Sperm storage in the human cervix: a quantitative study

  • Tel Aviv University ROR
  • Kaplan Medical Center ROR

Fertility and Sterility, 33(3), 288-293

DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)44596-6 PMID 7364062

Abstract

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.

Topics

sperm storage endocervical crypts quantitative study, cervical mucus sperm colonization estrogen progesterone, Insler sperm storage human cervix crypts, estrogen pretreatment cervical sperm reservoir, gestagen effect cervical sperm colonization, abnormal semen cervical crypt sperm density, endocervical crypt size sperm storage capacity, cervical mucus quality sperm transport fertility, hysterectomy specimen serial section sperm migration, hormonal influence cervical sperm reservoir function
PMID 7364062 7364062 DOI 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)44596-6 10.1016/s0015-0282(16)44596-6

Cite this article

Insler, V., Glezerman, M., Zeidel, L., Bernstein, D., & Misgav, N. (1980). Sperm storage in the human cervix: a quantitative study. *Fertility and sterility*, *33*(3), 288-293. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0015-0282(16)44596-6

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