SPERM PROCESSING: GLASS WOOL COLUMN FILTRATION

The cervical mucus selectively allows only progressively motile sperm of normal shape and size to penetrate and migrate through the cervix. The glass wool column filtration (GWCF) method for sperm processing, proposed in 1977 and later modified and standardized in 1986, selects such a sperm population in vitro. Sperm recovered from GWCF is significantly higher in quality than the original ejaculate. GWCF processing is reliable and highly repeatable, and when compared to other sperm processing techniques, GWCF yields significantly higher sperm quality. Sperm penetration into denuded hamster oocytes improves significantly with GWCF, while binding to human zona pellucida also occurs in higher numbers. IVF outcome also increases as compared to other processing techniques. GWCF, based on proven clinical success, is therefore invaluable for sperm processing.