ProfessionalAbout spermMotility and sperm count

    Motility and sperm count

    At Cryos, you can order sperm straws with MOT5 and up to MOT30+. You can choose between IUI-ready straws and unwashed ICI straws depending on your preference.

    Here you can learn about our MOT (motility) system, types of straws and how we determine the sperm quality in our laboratories to ensure high standards.

      

    Cryos laboratory technician assessing sperm motility and sperm count through the CASA system

    Types of sperm straws – MOT

    MOT is the amount of active sperm cells pr. millilitre sperm. We offer a variety of straws with different motility to match your preference and the type of treatments you perform. You or your patients can order straws with MOT5, MOT10, MOT20 and MOT30+.

    Most of Cryos’ sperm straws contain 0.5 millilitre sperm. Therefore, if you buy MOT20 sperm straws, there will be at least 10 million active sperm cells after thawing each straw. However, few of our straws contain 0.4 millilitre sperm and those are offered with a 20% discount.

    Our clients often have their own preference with regards to MOT. However, if you need guidance in relation to motility, please read our recommendations.

    IUI-ready and ICI sperm straws

    We offer IUI-ready straws and ICI straws. If you prefer straws that have been prepared and are ready for an IUI procedure, you should order our IUI-ready straws. If you prefer to prepare the straws at your clinic prior to treatment, you can order our unwashed ICI straws.

    All straws are prepared with high quality wash, gradient and freezing media from Irwine and Gynotec.

    To ensure the quality, it is important that you handle the sperm straws in accordance with our guidelines. You will find our guide on how to handle sperm straws here.

    How we determine the sperm quality

    • All Cryos’ staff is trained in the procedures through our own carefully developed training courses build on more than 30 years of experience. This ensures the same high standards in all our laboratories.
    • When we receive a sample, we freeze the entire ejaculate in straws. All straws are stored in liquid nitrogen which ensures a stabile temperature of -196 degrees until use. To determine the quality, one straw from each ejaculate will be thawed and analysed. The result of this analysis determines the MOT of the ejaculate.
    • We determine the sperm quality according to WHO’s standard 4th edition. In all our laboratories, we use CASA (Computer Assisted Sperm Analyzer) to count the sperm cells via microscopy. We count 500 cells or 5 frames (whichever is achieved first) before determining the result of the analysis. CASA ensures a more consistent count than what is possible through a manual process.