Sperm Selection with
Microfluidic Chip Method

Sperm selection with microfluidic chip technology, developed by a Turkish scientist at Harvard, is a promising and increasingly widespread method. This technology is not yet widely used in every center because it has only recently become widespread. There are 3 different models of microfluidic chip technology that can be selected according to the current sperm quality. During the treatment, the most suitable of these models is selected according to the sperm characteristics obtained from the man, and the sperm cell with the highest potential for fertilization and development of quality embryos is selected.

This technology aims to separate sperm that are in a better morphological, genetic and physiological state from other dead, immature and low quality sperm cells without using techniques such as centrifugation and mixing with a pipette that may physically damage living, healthy cells. Sperm chips consist of micro channels. These channels act as a filter by imitating a similar natural environment found in the female reproductive system and ensure that good quality sperms are selected. In addition, physical processes such as centrifugation and mixing with a pipette can cause oxidative stress on sperms and can cause DNA fragmentation in sperms. Therefore, it is thought that the sperms selected with the microchip method have ideal DNA structures. In vitro fertilization treatment aims to enable couples who cannot achieve pregnancy naturally or through other assisted reproductive techniques to have babies. In this treatment, ovarian stimulating treatment is applied first to increase the number of eggs of the expectant mother. For this purpose, the number of eggs collected is increased by giving various hormone drugs to the expectant mother. The resulting egg cells are collected by aspirating the fluid-filled structures called follicles, which contain eggs, by entering the ovary with a needle under vaginal ultrasound guidance. The collected egg cells are fertilized with sperm cells taken from the man in a laboratory environment, and thus the couple is aimed to achieve pregnancy. The sperm collection method in the microchip application is based on the principle of collecting healthy sperm passing through micro channels in one area. By using these selected quality sperms in the microinjection method, the chances of candidates who want to become mothers and fathers to achieve this dream increase. Our aim is to offer higher success rates to couples who want to have children every passing day and to ensure that they hold their long-awaited babies in their arms as soon as possible.