D Kiefer1, J H Check, D Katsoff. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether oligoasthenozoospermia may lead to a higher spontaneous abortion (SAB) rate once a pregnancy is established by IVF-ET. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical observational study. SETTING: University-based IVF program. PATIENT(S): Three hundred sixty-four couples with normal semen parameters who underwent IVF-ET with conventional sperm incubation; 70 couples with oligoasthenozoospermia but without marked abnormal sperm morphology (< 4% normal forms using strict criteria) who underwent ET after IVF with conventional sperm incubation; and 20 couples with oligoasthenozoospermia but without abnormal sperm morphology who underwent ET after IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, SAB rate, and delivery rate after IVF-ET. RESULT(S): Despite similar pregnancy and implantation rates per ET, as a result of a higher SAB rate (40.0% versus 11.7%), the delivery rates were lower in the female partners of men with oligoasthenozoospermia. Similar patients who used ICSI had a 0% SAB rate. CONCLUSION(S): Oligoasthenozoospermia should be considered a possible risk factor for SAB in IVF achieved pregnancies. Further studies are needed to determine whether ICSI reduces the risk of SAB associated with oligoasthenozoospermia.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether oligoasthenozoospermia may lead to a higher spontaneous abortion (SAB) rate once a pregnancy is established by IVF-ET. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical observational study. SETTING: University-based IVF program. PATIENT(S): Three hundred sixty-four couples with normal semen parameters who underwent IVF-ET with conventional sperm incubation; 70 couples with oligoasthenozoospermia but without marked abnormal sperm morphology (< 4% normal forms using strict criteria) who underwent ET after IVF with conventional sperm incubation; and 20 couples with oligoasthenozoospermia but without abnormal sperm morphology who underwent ET after IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, SAB rate, and delivery rate after IVF-ET. RESULT(S): Despite similar pregnancy and implantation rates per ET, as a result of a higher SAB rate (40.0% versus 11.7%), the delivery rates were lower in the female partners of men with oligoasthenozoospermia. Similar patients who used ICSI had a 0% SAB rate. CONCLUSION(S): Oligoasthenozoospermia should be considered a possible risk factor for SAB in IVF achieved pregnancies. Further studies are needed to determine whether ICSI reduces the risk of SAB associated with oligoasthenozoospermia.