Fertile Chip: Microfluidic Sperm Selection
Fertile Chip (ZyMot) is an advanced microfluidic sperm selection technique designed to improve the genetic quality of semen samples in assisted reproduction treatments.
At Gaia, we use it as a complementary technique when there is a suspected or confirmed sperm DNA fragmentation issue, helping to select sperm with greater reproductive potential and supporting safer, more informed clinical decisions.
What Is Fertile Chip?
Fertile Chip is a sperm selection device that replicates, on a small scale, the natural selection mechanisms that occur within the female reproductive system.
Through a system of microchannels, it allows the selection of sperm with:
- Better motility.
- Higher DNA integrity.
- Lower cellular damage.
The result is a sperm sample that more closely reflects natural selection processes, with a lower proportion of damaged sperm cells.
How Does the Fertile Chip Technique Work?
The device consists of two chambers connected by a microscopic channel.
Sperm are placed in the initial chamber. Only those with sufficient functional capacity are able to pass through the microchannel. The selected sperm are then collected in the second chamber.
This process does not use aggressive centrifugation or magnetic fields, helping to preserve sperm DNA integrity.
When Is Fertile Chip Sperm Selection Recommended?
The indication is always made following an individualised assessment of each case. At Gaia, we particularly consider the use of Fertile Chip in the following situations:
Previous implantation failures with no clear cause.
Recurrent early miscarriages with a possible male factor.
Slow or irregular embryo development during culture (between days 3 and 5).
Abnormal sperm DNA fragmentation test results.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fertile Chip
Fertile Chip is generally not recommended in situations such as:
- Severe male factor infertility, with a very low sperm count.
- Previously cryopreserved semen samples.
- Cases where advanced sperm selection does not provide a meaningful clinical benefit.
In these situations, other laboratory techniques may be more appropriate.
The Fertile Chip technique is used as a complementary procedure, mainly in:
- In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
- ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection).
Always integrated into a broader, personalised reproductive strategy.
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At GAIA, we understand Fertile Chip as one more tool within a personalised reproductive medicine approach. It is not about using every available technique, but about choosing the ones that can truly make a difference in each individual case.
At GAIA, we understand Fertile Chip as one more tool within a personalised reproductive medicine approach. It is not about using every available technique, but about choosing the ones that can truly make a difference in each individual case.
