Starting the Fertility Process

Diagnosis & Fertility Treatments

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

Intrauterine Insemination (IUI)

Artificial Insemination

Ovulation Induction

Egg Donation Program

Male Infertility

Complementary Care

Male Infertility

Testing & Treating Male Infertility: Sperm Washing, ICSI

40% of infertile couples are unable to conceive because the man's sperm production is less than optimal. This can be due to reduced numbers of sperm, reduced movement or motility or abnormally shaped sperm. At Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut, we focus on establishing the correct diagnosis and using advanced treatment techniques to make it possible for many who are diagnosed with male infertility.

Male Infertility Testing & Treatment
If indicated, men are referred for evaluation to a urologist who specializes in diagnosing and treating infertile men. This evaluation includes a medical history, physical examination, complete semen analysis and, if appropriate, sperm function tests.

Once we determine the most appropriate course of treatment for each couple, alternatives may include:

• medical or surgical procedures to increase sperm counts
• intrauterine inseminations with or without superovulation therapy
• in vitro fertilization (IVF) with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or possibly the use of donated sperm

Sperm Washing

Sperm washing is a technique used to clean the male ejaculate. Many people are unaware that male ejaculate is composed mostly of fluid that is made by both the prostate gland and seminal vessels. So sperm make up the minority component of the specimen. The fluid from the prostate gland and seminal vesicles provides protection for the sperm when they are deposited in the vagina during normal intercourse. This fluid can cause cramping or pain if it is not washed away at the time of intrauterine insemination (IUI). Sperm washing is performed to remove these fluids, concentrate the healthy moving sperm, and complete a further analysis. Sperm washing is a multi-step process.

The ejaculate is allowed to go from a jelly like consistency to a liquid consistency. The liquid is then measured and the number of sperm in the sample are counted. This liquid is then placed in a small conical tube with a washing solution, made specifically in order to preserve the viability of the sperm.

The semen sample and the washing solution are then mixed using a small pipette. With this complete, the tube is placed in a centrifuge, centrifuged to a gentle speed, and the sperm and particulate matter is then deposited in the bottom of the tube and the seminal fluid and prostatic fluid remains in the liquid. All the liquid is then taken out of the tube and therefore only the sperm and other cells remain in the bottom of the tube.

These are then re-suspended in a clean sperm washing solution and counted. Depending on the nature of the specimen, additional special sperm washing techniques can be done to separate the highly motile sperm from the less motile sperm.

In summary sperm washing is a technique to remove excess fluid from around the sperm so a highly concentrated sperm sample can be generated free from extra fluid that will be able to be placed in the female reproductive tract without cramping or discomfort to augment a couples chances for pregnancy.

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

For severe forms of male infertility, we can perform a process of micromanipulation called intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI.

For more information about male infertility, sperm washing & ICSI, please contact us.