What Is Sperm Washing?

When couples are having trouble conceiving, they often turn to fertility treatments like intrauterine insemination (IUI). Sperm washing, the removal of unhealthy sperm and debris from semen, is the first step in getting ready for the procedure.

Types

• The three types of sperm washing are simple sperm wash, density gradient sperm wash and swim-up technique. Simple washing collects active sperm in the bottom of a test tube; density gradient washing separates sperm from debris; and swim-up collects sperm as they swim through different culture materials.

Benefits

• Removing dead or unhealthy sperm as well as other debris, such as white blood cells and seminal fluid, increases the chances of pregnancy in couples using in vitro fertilization or IUI.

Sperm Collection

• Sperm is collected via surgical extraction or via masturbation. It's important to abstain from sex for two days prior to the collection.

Function

• Sperm washing allows fertility experts to separate healthy sperm from nonmotile sperm, remove chemicals, wash infected sperm free of disease or virus (such as HIV) and ensure that an optimal number of healthy sperm are available to fertilize an egg.

Significance

• Sperm washing gives couples who didn't think they could have children due to HIV, male infertility factor or unexplained fertility issues a viable chance at parenthood.