Does Male Factor Infertility Affect Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Pregnancy Results?

Abstract

Objective: Male infertility has conflicting results in assisted reproductive technology (ART). In this study we aimed to investigate whether male factor infertility affect intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes and pregnancy results in ICSI cycles. Materials and Methods: A total of 1118 ICSI cycles from January 2007 through November 2014 were analyzed retrospectively:596 patients that were treated for male factor infertility, and 522 patients for tubal or unexplained infertility were included in the study. It was investigated whether sperm count has any effect on fertilization and implantation rates. Also the results of embryo quality and pregnancy were compared with the groups. Results: In both groups there was no difference between the numbers of collected oocytes and mature oocytes. Although there was a higher fertilization rate in the control group, no significant difference was spotted between fertilization failure and embryo developmental arrest in groups (P = 0.07 vs P = 0.4, respectively). Between groups, there were no statistically significant differences according to the clinical pregnancy rate per transfer and live birth rates (P = 0.3 vs P = 0.5, respectively). The risk of preterm birth in the infertile male group was significantly higher (P < 0.007). When the patients whom sperm was obtained with surgery were compared with oligozoospermic patients with ejaculated sperm, no significant difference between the implantation rates and clinical pregnancy rates was found (P = 0.1 vs P = 0.3, respectively). Conclusion: The patients who underwent ICSI due to male factor and tubal-unexplained infertility showed no difference according to fertilization, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates. The good quality of sperm retrieved from surgery indicated positive effects on the clinical results.

Keywords

• Clinical pregnancy rate
• Male factor infertility
• Surgical sperm retrieval.