With the "swim-up" technique, sperm are selected based on their ability to move upwards ("to swim") from the bottom to the top of the tube (culture medium).
The first step is to remove the seminal plasma and other cells through centrifugation. Next, a culture medium is added and the tube left for a while in an incubator, so that the sperm with the highest quality move upwards. These will be the sperms selected for the fertility treatment.
Read the full article on: What is sperm cell capacitation? – definition and the in vitro techniques ( 61).
By Andrea Rodrigo B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist), Leonor Ortega López B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist), Mark P. Trolice M.D., F.A.C.O.G., F.A.C.S., F.A.C.E. (reproductive endocrinologist), Marta Barranquero Gómez B.Sc., M.Sc. (embryologist) and Michelle Lorraine Embleton B.Sc. Ph.D. (biochemist).
Last Update: 08/01/2022
