In vitro sperm activation of infertile semen samples complaining from varicocele

Abstract EN

The goal of the present study is to investigate the effect of in vitro sperm washing technique on the semen of men complaining from different grades of varicocele.

The study was conducted at the IVF Institute, Al-Nahrain University.

Fifty infertile men were divided to three groups according to the grade of varicocele namely; sub- clinical and palpated with Valsalva maneuver (grade I, n=24) palpate without Valsalva maneuver (grade II, n=13) and visible (grade III , n=13).Protocol of wash and spin technique was used for in vitro sperm preparation and certain sperm characters were recorded before and following washing technique.

Mean of sperm concentration between the three varicocele groups were shown no significant (P>0.05) different before and following washing technique.

The percentage of sperm motility was significantly (P<0.01) decreased before and after in vitro washing technique in men complaining from varicocele grade III compared to men with grade I and II .The grade activity of forward progressive movement (a + b) was significantly (P<0.05)lower in the semen of grade III group than that of grade I and grade II groups.

There was a significant difference (P<0.01) in the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (MNS) between grade III and other grades of varicocele.

It was concluded from this study that the grade of varicocele determine the response of the semen to in vitro washing technique.

Other studies are recommended to improve our results practically in intra-uterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF).