Recovery of spermatozoa from human vaginal washings

Sperm survival, in terms of numbers, motility, viability, and metabolic activity, was studied in vaginal washings obtained daily from 22 healthy, fertile, married women during one complete menstrual cycle. The numbers of sperm (counted on Papanicolaou-stained filters) were never large compared to the number of sperm in a single ejaculate. Forty-eight hours after intercourse, only 6% of the specimens showed any evidence of sperm. Motile sperm were observed in only six of 94 postcoital specimens examined within 12 hours after intercourse. Lack of sperm in specimens collected after reported intercourse was associated with contraceptive practices other than the rhythm method, which most of the subjects were using. Fluorochromatic studies of recovered sperm treated with acridine orange indicated sperm viability and phase contrast studies of sperm treated with tetrazolium salts revealed metabolic activity. Our data on sperm motility, numbers, and staining reactions support the conclusion that the small number of sperm that remain in the vagina after intercourse quickly become inactivated.