Sperm Transport to and Survival in the Human Fallopian Tube

Åhlgren, Mats

doi:10.1159/000301517

Cited by 77 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Nevertheless, since pregnancies can result from intercourse as early as 5 days prior to ovulation, human spermatozoa must be stored somewhere in the female tract. It has been observed that spermatozoa can survive and remain fertile in the fallopian tubes for up to 85 h [39]. Spermatozoa that reach the fallopian tubes have been reported to have a higher amount of morphologically normal cells than is seen lower in the female reproductive tract [40], supporting the theory that the natural barriers sperm encounter in the female serve to select for the most viable spermatozoa capable of successfully fertilizing the oocyte.…”

Section: Fallopian Tubesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Idiopathic Infertility: Survival and Function of Sperm in the Female Reproductive Tract

Linde

Plessis

2015

Unexplained Infertility

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Section: Fallopian Tubesmentioning

confidence: 95%

Idiopathic Infertility: Survival and Function of Sperm in the Female Reproductive Tract

Linde

Plessis

2015

Unexplained Infertility

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“…Although the estimated time of ovulation might have been in error, it is likely that at least 72 h elapsed between insemination and ovulation. Ahlgren (1975) observed motile spermatozoa in the tubai ampulla 85 h after coitus. However, there is no evidence that these spermatozoa retained their ability to fertilize.…”

Section: Physiological Functionsmentioning

confidence: 95%

The role of the oviduct in reproduction; our knowledge and our ignorance

Pauerstein¹,

Eddy²

1979

Reproduction

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Processes essential to reproduction known to occur in the oviducts of Eutherian mammals include sperm transport, capacitation, ovum pick-up and transport, fertilization and embryo transport and nourishment. Our knowledge of these processes in our own species, man, is incomplete. The reasons underlying our lack of information concerning the physiology of the human Fallopian tube are ethical, philosophical, and technical. Although some of our failure to obtain definitive data in women has been due to ethical constraints we have also been limited philosophically by our inability to formulate the critical questions, and pragmatically by the lack of technology with which to accurately measure many biological phenomena. After more than a half century of clinical interest in female infertility, we are unable to assess accurately a single physiological function of the Fallopian tube. Our clinical armamentarium is limited to appraisals of the patency of the tube to gas or liquid, and to examination of the external appearance and texture of the tube. Even if all ethical constraints were removed, it would still be necessary to identify the important questions, design the critical experiments, and to develop the required technology.In this essay we shall emphasize postovulatory events, specifically fertilization, ovum pick¬ up, and ovum and embryo transport. We will discuss the pertinent physiological phenomena, and then we shall attempt to correlate tubai anatomy and physiology with clinical considerations.

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“…Several studies have documented that sperm can be retrieved from the fallopian tubes within 5 minutes to 2 hours after insemination of semen in the vagina (Kesseru et al 1974;Kunz et al 1996;Settlage, Motoshima, and Tredway 1973;Ahlgren 1975). Kunz et al note that spermatozoa are directed preferentially into the tube ipsilateral to the dominant follicle, thereby suggesting that there will be a preferential accumulation at the site of fertilization (Kunz et al 1996).…”

Section: Cervical Mucus Effects Sperm Transport and Capacity To Fermentioning

confidence: 99%

Does Levonorgestrel Emergency Contraceptive have a Post-Fertilization Effect? A Review of its Mechanism of Action

Peck

Rella²,

Tudela

et al. 2016

Linacre Q

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Background: Recent studies have identified that levonorgestrel administered orally in emergency contraception (LNG-EC) is only efficacious when taken before ovulation. However, the drug does not consistently prevent follicular rupture or impair sperm function. Objective: The present systematic review is performed to analyze and more precisely define the extent to which pre-fertilization mechanisms of action may explain the drug's efficacy in pregnancy avoidance. We also examine the available evidence to determine if pre-ovulatory drug administration may be associated with post-fertilization effects. Conclusion: The mechanism of action of LNG-EC is reviewed. The drug has no ability to alter sperm function at doses used in vivo and has limited ability to suppress ovulation. Our analysis estimates that the drug's ovulatory inhibition potential could prevent less than 15 percent of potential conceptions, thus making a pre-fertilization mechanism of action significantly less likely than previously thought. Luteal effects (such as decreased progesterone, altered glycodelin levels, and shortened luteal phase) present in the literature may suggest a pre-ovulatory induced post-fertilization drug effect. Lay Summary: Plan B is the most widely used emergency contraceptive available. It is important for patients and physicians to clearly understand the drug's mechanism of action (MOA). The drug was originally thought to work by preventing fertilization. Recent research has cast doubt on this. Our review of the research suggests that it could act in a pre-fertilization capacity, and we estimate that it could prevent ovulation in only 15 percent or less of cases. The drug has no ability to alter sperm function and limited ability to suppress ovulation. Further, data suggest that when administered preovulation, it may have a post-fertilization MOA.

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Sperm Transport to and Survival in the Human Fallopian Tube

Cited by 77 publications

References 18 publications

Idiopathic Infertility: Survival and Function of Sperm in the Female Reproductive Tract

Idiopathic Infertility: Survival and Function of Sperm in the Female Reproductive Tract

The role of the oviduct in reproduction; our knowledge and our ignorance

Does Levonorgestrel Emergency Contraceptive have a Post-Fertilization Effect? A Review of its Mechanism of Action

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