Sperm motility in asthenozoospermic semen samples can be improved by incubation in a continuous single culture medium (CSCM®)

Standard protocols for clinical in vitro fertilization (IVF) laboratories recommend incubating semen at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2 without strictly specifying which medium should be used or for how long. This study aimed to test the most common different incubation media used in Latin American andrology and micromanipulation laboratories and verify which, if any, is the most appropriate medium to improve asthenozoospermic semen samples' motility in the infertile male population. Ejaculates (136) collected from asthenozoospermic men were divided into two cohorts with similar characteristics (cohort 1; n = 28 and cohort 2; n = 108). Cohort 1 was used to evaluate the optimal incubation time with regard to unprepared asthenozoospermic sample sperm motility. After defining an optimal incubation period of 2 h, cohort 2 was used to evaluate which of the four media commonly used in IVF clinics (continuous single culture medium = CSCM (R); SpermRinse medium = SR (R); in vitro fertilization medium = G-IVF (R) and human tubal fluid medium = HTF (R)) was preferred for semen samples from asthenozoospermic patients. Overall, it was determined that a 2-h incubation in CSCM (R) medium led to the highest asthenozoospermic sperm motility. Thus, this simple, cost-effective, easily reproducible protocol could prove extremely useful for andrology laboratories working with IVF clinics dealing with asthenozoospermic semen specimens. This is particularly relevant since the incidence of the latter is on the rise as semen quality decreases around the globe.

Automated summary

This study tested the most common incubation media used in Latin American andrology and micromanipulation laboratories and found that a 2-hour incubation in CSCM (R) medium led to the highest asthenozoospermic sperm motility. This simple protocol could be extremely useful for IVF clinics dealing with asthenozoospermic semen specimens.