Studies on Sperm Migration in the Human Female Genital Tract

To define the distribution of spermatozoa in the genital tract several hours after intercourse in untreated women and in those using various contraceptive measures the following groups were observed: 20 women who received no drug or IUD therapy during the study (Group 1) 5 women treated with megestrol acetate orally (Group 2) 5 women using the sequential pill method (Group 3) and 7 women wearing IUDs with copper (Group 4). All patients were instructed to have intercourse on the night prior to admission for surgery. The surgical procedure was laparotomy aspiration of fluid from the pouch of Douglas bilateral salpingectomy ovarian biopsy endometrial biopsy and flushing of the endometrial cavity with 5 ml of saline. Each oviduct was flushed with 5 ml of Tryode solution. Fluids were examined for ova centrifuged and searched for spermatozoa by phase contrast microscopy. The number of spermatozoa from the control group varied markedly from 0 to 5000. The recovery was low in treated women when compared with controls especially at the level of the oviducts and in the groups treated with megestrol acetate and with T-Cu IUDs. None of the treatments completely abolished sperm migration to the fallopian tubes. A correlation between the numbers of spermatozoa and the stage of the menstrual cycle was noted. During the follicular phase the median count for the endometrial cavity was 1397 spermatozoa and for each oviduct 138. During the luteal phase corresponding values were 7 and 1 respectively.