Processing of semen in an antibiotic-rich culture medium to minimize microbial presence during in vitro fertilization.

OBJECTIVE

To identify and determine the prevalence of microorganisms in preprocessed and postprocessed semen in an IVF-ET program.

DESIGN

Prospective study.

SETTING

University Teaching Hospital.

PATIENT(S): Seventy-four men undergoing preprogram evaluation, each producing two semen samples.

INTERVENTION(S): Semen processing with a wash and swim-up technique in a penicillin- and streptomycin-rich medium.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): The identity and prevalence of seminal microorganisms before and after processing.

RESULT(S): Sixty-three percent of individual unprocessed semen samples grew microorganisms, the majority of which were nonpathogenic. Thirty-three men (44.6%) had microbes identified in repeat samples, four had identical organisms each time. Twenty (27%) had positive cultures in one sample, negative in the other. Twenty-one (28.4%) had consistently sterile semen. After seminal processing, the recovery rate for microbes was 5%. Microbial presence after processing did not correlate with either the sperm swim-up concentration or the initial microbial concentration.

CONCLUSION(S): Bacteriospermia is common. The microorganisms found rarely are replicated and most likely represent contamination. Wash and swim-up semen preparation in an antibiotic rich culture medium effectively eliminates 95% of organisms.