Collecting semen samples at home for IVF/ICSI does not negatively affect the outcome of the fresh cycle

Abstract

Research question: Does the site of semen collection influence IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycle outcome?

Design: Retrospective study performed at the University Medical Centre Ljubljana, including all stimulated and modified natural IVF/ICSI cycles (with at least one oocyte retrieved) performed in 2019 with fresh ejaculated semen samples. IVF/ICSI cycle outcomes, in terms of oocytes, embryos and pregnancy rates according to site of semen sample collection (at home or at clinic) were evaluated.

Results: Samples collected at clinic had significantly lower sperm concentration (median [interquartile range, IQR], 50 [20-100] million/ml versus 70 [30-100] million/ml, adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.574 × 10^-6 to 0.196, P = 0.012) and motility (60 [50-70]% versus 70 [50-70]%, adjusted OR 0.034, 95% CI 0.002 to 0.563, P = 0.018, adjusted for age). There was no difference in total sperm count, semen volume or sperm morphology, or women's age (36 [32-39] versus 36 [33-39] years) and men's age (37 [34-41] versus 38 [34-42] years), between semen samples collected at clinic versus at home. When all IVF/ICSI cycles were analysed together using generalized estimating equation analysis, no significant difference in cycle outcomes attributed to site of semen sample collection was observed. There were also no significant differences in cycle outcomes when only first cycles were analysed.

Conclusions: Collecting semen samples at home has a positive effect on sperm quality (sperm concentration and motility were higher), but no significant differences in cycle outcomes are observed when these samples are used in IVF/ICSI cycles. Therefore, it is suggested that collecting semen samples at home for IVF/ICSI procedures is safe and has no negative effect on treatment outcomes.

Keywords: Andrology; Blastocyst; Embryo; Semen collection; Semen quality.