What is MACS and how does it help with assisted reproduction?

At the Gutenberg Centre Reproduction Unit (URE), we have long been using one of the most innovative sperm selection techniques: Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting (MACS), or Magnetic Separation by Annexin V Columns.

What is MACS in assisted reproduction?

MACS is a non-invasive technique that separates healthy sperm from those that show signs of apoptosis (programmed cell death) and/or fragmentation in their genetic material (DNA). All men have a proportion of sperm with this type of damage, and it is normal if it does not exceed 20-30% of the total sperm in the ejaculate.

However, when this proportion is very high, it is important to ensure that the affected sperm are not used to inseminate the woman’s egg. With Annexin V Columns, the best sperm can be selected to fertilise the egg. In this way, the quality of certain semen samples used in assisted reproduction techniques is improved.

How MACS helps with fertility

According to the results being published in leading scientific journals, many couples could find the solution to their infertility problem thanks to the application of MACS as a sperm selection technique.