SpermSlowTM media for sperm selection

One step immobilization and selection of mature spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) without the use of PVP1

SpermSlow™ is a semi viscous medium containing hyaluronan and allowing for slowing down the movement and selection of mature spermatozoa with better DNA quality for ICSI1,2.

Key Benefits of SpermSlow™ media

  • No need for PVP during ICSI
  • Significantly lower abnormal fertilization rate3
  • Significantly better embryo quality compared to standard ICSI1
  • Significantly higher implantation rate compared to standard ICSI1
  • Spermatozoa, selected with SpermSlow have significantly lower DNA fragmentation rate2
  • Easy to implement in clinical practice2

Hyaluronan is a naturally occurring organic polymer that is also a major component of the extracellular matrix of the oocyte-cumulus complex. During the natural fertilization process human oocytes are surrounded by hyaluronan, which is acting as a ‘‘physiologic selector’’ of spermatozoa.2

Only fully mature spermatozoa can bind to hyaluronan, as hyaluronan receptors appear on the plasma membrane during late spermiogenesis after the maturation-related plasma membrane remodeling.4 This is accompanied by the loss of the residual body via cytoplasmic extrusion, DNA repackaging from histones to protamines and zona pellucida-binding site formation.4 It was demonstrated that the ability of spermatozoa to bind to hyaluronan is correlated with sperm maturity, increased chromatin integrity, decreased chances of aneuploidy, lower sperm DNA fragmentation and better sperm DNA packaging6.

Indeed, immature spermatozoa that fail to undergo membrane remodeling have no receptors to hyaluronan and the zona-pellucida. They also demonstrate presence of residual cytoplasm, persistent histones, increased risk of chromosomal aneuploidies and DNA fragmentation.5,6 Immature spermatozoa are unable to bind to hyaluronan and the zona pellucida and therefore would be excluded from the natural fertilization process.

During standard ICSI, all natural selection mechanisms are bypassed, and spermatozoa are selected based on their morphology and motility only.

Selection of spermatozoa, capable to bind to hyaluronan for ICSI mimics the natural sperm selection process and is therefore often called “physiologic ICSI.” It was demonstrated, that sperm selection with hyaluronic acid improves live birth outcomes among older couples and is connected to sperm DNA quality, potentially affecting all treatment outcomes7.

Availability

This product is available for sale in Europe, US, Australia, as well as selected countries in the rest of the world.

Watch the video to see how SpermSlow™ media help you select the best spermatozoa for ICSI

  • Proper sperm selection for ICSI is critical for the treatment outcome8
  • Visual selection alone cannot identify spermatozoa with compromised development or fragmented DNA6
  • Mature spermatozoa, which have completed the plasma membrane remodeling process, will bind to hyaluronan. They have increased chromatin integrity,
  • better DNA packaging, and reduced risk of aneuploidy3,6
  • Mature spermatozoa can be easily identified, immobilized and picked for ICSI

Sperm selection with SpermSlow media helps to improve  embryo quality and the implantation rate compared to standard ICSI1

Data from a retrospective study on 379 couples comparing the outcome of conventional ICSI with hyaluronan-based sperm selection Parmegiani 2010

Spermslow-selection-data-graph

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Learn about other products for improved sperm preparation, testing and selection

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ORIGIO Gradients & ORIGIO Sperm Wash 

Advanced media with innovative formulation for sperm preparation. Support sperm motility and function and protect spermatozoa from oxidative and osmotic stress during preparation.

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Picsi Dish

PICSI® dishes

for mature sperm selection for ICSI. Recently published clinical data confirm sperm selection with PICSI dish can help to mitigate the negative effects of advanced maternal age.

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HBA™ assay

for fast evaluation of the percentage of mature motile spermatozoa in semen sample.

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New research on Andrology has been published!

PICSI® Dish and SpermSlow™ Media

by Steve Fleming PhD – Director of Embryology, CooperSurgical

Andrology-whitepaper-spread

This white paper by Steve Fleming PhD discusses two different but related approaches developed for sperm selection via their ability to bind Hyaluronan: the PICSI® Dish and SpermSlow™ Media.

Order Codes

Reference Description Size HSA mg/ml Shelf Life Guarantee*
10944000 SpermSlow 4×0.1 ml 2 mg/mL Minimum 8 weeks

*Minimum time to expiry

  • Adenine
  • Alanine
  • Arginine
  • Ascorbic acid
  • Asparagine
  • Aspartic Acid
  • Calcium Chloride
  • Calcium Lactate
  • Calcium pantothenate
  • Cholesterol
  • Choline Chloride
  • Cysteine
  • Cytosine
  • D-Biotin
  • Disodium Hydrogen Phosphate
  • Folic Acid
  • Gentamicin sulphate
  • Glutamic Acid
  • Glucose
  • Glutamine
  • Glycine
  • Guanine
  • Histidine
  • Human Albumin Solution
  • Hyaluronate
  • Hydrochlorid Acid
  • Hypotaurine
  • Inositol
  • Isoleucine
  • Leucine
  • L-Malic acid
  • Lysine
  • Magnesium Sulfate
  • Milli RX Water
  • Methionine
  • Phenylalanine
  • Potassium Chloride
  • Potassium Phosphate
  • Proline
  • Pyridoxine
  • Riboflavin
  • Recombinant Human Insulin
  • Serine
  • Sodium acetate
  • Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Sodium phosphate
  • Sodium Pyruvate
  • Sodium citrate
  • Taurine
  • Thiamine
  • Threonine
  • Thymine
  • Tryptophan
  • Tyrosine
  • Uracile
  • Valine
  • Vitamin B12
  • Sterility tested (Ph. Eur., USP)
  • Endotoxin tested ≤ 0.1 EU/ml (Ph. Eur., USP)
  • Sperm Survival tested
  1. Parmegiani L, Cognigni GE, Ciampaglia W, Pocognoli P, Marchi F, Filicori M. Efficiency of hyaluronic acid (HA) sperm selection. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2010 Jan;27(1):13-6.
  2. Parmegiani L, Cognigni GE, Bernardi S, Troilo E, Ciampaglia W, Filicori M. “Physiologic ICSI”: hyaluronic acid (HA) favors selection of spermatozoa without DNA fragmentation and with normal nucleus, resulting in improvement of embryo quality. Fertil Steril. 2010 Feb;93(2):598-604
  3. Liu Y, Feenan K, Chapple V, Roberts P, Matson P. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection using hyaluronic acid or polyvinylpyrrolidone: a time-lapse sibling oocyte study. Hum Fertil (Camb). 2019 Apr;22(1):39-45.
  4. Parmegiani, L. et al. Comparison of two ready-to-use systems designed for sperm-hyaluronic acid binding selection before intracytoplasmic sperm injection: PICSI vs. Sperm Slow: a prospective, randomized trial. Fertil Steril. 2012; 98: 632-637
  5. Jakab A, Sakkas D, Delpiano E, Cayli S, Kovanci E, Ward D, Revelli A, Huszar G. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a novel selection method for sperm with normal frequency of chromosomal aneuploidies. Fertil Steril. 2005 Dec;84(6):1665-73.
  6. Huszar G, Jakab A, Sakkas D, Ozenci C, Cayli S, Delpiano E, Ozkavukcu S. Fertility testing and ICSI sperm selection by hyaluronic acid binding: clinical and genetic aspects. Reprod BioMed Online 2007; 14(5): 650-663.
  7. West R, Coomarasamy A, Frew L, et al. Sperm selection with hyaluronic acid improved live birth outcomes among older couples and was connected to sperm DNA quality, potentially affecting all treatment outcomes. Hum Reprod 2022;37: 1106-25.
  8. Worrilow KC, et al. Use of hyaluronan in the selection of sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI): significant improvement in clinical outcomes–multicenter, double-blinded and randomized controlled trial. Hum Reprod. 2013 Feb;28(2):306-14.