Professor Sabine Koelle from University College Dublin presented exciting insights from her research on how spermatozoa travel through and interact with the female genital tract.  Using confocal imaging within a live reproductive tract, Sabine is able to visualize the key stages of a spermatozoa’s journey though the reproductive tract to the egg is highlighted and how only the most viable remain capable of fertilisation.  Contrary to the literature, Sabine’s research has shown that sperm remain motile within the sperm reservoir  due to secretions from the oviduct.

Sabine highlighted how the Dynescan offers unparalleled precision enabling her to assess the quality of semen samples used in her research and time-dependent measurements enable her to optimise protocols.  Overall, she stressed the need for a more holistic view of fertility with factors such as genetics, diseases, medications and husbandry being key indicators for the viability of spermatozoa for fertilization.