despite normal examination and tests. For men, semen analysis is the only widely-adopted diagnostic tool to assess male infertility. However, it is unable to detect abnormal sperm function or accurately predict pregnancy except in cases of complete absence of sperm. Sperm function tests (SFT) could help by directing...Read More

Cryopreservation of human spermatozoa is a widely used technique in the assisted reproduction technology laboratory for the storage of gametes for later use, for the fertility preservation and for sperm donation programs. Cryopreservation can cause damage to membrane, cytoskeletal, acrosome and increased oxidative stress, sperm DNA damage and transcriptome changes. To assess the impact of...Read More

This single-centre retrospective observational study included 6919 ICSI cycles from 2013 to 2022. The primary outcome was the assessment of oocyte fertilization, measured in terms of the rate of formation of two-pronuclear (2PN), 3PN and 1PN zygotes. Secondary outcomes were blastulation, cumulative positive β-human chorionic gonadotrophin test and clinical pregnancy rates. Relationships between ejaculatory abstinence...Read More

OBJECTIVEPrevious studies demonstrated that female body mass index (BMI) is associated with alterations in embryo morphokinetics as seen by time-lapse microscopy (TLM). Here we examined the effect of paternal BMI on embryo morphokinetics. MATERIALS AND METHODS445 IVF cycles from 320 unique patients were studied. From these cycles, 1314 embryos were produced. Embryos were cultured and...Read More

OBJECTIVEIntracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a technique which involves aspiration of the oocyte membrane after mechanically penetrating the zona pellucida. This process might result in an increase in the internal pressure of the oocyte and a possible degeneration of the oocyte membrane. PIEZO-ICSI is a technique which uses a piezoelectric actuator to maintain the microdrilling...Read More

Purpose Semen parameters are subjected to within-individual variability over time. The driving factors for this variability are likely multi-factorial, with healthier lifestyle associated with better semen quality. The extent in which variations in individual’s lifestyle contributes to within-individual semen variability is unknown. In healthy men from the general population, semen quality and associated lifestyle factors...Read More

Sperm that were immobile became active after just 20 seconds of ultrasound exposure in a lab experiment that may help boost the success of fertility treatment. Exposing immobile sperm to ultrasound waves gets them moving, a lab study has shown. Sperm that don’t move properly are a key cause of infertility, as it is harder...Read More

Are the prospective reproductive outcomes in RPL couples related to sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) measured by SCSA, morphology and concentration at referral? Design A prospective cohort study including 95 couples seen between 01/04/2018 and 01/12/2019 at the tertiary Copenhagen RPL Unit, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet and Hvidovre Hospital, Denmark. The couples had experienced three...Read More