Effects of advanced selection methods on sperm quality and ART outcome: a systematic review.

Background: Current routine semen preparation techniques do not inclusively target all intrinsic sperm characteristics that may impact the fertilization potential. In order to address these characteristics, several methods have been recently developed and applied to sperm selection. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature describing these advanced sperm selection methods focusing on their anticipated benefits on sperm quality and assisted reproductive technique (ART) outcome.

Implication of apoptosis in sperm cryoinjury.

Apoptosis is an ongoing physiological phenomenon that has been documented to play a role in male infertility, if deregulated. Caspase activation, externalization of phosphatidylserine, alteration of mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation are markers of apoptosis found in ejaculated human spermatozoa. These markers appear in excess in subfertile men and functionally incompetent spermatozoa.

Assessment of sperm quality, DNA integrity and cryopreservation protocols in men diagnosed with testicular and systemic malignancies.

Men diagnosed with malignancy are often referred for semen banking to preserve their fertility prior to cancer treatment. The chances of cancer patients for achieving future fecundity will be determined by the sperm quality including the integrity of the genomic material in the frozen samples. The objectives of this study were to compare the sperm quality and DNA integrity in men diagnosed with testicular and systemic malignancies before receiving treatment and to identify the optimum cryopreservation protocol for their samples including a remote semen collection option.

Anonymous semen donor recruitment without reimbursement in Canada.

A previous review of 22 studies from eight countries, conducted between 1980 and 2003, concluded that semen donors who are older, married or are fathers are less likely to be financially motivated. Despite the Assisted Human Reproduction Act coming into force in 2004, no data originating from Canada have been published on this topic. The objective of this study was to validate these findings in the Canadian population within the context of an anonymous semen donor programme in Canada.