A process to bulk sex-select sperm which can involve such steps as: obtaining a subject sperm sample such as a collection of cells (1); inducing a sex-based differential alteration process for sperm in the sperm sample; presenting associationally active elements near the sperm within at least some of the sperm sample perhaps such as a fluid combination (4); causing such elements to differentially associate with at least portions of the elements based upon a sperm sex-based differential alteration state; acting on the elements together with their associated sperm through a separation modality (5) to bulk separate the sperm according to their differential sex-based properties. One type of associationally active element is potentially magnetic particles or differentially associatable particles (3) which may even be magnetic particles with inherent zeta potential charges that may associationally act and perhaps bind to an opposite zeta potential or other charges that the sperm may differentially acquire or achieve. This may present a method for magnetic separation of X-bearing and Y-bearing sperm perhaps such as having different charged membranes and perhaps such as after sialic acid activation.

This disclosure provides a method for determining male fertility status, and its relationship to the probability of generating a pregnancy as calculated using a regression model. The method comprises determining G.sub.M1 localization patterns following induced sperm capacitation, identifying the percentage of various patterns, particularly the ratio of [(AA+APM)/total number of G.sub.M1 localization patterns] and determining if the percentage of certain GMI localization patterns in response to induced capacitation is altered. Based on the change in the percentage of localization patterns of certain patterns in response to induced capacitation, alone or in combination with other sperm attributes, male fertility status can be identified.

A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

The present disclosure relates generally to compositions and methods of detecting viable embryos for implantation based upon detection and/or quantification of levels or concentrations of the preimplantation factor (PIF) in an embryo culture medium sample.

Disclosed herein are methods for determining the fertility of a sperm sample or a source of a sperm sample; the methods comprising labeling the sperm sample with a zinc probe, identifying presence and/or localization of zinc associated with spermatozoa in the sample and determining the fertility of the sample based on the zinc presence and/or localization in the spermatozoa as compared to a reference pattern associated with non-capacitated spermatozoa or a reference pattern associated with sperm capacitation. Also disclosed are methods of improving sperm fertility and/or decreasing premature capacitation while handling, storing, or transporting semen, the methods comprising adding exogenous zinc to a sperm sample or semen sample. Also disclosed are compositions for improving sperm fertility and/or reducing premature capacitation, the compositions comprising exogenous zinc ions.

A system and method for sorting sperm is provided. The system includes a housing and a microfluidic system supported by the housing. The system also includes an inlet providing access to the microfluidic system to deliver sperm to the microfluidic system and an outlet providing access to the microfluidic system to harvest sorted sperm from the microfluidic system. The microfluidic system provides a flow path for sperm from the inlet to the outlet and includes at least one channel extending from the inlet to the outlet to allow sperm delivered to the microfluidic system through the inlet to progress along the flow path toward the outlet. The microfluidic system also includes a filter including a first plurality of micropores arranged in the flow path between the inlet and the outlet to cause sperm traveling along the flow path to move against through the filter and gravity to reach the outlet.

Disclosed are methods and products for improving the quality of sperm, methods for treating subjects to improve sperm quality or improve fertility, and use of sperm with improved quality in assisted reproductive technologies, including exposing the sperm to BGP-15 and/or a derivative thereof, such as BGP-15, propanolol, bimoclomol, arimoclomal, NG94, iroxanadine, and/or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative, prodrug, solvate, salt, tautomer, stereoisomer, and/or racemate thereof.

Systems and methods are provided for evaluating the quality of a semen sample at a mobile device. An assembly includes an optical assembly with at least one lens and a housing configured to engage with the mobile device such that an axis of the optical assembly is substantially aligned with a camera of the mobile device. The optical assembly is contained within the housing. A microfluidic chip includes a reservoir to hold the semen sample. The microfluidic chip engages with the housing such that the reservoir is aligned with the axis of the optical assembly.

Provided herein are devices and methods for analysis of male fertility. The invention provides self-contained, hand-held receptacles and systems for collection and analysis of semen samples and methods of using such devices to analyze semen samples. Also provided are processor-implemented and machine learning methods of analyzing semen sample data obtained using devices of the invention.

Methods and systems for evaluating fertility potential of a living sperm cell are presented and involve providing a predetermined classification function correlating between one or more physio spatial parameters of sperm cells and DNA fragmentation distribution in sperm cells, providing data indicative of the one or more physio spatial parameters of the living sperm cell, and applying the classification function to the one or more physio spatial parameters of the living sperm cell to thereby determine a DNA fragmentation level, inside the DNA fragmentation distribution, in the living sperm cell, the DNA fragmentation level being indicative of the fertility potential of the living sperm cell.