Sperm Preparation and Sperm Selection Techniques

Sperm preparation is a process to maintain sperm equality and reduces factors that can damage the sperm and affect the fertilization potential. This particular step is critical for assisted reproductive technologies or other diagnostic or research purposes. Sperm preparation techniques are categorized into three primary groups: simple washing, swim-up, and density gradient techniques. Then, sperm selection techniques are performed to get functioning, morphologically normal, and motile spermatozoa with preserved DNA integrity and leave out any debris. It includes hypo-osmotic swelling test, pentoxifylline, mechanical touch technique, zeta approach, magnetically activated cell sorting, laser-assisted immotile sperm selection, microfluidics-related technologies, and viable chips. Most of these techniques have been described well in the 6th edition of the WHO manual published in 2021. This chapter will provide the pros and cons of sperm preparation and selection techniques. This will help physicians decide which procedure is the most suitable for each patient.