Comparison of microfluid sperm sorting chip and density gradient methods for use in intrauterine insemination cycles

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effect of microfluiding sperm sorting chip and density gradient methods on ongoing pregnancy rates (PRs) of patients undergoing IUI.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Hospital IVF unit.

Patient(s): Couples with infertility undergoing IUI cycles between 2017 and 2018.

Intervention(s): Not applicable.

Main outcome measure(s): Ongoing PRs.

Result(s): A total of 265 patients were included in the study. Microfluid sperm sorting and density gradient were used to prepare sperm in 133 and 132 patients, respectively. Baseline spermiogram parameters, including volume, concentration, motility, and morphology, were similar between the two groups. Total motile sperm count was lower in the microfluiding sperm sorting group at baseline (35.96 ± 37.69 vs. 70.66 ± 61.65). After sperm preparation sperm motility was higher in the microfluid group (96.34 ± 7.29 vs. 84.42 ± 10.87). Pregnancy rates were 18.04% in the microfluid group and 15.15% in the density gradient group, and ongoing PRs were 15.03% and 9.09%, respectively. After using multivariable logistic regression and controling for confounding factors, there was a significant increase in ongoing PRs in the microfluid sperm sorting group. The adjusted odds ratio for ongoing pregnancy in the microfluid group compared with the density gradient group was 3.49 (95% confidence interval 1.12-10.89).

Conclusion(s): The microfluid sperm sorting method significantly increased the ongoing PRs compared with the density gradient group in IUI cycles.

Keywords: Microfluid sperm sorting; density gradient; intrauterine insemination cycles; microchip; pregnancy rates.

Copyright © 2019 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.