Sperm selection techniques are used to select sperm with favourable characteristics for use in fertility treatments.
To achieve the best results, our laboratory team employs the best tools to ensure excellence in all our treatments. An example of this excellence is the sperm selection process carried out by our specialists.
Techniques used to select sperm with favourable characteristics and fertilisation potential can be used in procedures such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), artificial insemination (AI) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
ZyMōt is a device used in assisted reproduction laboratories to select and prepare high-quality sperm for procedures such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), intrauterine insemination (IUI), and in vitro fertilisation (IVF). One of the most notable advantages is that it allows for the separation of sperm with low levels of DNA fragmentation and oxidative stress, which may be beneficial in fertility treatment.
This tool selects motile sperm with favourable characteristics, avoiding the stress and damage that can be caused by centrifugation used in other selection techniques.
MACS (Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting) is a method used to select sperm without certain markers associated with apoptosis. During apoptosis, phosphatidylserine (PS) becomes exposed on the outer membrane of the sperm cell. This molecule (PS) is an early marker of the apoptosis process, even before motility is affected, allowing sperm showing this marker to be removed before oocyte fertilisation.
This method may be recommended for patients with high levels of sperm apoptosis or in cases of previous treatment failure and poor embryo quality.

PICSI is a variant of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), a technique where sperm quality plays an important role. PICSI is based on the ability of mature sperm to bind to hyaluronic acid, a substance that naturally surrounds the egg. The semen sample is collected and prepared to separate motile sperm, which are then placed in a special plate with droplets of hyaluronic acid.
Sperm capable of binding to hyaluronic acid adhere to these droplets and can then be selected for use in ICSI. Once selected, they are used to fertilize the eggs via ICSI. This method allows sperm to be selected according to their ability to bind to hyaluronic acid and may provide an additional selection criterion before ICSI.
This technique is commonly used to prepare and select sperm for artificial insemination and in vitro fertilisation procedures. This procedure relies on the ability of the most motile sperm to swim to the surface of a culture medium. The semen sample is centrifuged to concentrate the sperm at the bottom of the tube and remove seminal plasma. Then, a culture medium is added to the tube, and the sperm with better motility swim to the top of the culture medium.
Thus, this technique naturally selects highly motile sperm that also tend to have better fertilization capacity.
These techniques may be indicated when there are abnormalities in semen quality, a history of fertilisation failure, previous unfavourable outcomes in assisted reproduction treatments or certain reproductive factors that make more specific sperm selection advisable.
They are not necessary in all IVF or ICSI treatments. Their use depends on the characteristics of each case, the results of the tests performed and the joint assessment of the medical and embryology teams, who will determine which technique may be most appropriate for each patient.
This decision depends on the characteristics of each case, such as semen quality, reproductive history and the type of treatment. The medical and embryology teams will assess these factors to determine whether an advanced sperm selection technique is necessary and which may be the most appropriate.
Some sperm selection techniques can provide additional criteria for identifying sperm with certain characteristics before they are used for fertilisation. However, their ability to improve pregnancy or birth rates depends on the technique and the characteristics of each case.
In most treatments, sperm selection is carried out using conventional laboratory procedures. Advanced sperm selection techniques are used when there is a specific indication and may provide additional information or criteria for selecting the sperm to be used for fertilisation.