The effect of traditional and modern sperm separation on the outcome of artificial insemination

Studying the effect of sperm separation using a microfluidic chip compared to the traditional swim-up method on the outcomes of artificial insemination using ICSI in men with oligospermia

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

IRCT

Registry ID

IRCT20250414065323N1

Enrollment

Registered

2025-07-12

Start date

2025-08-23

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2025-07-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

artificial insemination. Complications associated with artificial fertilization

Interventions

Intervention group: The microfluidic chip will be used to separate sperm before ICSI. In short, in this method, we pour 850 microliters of semen into the chip inlet and 700 microliters of sperm washin

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

20 Years to 40 Years

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Couples with male-caused infertility (oligospermia) (total sperm count less than 15 million/ml), women aged 20 to 37 years, male partners aged 20 to 40 years, patients in their first or second cycle of IVF treatment.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria: Exclusion criteria included men with normal sperm parameters, varicocele patients, OAT (oligoastheno-teratozoospermia) patients, female infertility, women over 37 years of age, fresh transfer candidate patients, and patients who did not wish to participate in the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
The outcomes of artificial insemination using ICSI in men with oligospermia. Timepoint: 6 MONTH. Method of measurement: A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial study, a total of 84 couples will participate in the study, with 42 couples in each group. On the day of egg retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the first group, a microfluidic chip will be used to separate sperm before ICSI. Briefly, in this method, 850 µl of semen will be poured into the chip inlet and 700 µl of sperm washing medium previously warmed to 37°C will be poured into the chip outlet (containing a microporous membrane). The sperm will pass through the microchannels and pores of the microporous membrane and enter the outlet. Then the chip will be incubated for half an hour in a 37°C incubator. Finally, we will collect sperm at about 650 µm from the chip outlet.In the second group (control), the traditional swim-up technique will be used to select sperm for ICSI.	—

Measure

Time frame

The outcomes of artificial insemination using ICSI in men with oligospermia. Timepoint: 6 MONTH. Method of measurement: A prospective randomized controlled clinical trial study, a total of 84 couples will participate in the study, with 42 couples in each group. On the day of egg retrieval and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in the first group, a microfluidic chip will be used to separate sperm before ICSI. Briefly, in this method, 850 µl of semen will be poured into the chip inlet and 700 µl of sperm washing medium previously warmed to 37°C will be poured into the chip outlet (containing a microporous membrane). The sperm will pass through the microchannels and pores of the microporous membrane and enter the outlet. Then the chip will be incubated for half an hour in a 37°C incubator. Finally, we will collect sperm at about 650 µm from the chip outlet.In the second group (control), the traditional swim-up technique will be used to select sperm for ICSI.

—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
No. Timepoint: No. Method of measurement: No.	—

Countries

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Contacts

Public ContactDr. Maryam Azizi

Bandare-abbas University of Medical Sciences

info@hums.ac.ir+98 76 3333 5000

Outcome results

None listed

Source: IRCT (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026