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According to experts,’ sperm magnets’ may increase pregnancy prospects for couples undergoing IVF by up to 10 per cent. Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS), involves using magnets that attract old, deformed semen that would unlikely survive to the stage of egg fertilisation. Healthy sperm can be used after this and it boosts chance of becoming pregnant.
Previous research suggests around 20 per cent of sperm taken from semen samples from infertile men are aged or deformed. Studies also imply MACS eliminates between 15 and 20 per cent of sperm with broken DNA, while improving the overall amount of healthy swimmers by 10-to-15 per cent. Magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS), involve collecting sperm samples that are then mixed with a marker protein that contains magnetic particles.
The semen samples are then passed through a magnetic field that selectively catches the unhealthy sperm, which may occur as a result of infections, smoking or exposure to environmental pollution. Healthy sperm pass through the magnetic field and are collected for use as normal in IVF.
Sperm samples are collected before being mixed with a marker protein that contains magnetic particles, such samples are left for 15 minutes at room temperature. The marker protein, known as Annexin V, binds to a molecule that is produced when dying sperm cells experience degeneration of their membranes.
The semen samples are then passed through a magnetic field that selectively catches the unhealthy sperm, which may occur as a result of infections, smoking or exposure to environmental pollution. Healthy sperm pass through the magnetic field and are collected for use as normal in IVF.
haleplushearty.org