Linear and quantitative migration of stored sperm through cervical mucus during the periovular period.
The ability of stored spermatozoa to penetrate fresh samples of cervical mucus obtained from 23 patients during 47 menstrual cycles was studied, utilizing an in vitro test. The determination of daily hormonal and gonadotropin values allowed an accurate realationship to be established between the results of sperm-mucus interaction and the environmental milieu. Cervical mucus was found to be effectively penetrable only on day -1 and day 0 when considered with respect to the plasma luteinizing hormone surge. Correlation was apparent between the ability of sperm to penetrate and the favorable clinical parameters of cervical assessment.