The pellet swim-up is the best technique for sperm preparation during in vitro fertilization procedures.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the most suitable sperm preparation technique to apply in order to obtain a spermatozoon population with minimal DNA damage during in vitro fertilization procedures. We compared four preparation techniques: direct swim-up (DSU), pellet swim-up (PSU), density gradient (DG), and density gradient followed by swim-up (DG-SU), evaluating the effects of each technique on the DNA damage rate, evaluated by DNA fragmentation index of the spermatozoa obtained.

Methods: In this observational study, 98 semen samples from couples undergoing IVF/ICSI cycles were included.

Molecular characterization of exosomes and their microRNA cargo in human follicular fluid: bioinformatic analysis reveals that exosomal microRNAs control pathways involved in follicular maturation.

Objective: To characterize well-represented microRNAs in human follicular fluid (FF) and to ascertain whether they are cargo of FF exosomes and whether they are involved in the regulation of follicle maturation.

Design: FF exosomes were characterized by nanosight, flow cytometry, and exosome-specific surface markers. Expression microRNA profiles from total and exosomal FF were compared with those from plasma of the same women.