Sperm Selection Technique in IVF
Advanced Methods for Higher Success at Excel IVF
Why Sperm Selection Matters in IVF?
Male infertility contributes to nearly 40% of infertility cases. Even when sperm count appears normal, sperm quality may be poor, with low motility, abnormal shape, or DNA damage. In IVF and ICSI, selecting the best-quality sperm is critical because a single sperm will fertilise the egg and create the embryo.
At Excel IVF in Delhi, advanced sperm selection techniques such as IMSI, PICSI, and MACS are used to ensure that only healthy, motile, and genetically sound sperm are chosen. This improves fertilisation rates, embryo quality, and ultimately, pregnancy outcomes.
What Is the Sperm Selection Technique?
The sperm selection technique refers to laboratory methods used to isolate the healthiest sperm for fertilisation during IVF treatment or ICSI treatment.
Why It Is Important
- Not all sperm are capable of fertilising an egg.
- Poor-quality sperm may carry DNA fragmentation, leading to IVF failure or miscarriage.
- Advanced selection improves embryo quality and reduces the chances of genetic problems.
Methods of Sperm Selection
- Basic Techniques: Sperm washing, swim-up, and density gradient centrifugation.
- Advanced Techniques: IMSI, PICSI, and MACS provide greater accuracy.
Standard Sperm Preparation Techniques
Before advanced methods are applied, basic preparation steps are used in most IVF labs.
Sperm Washing
- Semen is processed to separate motile sperm from seminal plasma.
- Removes toxins, dead sperm, and immobile sperm.
Swim-Up Technique
- Healthy sperm naturally swim upward into a culture medium.
- Simple, widely used, but less effective in severe male infertility cases.
Density Gradient Centrifugation
- Sperm are spun through layers of special solutions.
- Selects sperm with better motility and morphology.
These techniques are effective for many patients but may not be enough in cases of severe sperm abnormalities.
Advanced Sperm Selection Techniques at Excel IVF
At Excel IVF, we use cutting-edge sperm selection techniques to improve ICSI and IVF results.
- IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection)
- Uses high-magnification microscopy (over 6000x).
- Embryologists can view structural defects in sperm head and tail.
- Only morphologically perfect sperm are chosen for injection.
Best For: Couples with recurrent IVF failures or severe male infertility.
- PICSI (Physiological ICSI)
- Mimics the natural sperm-egg binding process.
- Uses hyaluronic acid, which only mature, healthy sperm can bind to.
- Selected sperm are more likely to have intact DNA.
Best For: Cases of high DNA fragmentation or unexplained infertility.
- MACS (Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting)
- Uses magnets to separate healthy sperm from those undergoing apoptosis (cell death).
- Ensures sperm used are free from DNA fragmentation.
Best For: Couples with recurrent miscarriages or poor embryo development.
- Microfluidic Sperm Sorting
- New technology mimicking the female reproductive tract.
- Selects sperm with the best motility and lowest DNA damage.
Best For: Severe male factor infertility, high DNA fragmentation.
How Does Sperm Selection Improve IVF Success?
Choosing the right sperm dramatically impacts the outcome of IVF.
Benefits
- Increases fertilisation rate.
- Improves embryo quality.
- Reduces risk of miscarriage.
- Enhances implantation rates.
- Improves overall live birth outcomes.
Clinical Evidence
Studies show that using IMSI or MACS can increase pregnancy rates by up to 20–30% in selected patients.
Sperm DNA Fragmentation and Testing
DNA fragmentation in sperm is a major cause of recurrent IVF failures.
Causes
- Smoking, alcohol, and obesity.
- Varicocele.
- Environmental toxins.
- Age.
How Testing Helps
- A DNA fragmentation index (DFI) is measured.
- If levels are high, advanced sperm selection methods like MACS are recommended.
Cost of Sperm Selection Techniques in India
The cost of sperm selection techniques in India depends on the method chosen.
- Basic sperm preparation: ₹10,000 – ₹15,000
- IMSI: ₹20,000 – ₹35,000
- PICSI: ₹15,000 – ₹25,000
- MACS: ₹25,000 – ₹40,000
At Excel IVF Delhi, all costs are explained clearly, and customised packages are available depending on the couple’s needs.
Who Should Consider Advanced Sperm Selection?
Advanced sperm selection is not needed for everyone. It is especially useful for:
- Couples with recurrent IVF or ICSI failures.
- Male partners with abnormal semen analysis.
- High levels of sperm DNA fragmentation.
- Couples with repeated miscarriages.
- Men with poor morphology or motility.
Why Choose Excel IVF for Sperm Selection in Delhi?
- Led by Dr. Rhythm Gupta, a specialist in advanced IVF and andrology.
- Access to all modern techniques: IMSI, PICSI, MACS, Microfluidics.
- Personalized selection of methods based on patient’s condition.
- In-house advanced embryology lab with strict quality controls.
- Transparent pricing, ethical practices, and high success rates.
Take the First Step Toward Future Parenthood
Explore Your Options Here
- Male Fertility Tests in Delhi
- Female Fertility Tests in Delhi
- Endometrial Receptivity in Delhi
- Genetic Testing (PGT-A, PGT-M) in Delhi
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FAQs on Sperm Selection Techniques
The best technique depends on the individual case. For example, IMSI is preferred when sperm morphology is poor, PICSI is better for DNA integrity, and MACS is ideal in cases of recurrent miscarriages or high fragmentation. At Excel IVF, doctors recommend the method best suited to your fertility profile.
Yes. Advanced sperm selection reduces IVF failure by ensuring only the healthiest sperm fertilise the egg. This improves embryo quality and increases the chance of implantation and live birth. However, egg quality and uterine health also play a role in success.
Costs vary between ₹15,000 and ₹40,000 depending on whether IMSI, PICSI, or MACS is used. Basic preparation is usually included in IVF packages, but advanced techniques are additional. Excel IVF offers transparent pricing and package options.
It is not mandatory but highly recommended in cases of recurrent failures, advanced paternal age, or poor semen quality. A high DNA fragmentation index indicates the need for MACS or PICSI to select better sperm.
No technique can guarantee pregnancy. However, they significantly improve the chances by selecting sperm with better DNA quality, which directly improves embryo development and reduces miscarriage risk.
No. These techniques are applied in the IVF/ICSI lab setting only. They do not change sperm quality permanently, but improve outcomes during assisted reproduction cycles.
Both are useful, but target different issues. PICSI focuses on DNA integrity through hyaluronic acid binding, while MACS removes sperm undergoing apoptosis. Sometimes, both techniques may be combined for maximum effectiveness.
