A Comparison of Glycerol Egg Yolk Citrate and Sperm Freeze Medium in Human Sperm Cryopreservation
Maethaphan Kitporntheranunt MD*, Sumitra Om-songkram BSc**, Keasinee Srichawana BSc**
Affiliation : * Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand ** Assisted Reproductive Technology Unit, HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Medical Center, Nakhon Nayok, Thailand
Background : Cryoprotectant has a pivotal role in preventing cell injury during sperm cryopreservation.
Objective : To compare the post-thawed sperm parameters between the use of glycerol egg yolk citrate (GEYC) and Sperm
Freeze medium as cryoprotectant in human sperm cryopreservation.
Material and Method: This was an experimental study. Thirty healthy volunteers whose sperm was collected in our clinic
during August, 2009 through October, 2009 were included in the study. All of the semen samples were analysed with standard
technique using the World Health Organization protocol. The semen samples were divided into 2 groups and mixed with
GEYC and SpermFreeze medium respectively. Pre-freezing and post-thawed sperm parameters were analyzed with Computer-
Assisted Sperm Analysis system.
Results : A total of 30 volunteers who could collect their semen samples participated in the study. The mean and standard
deviation of sperm concentration was 53.3+27.5 million/milliliter, the percentage of sperm motility was 68.2+22.1 and the
percentage of normal sperm morphology was 4.7+1.6. When compared the semen samples that freezing them with GEYC or
SpermFreeze medium, there was no significant difference in mean post-thawed sperm concentration (33.7+17.4 vs. 32.7+15.6
million/milliliter, p-value = 0.827) and percentage of sperm motility (38.6+25.6 vs. 35.1+28.1, p-value = 0.616). However,
it had no significant effect on normal sperm morphology before and after freezing-thawing cycle and also, there was no
significant difference in percentage of post-thawed normal sperm morphology between two cryomediums (4.4+1.3 vs.
4.4+1.4, p-value = 0.849).
Conclusion : For normal semen samples, use of GEYC medium is an acceptable option in human sperm cryopreservation.
Keywords : Glycerol, Egg yolk, Cryopreservation, Sperm parameters
