Sperm washing is used to prepare sperm for use during a Intrauterine Insemination (IUI) procedure. Sperm washing separates sperm cells from semen to eliminate non-functional, dead or slow-moving sperm. Sperm washing also eliminates chemicals such as prostaglandins, mucous and seminal fluid – all can be factors of infertility. The optimal sperm swim faster and are better able to penetrate the egg are used during IUI to increase the chance of success.