Dallas clinic understands your unique needs for sperm washing techniques that enhance fertility
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 50,000 deliveries of at least one baby occur each year using Assistive Reproductive Technologies or infertility treatments. Sperm washing is used with Intra-Uterine Insemination (IUI) and may be used with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) to enhance sperm quality. The higher the quality – sperm quantity, movement, structure – the better you and your partner’s chances of getting pregnant. Your Dallas Sperm Washing Clinic determines how this service can help you with accurate diagnostic analysis. One of the country’s few laboratories of its kind, NTMIC Sperm Lab is led by an authority in male-factor infertility, Dr. Jeffrey Buch. A specialist in male infertility analysis is best equipped to accurately identify the true nature of your fertility challenges. Understand the condition first; effective treatment follows.
NTMIC Sperm Lab conducts the process of preparing or “washing” sperm under exacting protocols onsite and from sperm that are donated under specific conditions. Dr. Buch and his team will discuss how to properly collect sperm for washing. Collecting sperm to be prepared or washed is easy and generally involves:
- Abstaining from sex for at least two days (but not more than five) prior to donation
- Avoidance of lubricants when obtaining samples
- Use of sterilized containers provided by NTMIC Sperm Lab to collect semen
If your sample can’t get to the lab in a timely fashion, we’ll discuss discreet, onsite sperm collection options.
The idea behind all sperm washing is to isolate those sperms that have the best chance of successfully fertilizing an egg. Techniques vary. The basic or simple approach to processing dilutes sperm in a test tube and uses a centrifuge machine to spin out seminal fluids, producing a mass of dense, active sperm. NTMIC Sperm Lab also uses the density gradient technique, which is a favorable alternative because it separates sperm from other unwanted components, such as dead sperm cells. This more intense wash isolates and purifies the most motile sperm from debris, non-motile and poor-quality sperm. Such concentrated, active sperm is then siphoned off and used for fertility treatment; for example, prostaglandins are chemicals that must be removed before IUI because they cause severe uterine contractions and cramping.
The swim-up method doesn’t use a centrifuge to isolate powerful sperm from their weaker counterparts. Instead, the sperm “self-isolate,” as only the healthiest sperm swim up to the nutrient mixture or media placed on top of the semen sample. Depending on the technique used, washing can take 20 minutes to two hours. The results of testing and getting to the root cause of your fertility challenges help us to determine the best technique for you.
Success rates from fertility treatments increase with sperm washing because only the healthiest sperm are used for fertilization. NTMIC Sperm Lab has helped many couples start or grow their families by using tailored diagnostics and clinically proven therapies, but overall sperm count matters. The higher the count, the greater the odds of successful treatment. The “best” counts are between 20 million to 30 million, with success rates falling when the overall sperm count drops to beneath five million to 10 million. Dr. Buch will discuss these and other considerations and factors that affect the results of sperm processing with you.
Depending on the quality of the sperm sample, the swim-up method can yield concentrated sperm with a motility of at least 90 percent, which is comparable to the intense, “premium” density-gradient method; however, this approach depends on the health of your sperm and their ability to swim upward toward the media independent of a centrifuge. This technique may not be appropriate for some men with low motility or whose sperm has other characteristics that affect his fertility. It’s important to choose a clinic like NTMIC Sperm Lab, who takes the time and has the tools to understand your specific needs. From there, Dr. Buch recommends the approach that will yield the best result for you and your partner.
Since fertility procedures are often not covered by insurance, it’s important to understand our costs have remained constant for years – within 10 percent of competitors who do not retain NTMIC Sperm Lab’s high standards. We welcome your questions about success rates, our unique qualifications, and available treatment options. Call (972) 616-4477 to schedule an appointment.
