Sperm storage in the human cervix: a quantitative study

Twenty-five women scheduled for hysterectomy for nonmalignant disease participated in the study. Sperm storage in endocervical crypts was examined in three groups of patients: nine women pretreated with estrogen and inseminated with normal semen, nine women pretreated with gestagen and inseminated with normal semen, and seven women pretreated with estrogen and inseminated with abnormal semen. The number of crypts containing spermatozoa (colonized crypts) and the sperm density per crypt were examined in serially sectioned cervices. In estrogen-pretreated cervices both the percentage of colonized crypts and the sperm density were significantly higher than in gestagen-pretreated cervices. Large and giant crypts proved to be the main storage facility for spermatozoa. The localization of crypts along the endocervical canal did not influence sperm storage. The quality of semen appeared to be of critical importance to sperm storage. The percentage of colonized crypts and sperm density were severly reduced in patients inseminated with abnormal semen. This study investigated whether estrogen and gestagen influence the capacity pattern and retention time of sperms in endocervical crypts, determined whether the mean number of sperms in the lower part of the cervix was similar to or different from that in the upper part, and established whether the retention time of sperms in cervical crypts differed in the case of abnormal semen as compared with normal semen. 25 women, scheduled for hysterectomy for nonmalignant indications were studied. 3 groups of patients were studied for sperm storage measurements: 9 women were pretreated with estrogen and inseminated with normal semen; 9 women were pretreated with gestagen and inseminated with normal semen; and 7 women were pretreated with estrogen and inseminated with abnormal semen. Serially sectioned cervixes were studied to quantitate the number of crypts containing sperm (colonized crypts). In estrogen-pretreated subjects, the percents colonized crypts and sperm density were significantly higher than in gestagen-pretreated subjects' cervixes. The main storage of sperm occurred in large and giant crypts. Localization of crypts along the endocervical canal had no influence on sperm storage. Semen quality was of critical importance in sperm storage; the percentages of colonized crypts and sperm density were severely reduced in subjects inseminated with abnormal semen.