Not so Fast-Quickest Sperm May Not be the Best

It's a popular misconception, explains Israeli scientist Prof. Haim Breitbart, that the fastest sperm is the one that fertilizes the egg. The biochemist from Israel's Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan, is dedicated to finding ways to make in vitro fertilization (IVF) as similar as possible to the process that occurs naturally. His new research reveals much about the behavior of sperm and may pave the way to more successful pregnancies and healthier babies.

During IVF treatments, doctors generally arbitrarily choose one sperm and insert it directly into an egg in a process called Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).

However, Breitbart, who specializes in male infertility and wrote a report in 2003 revealing that sperm operate like guided, heat-seeking missiles on their way to the egg, believes that this practice may generate its own particular health consequences.

The latest research released by his lab shows that when radiation or visible light is applied to sperm, motility may be increased and the chances of conceiving through IVF are improved.

In a recent study, Breitbart and his colleagues found that after three minutes of exposure to radiation there was an increase in oxygen particles in the sperm, which led to increased motility, and upped the chances that the fittest sperm would eventually reach the egg without medical intervention.