ZyMot is a technique that can be used in in vitro fertilization laboratories to assist  (insert link) in selecting the best sperm for the intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) technique (insert link). 

Indications:

• Men with a high rate of sperm DNA fragmentation (insert link);
• Semen with alterations in sperm motility;
• Semen with alterations in sperm morphology.
  
  

How it works:

The ZyMot technique is essentially a "box" with a hole through which a small sample of the patient's semen is inserted. Once the semen is inserted, the best sperm will actively swim in a culture medium. The top-performing sperm (those with higher motility, better morphology, and low DNA fragmentation) can pass through a membrane inside the ZyMot box and move to a separate compartment, where only the truly high-quality sperm are retained, increasing the chances of fertilization and the formation of better embryos.

Finally, the embryologist can access this "VIP room" of sperm and retrieve this selected group of male gametes for use in fertilizing eggs through the ICSI technique.

Advantages:

ZyMot mimics the conditions that naturally occur in a woman's fallopian tube, where fertilization of eggs typically takes place. With ZyMot, the need for semen centrifugation is eliminated, which some experts consider an advantage, as centrifuging sperm can theoretically "stress" the cells and worsen quality, potentially causing damage to the material.

Is it suitable for me?

To use ZyMot, a minimum number of cells are required: 1 million progressively mobile sperm per ml. Therefore, when sperm quantities are very low or have borderline motility, the technique can't be used, and conventional separation techniques for in vitro fertilization are necessary. Your doctor and the clinic's embryologist can guide you on whether ZyMot is suitable for your case.

Does ZyMot really work?

ZyMot is relatively new, so there is not much available evidence to support its use and confirm its benefits. We have reviewed recent scientific literature (2017-2023) related to ZyMot and concluded the following:

The overall number of recovered sperm was significantly lower with ZyMot than with standard preparation methods.

Sperm prepared using ZyMot were significantly better than established methods in terms of total motility, morphology (shape), and sperm DNA fragmentation levels.

No difference was found between the methods for progressive motility.

The clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher using ZyMot than when semen was prepared by conventional methods.

Referências:

Alexa S.T et al. Comparison of ZyMot Microfluidic Sperm Selection Device (SSD) to simple swim-up (SSU) on sperm motility parameters and Morphology. Fertility and Sterility. Vol. 116, Issue 3, Supplement, E159-E160, September 2021. (DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2021.07.431)

Pardiñas M.L. et al. Microfluidic-Based Sperm Selection: effect on sperm DNA fragmentation and Embryo Development. Fertility and Sterility. Vol. 120, Issue 4, Supplement, E294, October 2023. (DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.08.857)