BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serodiscordant couples with the male infected can be helped to have children minimizing the transmission risk. Our aim was to evaluate the results of our assisted reproduction programme for these couples and to develop adequate strategies for their management. METHODS: Members of serodiscordant couples: (i) HIV positive males attending our centre for sperm wash and assisted reproduction and (ii) HCV positive males needing assisted reproduction for infertility provided 134 semen samples for sperm wash. Before ICSI treatment, semen was confirmed to be negative for viral presence by reverse transcription and nested PCR after the sperm wash. RESULTS: Sperm washes were effective in 90% of the samples. Regardless of the type of infection, no differences were found in semen quality, embryos obtained and pregnancy rates (40-48% per cycle). To date, 41 pregnancies and 23 newborns were obtained. Fertilization rates were lower in HCV than in HIV serodiscordant couples (59.3+/-5.3% versus 72.0+/-8.1%), probably because they were infertile couples for whom we recommended sperm wash and PCR. No seroconversion was detected in the patients' follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: To date, sperm wash, nested PCR and ICSI is a safe and effective procedure that avoids HIV and HCV transmission with reasonable pregnancy rates, and is cost-effective.
BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) serodiscordant couples with the male infected can be helped to have children minimizing the transmission risk. Our aim was to evaluate the results of our assisted reproduction programme for these couples and to develop adequate strategies for their management. METHODS: Members of serodiscordant couples: (i) HIV positive males attending our centre for sperm wash and assisted reproduction and (ii) HCV positive males needing assisted reproduction for infertility provided 134 semen samples for sperm wash. Before ICSI treatment, semen was confirmed to be negative for viral presence by reverse transcription and nested PCR after the sperm wash. RESULTS: Sperm washes were effective in 90% of the samples. Regardless of the type of infection, no differences were found in semen quality, embryos obtained and pregnancy rates (40-48% per cycle). To date, 41 pregnancies and 23 newborns were obtained. Fertilization rates were lower in HCV than in HIV serodiscordant couples (59.3+/-5.3% versus 72.0+/-8.1%), probably because they were infertile couples for whom we recommended sperm wash and PCR. No seroconversion was detected in the patients' follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: To date, sperm wash, nested PCR and ICSI is a safe and effective procedure that avoids HIV and HCV transmission with reasonable pregnancy rates, and is cost-effective.
Authors: Rachelle J Chadwick; Joanne E Mantell; Jennifer Moodley; Jane Harries; Virginia Zweigenthal; Diane Cooper Journal: Top Antivir Med Date: 2011-11
Authors: Maryam Zafer; Hacsi Horvath; Okeoma Mmeje; Sheryl van der Poel; Augusto E Semprini; George Rutherford; Joelle Brown Journal: Fertil Steril Date: 2015-12-11 Impact factor: 7.329
Authors: Irene Molina; María Carmen Del Gonzalvo; Ana Clavero; Miguel Angel López-Ruz; Juan Mozas; Juan Pasquau; Antonio Sampedro; Luis Martínez; José Antonio Castilla Journal: Int J Fertil Steril Date: 2013-12-22