非男性因素不孕体外受精失败行卵胞浆内单精子注射的结局分析

目的:探讨卵胞浆内单精子注射(ICSI)对非男性因素不孕IVF失败患者治疗结局的影响。方法:回顾性分析由于第一周期常规IVF治疗中卵子完全不受精或受精率≤25%,行补救性ICSI的10个周期(补救性ICSI组),以及因前次受精失败而在随后的治疗周期中采取ICSI方法受精的19个周期(后续性ICSI组)的ICSI治疗结局,并以因男方少弱精子症进行第1次ICSI治疗的133个周期为对照组。结果:后续性ICSI组受精率、植入率、妊娠率和分娩率均高于补救性ICSI组,但差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。后续性ICSI组优胚率显著高于补救性ICSI组(P<0.05);补救性ICSI组受精率(48.9%)、优质胚胎率(29.2%)、植入率(0%)、妊娠率(0%)、分娩率(0%)均显著低于对照组(分别为72.1%、46.6%、21.2%、45.1%、39.1%);后续性ICSI组受精率、植入率、妊娠率、分娩率分别为55.4%、8.8%、21.1%、15.8%,均低于对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01)。优质胚胎率后续性ICSI组(44.2%)低于对照组,但无统计学差异。结论:对于非男性因素不孕IVF失败患者,ICSI能避免受精失败,但是受精率以及妊娠结局受到卵母细胞隐匿性异常的影响。     

影响冻融胚胎发育潜能及妊娠结局因素的探讨

目的:探讨胚胎冷冻复苏后,卵裂球存活状态对胚胎发育的影响以及体外授精(IVF)和卵胞质内单精子注射(ICSI)2种授精方式对冷冻胚胎复苏后体外发育能力和妊娠结局的影响。方法:回顾性分析142例患者,150个复苏周期,共769个冷冻胚胎复苏后培养至囊胚期进行移植的结果。结果:共复苏胚胎769个,存活胚胎702个,复苏率91.3%。220个胚胎(31%)到达囊胚阶段。在卵裂球全部存活胚胎中,囊胚形成率35%,部分存活胚胎中囊胚形成率24%,两者有统计学差异(P<0.01)。在卵裂球全部存活胚胎中,来源于IVF的胚胎囊胚形成率为40%,来源于ICSI的为26%,两者有统计学差异(P<0.01);部分卵裂球存活胚胎中来源于IVF的胚胎囊胚形成率为26%,来源于ICSI的为19%,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。在全部220个囊胚中,IVF组的优质囊胚率为38.6%,ICSI组的优质囊胚率为21.0%,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。临床妊娠率IVF组和ICSI组分别为61.05%与61.11%;胚胎种植率分别为37.50%与36.67%,活产率分别为81.03%与78.79%,差异均无统计学意义(P>0.05)。结论:胚胎冷冻复苏后卵裂球的损伤削弱了囊胚形成能力,影响卵裂期胚胎进一步发育,这与ICSI和冷冻胚胎复苏后发育潜能的降低有关,但其对临床结果和妊娠结局的影响不大。     

精子畸形率对卵胞浆内单精子注射(ICSI)临床结局的影响

目的:分析畸形精子行卵胞浆内单精子注射(ICSI)的临床结局。方法:回顾性分析因男性因素行ICSI治疗的239个新鲜取卵周期。根据精子形态学分析结果将研究对象分为:精子形态正常组(A组)、非极重度畸形精子症组(B组)和极重度畸形精子症组(C组),比较3组的受精率、卵裂率、优质胚胎率、胚胎种植率及临床妊娠率、流产率、异位妊娠率和多胎妊娠率。结果:A、B组在受精率、卵裂率、优质胚胎率与C组有统计学差异(分别为80.20%、81.40%和67.60%;94.91%、93.42%和79.91%;63.87%、59.30%和54.29%)(P<0.05);3组的胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率、流产率、异位妊娠率、多胎妊娠率均无统计学差异(分别为26.3%、25.6%和24.2%;42.28%、45.00%和42.86%;7.94%、7.40%和25.00%;4.76%、3.70%和8.33%;31.75%、18.52%和25.00%)(P>0.05);而C组内手术取精(PESA/TESA)亚组的卵裂率低于体外排精亚组,差异有统计学意义(86.72%vs 76.11%,P<0.05)。结论:采用畸形精子行ICSI的不育患者同样可获得理想的临床结局。     

早期补救ICSI应用价值的初步探讨

目的:探讨早期补救ICSI的应用价值。方法:回顾性分析IVF受精失败、取卵后20h行补救ICSI者19例(晚补救ICSI,A组)及加精子(IVF)4~6h后未见第二极体(Pb2)的成熟卵行补救ICSI者31例(早补救ICSI,B组),并与544例同期常规ICSI(C组)进行比较,观察受精率、卵裂率、有效胚胎率、优质胚胎率、胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率,评价早补救ICSI有效性。结果:3组年龄及基础FSH均无统计学差异,B组正常受精率显著高于A组,但显著低于C组(71.27%vs55.69%vs81.08%,P<0.05),>2原核(PN)率A、B组间无统计学差异,但显著高于C组(7.73%vs7.78%vs2.73%,P<0.01),卵裂率B组显著高于A组(100%vs94.62%,P<0.05),有效胚胎率3组间无统计学差异,优质胚胎率B组显著高于A组,但低于C组(51.16%vs22.73%vs60.19%,P<0.01),胚胎种植率B组显著高于A组(1.75%vs17.54,P<0.05),与C组比较无统计学差异(17.54%vs18.90%,P>0.05),3组临床妊娠率分别为5.26%,26.67%和34.57%,与C组比,A组临床妊娠率显著下降(P<0.01)。结论:与晚补救ICSI相比,早补救ICSI获得了更高的受精率、卵裂率、优质胚胎率及种植率,但多PN率高于常规ICSI,优质胚胎率仍低于常规ICSI。     

不同来源精子行ICSI助孕1662个周期治疗结局分析

目的:探讨不同来源精子行卵胞浆内单精子显微注射(ICSI)助孕的妊娠结局。方法:回顾分析我中心2006年1月~2010年6月1662个ICSI治疗周期,按精子来源分为射出精子来源(重度少、弱精子)组1208周期,附睾穿刺取精(PESA)组324周期,睾丸穿刺取精(TESA)组130周期,比较3组胚胎发育情况和妊娠结局等指标。结果:射出精子组及PESA组受精率、卵裂率及2PN率较TESA组高(79.1%,77.9%vs 73.9%;98.7%,98.8%vs 96.6%;74.6%,73.0%vs 69.5%),TESA组1PN率较射出精子组及PESA组高(3.8%vs 2.2%,2.6%),差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);3组优质胚胎率、胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率、异位妊娠率、流产率、单胎出生率、双胎出生率、畸形率无统计学差异。结论:PESA及TESA来源精子行ICSI助孕可获得与射出精子相似的妊娠结局。     

早期补救卵胞浆内单精子显微注射在完全受精失败周期的临床结局分析

目的:评估短时受精联合早期补救卵胞浆内单精子显微注射(R-ICSI)在完全受精失败周期的临床价值。方法:2009年1月～2010年6月我中心试管婴儿助孕治疗709例,其中短时受精完全失败行早期R-ICSI周期82例,卵胞浆内单精子显微注射(IC-SI)周期627例,比较两组正常受精率、异常受精率、优质胚胎率、胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率及流产率。结果:两组正常受精率、优质胚胎率、胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率及流产率无统计学差异,R-ICSI组异常受精率(5.0%)显著高于ICSI组(3.0%)(P<0.05)。结论:短时受精联合早期R-ICSI可及早发现受精失败并及时补救,获得较好的临床结局。     

不同精子来源及授精方式对剩余胚胎继续囊胚培养结局的影响

目的:探讨不同精子来源及不同授精方式对胚胎继续发育能力的影响。方法:分析499例患者499个取卵周期剩余胚胎继续培养形成囊胚的情况,按精子来源不同分为供精IVF(D-IVF)组和夫精IVF(H-IVF)组,按授精方式不同分为IVF组和ICSI组,ICSI组按精子来源分为新鲜精液组、附睾精子和睾丸精子组,比较不同精子来源及授精方式获得剩余胚胎的囊胚形成率、胚胎利用率和无囊胚移植率。结果:① D-IVF组和H-IVF组受精率、卵裂率、优质胚胎率、第3日和第5日胚胎种植率、临床妊娠率和流产率均无统计学差异(P0.05),组间剩余胚胎囊胚形成率、胚胎利用率和无囊胚移植率亦无统计学差异(P0.05);②ICSI组与IVF组比较,其受精率较高(P0.05),但优质胚胎率显著下降,有统计学差异(55.11%vs 61.30%,P0.05),组间第3日卵裂期胚胎和剩余胚胎囊胚种植率、临床妊娠率无统计学差异(P0.05),但ICSI组与IVF组比较,其剩余胚胎囊胚形成率、胚胎利用率稍低,无囊胚移植率较IVF组稍高,差异有统计学意义(56.13%vs 65.32%,48.18%vs 55.39%,21.68%vs 13.20%,P0.05)。③新鲜精液组的优质胚胎率、胚胎利用率显著低于附睾精子和睾丸精子组(P0.05),各组囊胚移植的种植率和临床妊娠率无统计学差异(P0.05)。结论:D-IVF可获得H-IVF相似的结局,其剩余胚胎都有较高的发育潜能,ICSI获得的剩余胚胎发育潜能低于IVF组。附睾精子和睾丸精子ICSI后获得的胚胎比新鲜精液精子ICSI后胚胎发育潜能高。针对不同的授精方式可能需要制定相应的剩余胚胎囊胚培养标准。     

男性染色体多态性对精子质量及体外受精/卵胞质内单精子显微注射结局的影响

目的研究男方染色体多态性对精子质量及体外受精-胚胎移植(IVF-ET)结局的影响。方法回顾性比较IVF/卵胞质内单精子显微注射(ICSI)-ET助孕治疗的男方染色体多态(n=131)和正常对照夫妇(n=160)的妊娠结局,观察男方的精子质量和受精情况、临床妊娠率、早期流产率。结果男方染色体多态组中严重少/弱精子症(19.85%)比例显著高于染色体正常组(5.00%,P0.001),Yqh+在严重少/弱精子症(38.46%)中的比例最高;Yqh-也高达15.38%,1qh+在严重少/弱精子症组是最常见的常染色体多态类型(19.23%);染色体多态组的女方年龄、体质量指数(BMI)、基础性激素水平均无统计学差异(P0.05),男方前向精子率(PR%)、精子正常率以及获卵数、移植胚胎数均无统计学差异(P0.05)。染色体多态组行IVF-ET助孕治疗后,其着床率(17.42%)、临床妊娠率(28.17%)均显著低于正常对照组(32.26%,59.38%)(P0.05);并且早期流产率(11.11%)高于对照组(2.04%),但差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。染色体多态组行ICSI-ET助孕治疗后与正常对照组妊娠结局无统计学差异(P0.05),优质胚胎率(75.24%±23.68%)还高于正常对照组(49.97%±29.31%)(P0.05)。行ICSI-ET助孕的男方染色体多态患者其着床率(34.78%)以及临床妊娠率(52.00%)显著高于行IVF-ET助孕的男方染色体多态患者(17.42%,28.17%)(P0.05)。结论男性染色体多态性患者中严重少/弱精子的比例增加,男性染色体多态不利于IVF妊娠结局,对ICSI影响较小。     

同周期同胞卵研究较早期实施补救ICSI价值的探讨

目的:比较同周期同胞卵不同时间补救卵细胞浆内单精子显微注射(ICSI)的结果。方法:选取常规体外受精(IVF)治疗失败的26个周期312枚卵子(每周期未受精卵≥8枚,受精率<25%),分为两组:观察组受精后8h实施补救ICSI,对照组20h实施补救ICSI,对比两组受精率、优质胚胎形成率、囊胚形成率。结果:观察组和对照组受精率分别为81.4%、74.36%,两者差异无统计学意义(P>0.05),观察组优质胚胎形成率和囊胚形成率分别为48.82%、38.58%,明显高于对照组的33.62%,22.41%(P<0.01)。结论:对常规IVF受精失败及受精率较低的周期受精后8h实施补救ICSI得到的结果优于受精后20h的结果。     

Y染色体微缺失对卵胞质内单精子注射胚胎情况和临床结局的影响

目的:探讨Y染色体微缺失对卵胞质内单精子注射(ICSI)胚胎形成情况和临床结局的影响。方法:收集22例Y染色体微缺失患者进行的27个ICSI治疗周期(研究组)的胚胎和临床结局资料,另收集同期88例严重少精子症或无精子症非Y染色体微缺失患者的101个ICSI治疗周期(对照组)的相应资料进行回顾性分析;同时比较不同Y染色体微缺失类型患者进行ICSI的胚胎资料和临床结局。结果:研究组和对照组的受精率分别为84.91%与86.30%,卵裂率分别为95.45%与96.79%,优质胚胎率分别为49.35%与45.03%,新鲜周期移植优质胚胎率分别为80.36%与84.80%,临床妊娠率分别为65.22%与60.40%,胚胎着床率分别为41.07%与33.60%,早期流产率分别为0.00%与4.92%,活产率分别为56.52%与55.45%,男婴比例分别为56.25%与47.83%。各观察指标组间均无统计学差异(P>0.05)。AZFb区部分缺失组2个新鲜胚胎移植周期中有1例获得生化妊娠,但后转阴性;d区部分缺失组及d区和c区部分缺失组各1次新鲜胚胎移植周期且均未获得妊娠;d区部分缺失加c区全部缺失组19个新鲜胚胎移植周期15例获得妊娠且无一例发生流产。结论:Y染色体微缺失对ICSI治疗周期形成的胚胎情况和妊娠结局无显著性影响,但AZFd区部分缺失加c区全部缺失患者配偶临床妊娠机会高于其他类型Y染色体微缺失患者,AZFb区部分缺失病例配偶有妊娠丢失发生。     

Use of electively cryopreserved microsurgically aspirated epididymal sperm with IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection for obstructive azoospermia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of using intentionally cryopreserved epididymal sperm in selected cases of obstructive azoospermia. DESIGN: A retrospective, nonrandomized study. SETTING: Academic research environment. PATIENTS: One hundred forty-one couples undergoing first-time IVF/ICSI using either fresh or cryopreserved epididymal sperm. INTERVENTIONS: The epididymides were microsurgically aspirated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical pregnancy rates. RESULTS: Motile sperm were obtained from all men. For the fresh group, the mean total sperm aspirated was 99 x 10(6) with 5.5 vials frozen per patient after ICSI and 82 x 10(6) with 4.7 vials frozen per patient in the cryopreserved group. No statistically significant difference in oocyte fertilization rate or number of embryos transferred was noted between groups. Of 108 patients using freshly aspirated sperm, 72 (66.7%) achieved clinical pregnancy. Of 33 patients in the group using cryopreserved sperm, 20 (60.6%) achieved clinical pregnancy (P=0.47). CONCLUSIONS: In selected ideal cases of unreconstructable azoospermia, elective open microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration with cryopreservation yields pregnancy rates similar to that employing fresh sperm. The advantages of this method are: (1) Use of cryopreserved sperm obviates the logistics problems associated with the use of fresh sperm. (2) Abundant high-quality sperm can be cryopreserved in a single procedure for all future attempts at IVF/ICSI. Rarely, viable sperm will not be present after thawing, and fresh retrieval will be necessary.     

Outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using the zona pellucida-bound sperm or manually selected sperm

Purpose

Zona pellucida (ZP)-bound sperm used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) enhances embryo quality, implantation, and clinical pregnancy rates. This study aimed to assess the pregnancy outcomes and clinical significance of ICSI with ZP-bound sperm.

Method

A total of 84 infertile couples who underwent cycles of ICSI following failed in vitro fertilization between June 2012 and February 2014 were enrolled and randomized (1:1): in the treatment group, ICSI was performed using ZP-bound sperm; in the control group, ICSI was performed in a standard manner. Rates of fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryos, and clinical pregnancy were compared between the two groups.

Results

There were no significant differences in age, infertile period, gonadotrophin dose, number of metaphase II oocytes, and number of embryo transfers between the two groups (P?>?0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate was higher in the treatment group than in the control group, but without statistical significance (60.5 vs. 47.6 %, P?>?0.05). No significant differences in the rates of fertilization and cleavage were observed (83.0 vs. 81.6 %, and 96.3 vs. 96.5 %, both P?>?0.05), but higher rates of high-quality embryos and useable embryos were observed with ZP-bound sperm compared with controls (66.1 vs. 50.8 % and 76.0 vs. 66.3 %, both P?<?0.05).

Conclusions

ICSI using ZP-bound sperm might increase the embryo quality and number of useable embryos, possibly improving the clinical pregnancy outcome of ICSI.

     

Use of zona pellucida-bound sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection produces higher embryo quality and implantation than conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection

This goal of this study was to compare the outcomes of conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI; control group, n = 53 couples) and a modified ICSI technique using zona pellucida (ZP)-bound sperm for injection of oocytes (test group, n = 53 couples). The proportion of high-quality embryos (grades 1 and 2) and implantation rate were significantly higher in the test group than in the control group, but the difference in fetal heart pregnancy rate was not significant despite seven more pregnancies being obtained in the test group (26 pregnancies) versus the control group (19 pregnancies) following fresh embryo transfers.     

Laser-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection in human oocytes

OBJECTIVE: To explore potential applications of a non-contact, 1,480-nm diode laser to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of human oocytes. STUDY DESIGN: Human oocytes obtained from in vitro fertilization (IVF) patients and failed to fertilize 24-48 hours after conventional IVF were used for ICSI along with discarded sperm. A noncontact, 1,480-nm diode laser was employed to immobilize sperm, to open a hole in the zona pellucida (ZP) and to perform ICSI through the hole. After ICSI and its simulation, oocytes were examined for formation of pronuclei, cleavage and normality of the cytoskeleton. RESULTS: The 1,480-nm diode laser permitted fast and easy sperm immobilization and microdrilling of ZP to facilitate microinjection. Of the 78 injected oocytes, 53 (68%) survived the procedure, and 13 (25%) of them formed two pronuclei by 18 hours. Further culture of two fertilized eggs resulted in cleavage up to the eight-cell stage before cease of culture. Four oocytes were fixed after simulation of the procedure without injecting sperm. None of them showed gross abnormalities in cytoskeletal organization. CONCLUSION: A noncontact, 1,480-nm diode laser can be used for the immobilization of sperm and for opening a hole in the ZP to facilitate ICSI, biopsy manipulation toward preimplantation genetic diagnosis and assisted hatching.     

精子功能检测对选择IVF或ICSI治疗不育症的临床意义

本文评价了精子功能检测对选择体外受精(IVF)或卵胞浆精子注射(ICSI)治疗不育症的临床意义。精子功能缺陷所导致的精子与透明带结合反应(即透明带结合、透明带诱发顶体反应和透明带穿透)异常是IVF受精失败的主要原因。在常规精液分析中,精子形态学测定对预测精子受精能力最有价值,但精子形态学评估则是最难做准确和稳定。IVF受精失败的卵子是很有用的生物材料,可用来测定精子形态和顶体功能。人卵透明带有选择性地与正常形态和完整顶体的精子相结合。透明带诱发顶体反应与精子穿透明带的能力呈显著正相关。在不明原因不育症患者中,约25%的不育原因可能是透明带诱发顶体反应缺陷或低下所引起。在严重畸形精子症(正常形态率≤5%)、少精子症的不育病人中,精子与透明带结合异常比率很高。因此,临床上应把这些有精子缺陷,尤其是会影响精子与透明带结合的患者检测出来,采用ICSI治疗,避免这些病人用IVF治疗而导致很低的受精率。精子形态学分析和精子与透明带结合试验有助于临床选择IVF或ICSI治疗不育患者。     

Clinical implications of intracytoplasmic sperm injection using cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa from men with azoospermia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether sperm obtained by testicular sperm extraction (TESE) and cryopreserved well before intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can serve as an effective sperm source. STUDY DESIGN: The role of cryopreserved testicular spermatozoa was evaluated in a retrospective analysis of consecutive ICSI cycles using fresh or cryopreserved sperm; they were followed by prospective, planned treatment using cryopreserved sperm with a modified ICSI procedure. Sixteen men (22 cycles) with obstructive or nonobstructive azoospermia were included in the retrospective analysis. Another 25 men (29 cycles) were in the planned treatment group. Following these series, the pregnancy outcomes were compared between ICSI cycles with fresh or cryopreserved testicular sperm. RESULTS: In the retrospective phase, 14 ICSI cycles were performed using fresh sperm, with 8 using cryopreserved sperm. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in any outcome measure. Planned treatment with cryopreserved sperm resulted in a fertilization rate of 84% and an embryo transfer rate of 89%. Thirteen couples (44%) achieved pregnancy (five ongoing, six delivered). These rates were similar to those in the retrospective phase of the study. All couples in the planned cryopreservation group had multiple aliquots (6.5 +/- 2.1) of sperm remaining after the first cycle. CONCLUSION: Cryopreserved sperm obtained by TESE can be used as an effective sperm source in ICSI cycles. Planned cryopreservation allows multiple aliquots to be stored for use in subsequent cycles and thus avoids the need for repeat biopsies.     

Statistical analysis of factors affecting fertilization rates and clinical outcome associated with intracytoplasmic sperm injection

OBJECTIVE: To identify and evaluate the statistically significant predictors of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) fertilization rates and clinical pregnancy in a single population using appropriate statistical techniques. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Fertility and Endocrinology Center, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, Washington. PATIENT(S): Four hundred forty-one patients undergoing their first attempt at IVF-ICSI from January 1, 1999, to May 21, 2001. INTERVENTION(S): Each ICSI procedure for an individual patient was performed by a single operator. Sperm parameters, oocyte age, culture condition, ICSI technique, and ICSI operator were assessed as variables influencing the fertilization rate. We also assessed the impact of patient age, serum E(2) concentration on the day of hCG administration, embryo quality, and number of embryos transferred on the probability of achieving a clinical pregnancy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Fertilization rate and clinical pregnancy. RESULT(S): The 2 pronuclei (2PN) rate was significantly correlated with sperm motility, and there were significant differences in the 2PN rates among the ICSI operators. There was no difference in the 2PN rate among different sperm types or among the eight laboratory incubators or whether the eggs were cultured individually or in groups. Patient age, serum E(2) concentration on the day of hCG administration, embryo quality, and number of embryos transferred were all statistically significant predictors of clinical pregnancy. CONCLUSION(S): In our program, sperm motility and ICSI operator are the two most important predictors for the ICSI fertilization rate in vitro. Patient age, serum E(2) concentration on the day of hCG administration, embryo quality, and number of embryos transferred were all statistically significant predictors of clinical pregnancy.     

Efficiency of Using Frozen-Thawed Testicular Sperm for Multiple Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injections

Purpose: To compare fertilization and pregnancy rates of fresh and frozen-thawed testicular sperm injections (TESE-ICSI). Methods: Sperm collected from the testes of 28 azoospermic patients by an open testicular biopsy technique was used for initial ICSI or cryopreserved. Results: Fresh-sperm ICSI treatment (28 cycles) resulted in a 58.1% fertilization rate and a 32.1% clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer, while frozen-thawed sperm (24 subsequent cycles) had rates of 54.5 and 29.2%, respectively. The PR was lower using frozen-thawed sperm from nonobstructive azoospermia patients (9.1%) than from obstructive azoospermia patients (46.2%). PR declined to 0% upon the fourth ICSI attempt. Conclusions: Fertilization, embryo cleavage, and pregnancy rates were unaffected by fresh or frozen-thawed sperm use. A 57.1% cumulative clinical PR was achieved using the latter. The PR was significantly lower using frozen-thawed sperm from nonobstructive azoospermia patients than from obstructive azoospermia patients.     

Pronuclear stage cryopreservation after intracytoplasmic sperm injection and conventional IVF: implications for timing of the freeze

Objective: To compare clinical outcomes of frozen embryo transfers using cryopreserved pronuclear stage oocytes that had undergone either intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) or conventional IVF.

Design: Observational.

Setting: A tertiary referral reproductive medicine unit.

Patient(s): Couples undergoing either ICSI or conventional IVF from January 1, 1995 to December 31, 1997.

Intervention(s): Patients underwent a standard controlled ovarian hyperstimulation protocol and transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte retrieval. All normally fertilized (2PN) oocytes exceeding a specified embryo number designated for fresh transfer were immediately cryopreserved at the pronuclear stage. Our cryopreservation method included timing of the freeze according to pronuclear morphology. Subsequent frozen embryo thaw-transfer cycles were usually performed by thawing only the intended number of embryos for transfer.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Thaw survival rate, implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, delivery rate.

Result(s): Ninety-six thaw-transfer cycles (n = 72) and 93 thaw-transfer cycles (n = 67) were undertaken in patients who had previously undergone conventional IVF or ICSI, respectively. Embryo thaw survival rates (IVF, 90.4%; ICSI, 91.1%) were similar. Clinical pregnancy (IVF, 40.6%; ICSI, 44.1%) and delivery (IVF, 36.4%; ICSI, 39.8%) rates per transfer, as well as implantation (IVF, 19.1%; ICSI, 19.9%) rates, were also similar. There were only four clinical pregnancy losses in both groups.

Conclusion(s): Embryo thaw survival is similar for cryopreserved pronuclear stage oocytes derived from ICSI and conventional IVF. Clinical pregnancy, implantation and delivery rates were also similar for the two groups. In addition, there was no increase in the rate of pregnancy loss in ICSI patients after frozen embryo transfers.     

Correlation of sperm DNA damage with IVF and ICSI outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE: To assess the effects of sperm DNA damage, as determined by the TUNEL assay and the SCSA respectively, on the outcomes of IVF/ICSI treatment. METHODS: A Medline search (from Jan 1978 to Apr 2006) was performed, together with a manual search of the bibliographies of retrieved original papers and review articles. 8 articles met all inclusion/exclusion criteria, of which, 5 used the TUNEL assay and the other 3 used the SCSA. All these articles were included in separate meta-analysis. The meta-analysis was conducted using the RevMan software with fixed-effect model or random-effects model. RESULTS: As for articles using the TUNEL assay, the pooled results of IVF outcomes indicated that the clinical pregnancy rate (RR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.85, P = 0.006), but not the fertilization rate (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.54 to 1.16, P = 0.23) decreased significantly for patients with high degree of sperm DNA damage compared with those with low degree of sperm DNA damage. RRs of the ICSI outcomes indicated that there was no significant difference in either fertilization rate (RR 1.03, 95% CI 0.89 to1.18, P = 0.70) or clinical pregnancy rate (RR 0.76, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.04, P = 0.09) between these two groups. As for the SCSA papers, the pooled results showed no significant effects of sperm DNA damage on the clinical pregnancy rate after IVF (RR 0.58, 95% CI 0.25 to 1.31, P = 0.19) or ICSI (RR 1.18, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.74, P = 0.38). CONCLUSION(S): Our meta-analysis indicates that sperm DNA damage, as assessed by the TUNEL assay, significantly decreases only the chance of IVF clinical pregnancy, but not that of either IVF fertilization or ICSI fertilization or ICSI clinical pregnancy. Besides, our results also reveal that sperm DNA damage, when assessed by the SCSA, has no significant effect on the chance of clinical pregnancy after IVF or ICSI treatment.