Sperm vacuoles negatively affect outcomes in intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection in terms of pregnancy, implantation, and live-birth rates

Abstract

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate whether sperm vacuoles influence clinical results, with a particular focus on live-birth rates, in 101 intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) cycles.

Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Setting: Medical center.

Patient(s): A total of 101 couples with at least two failed intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) attempts and impaired sperm morphology.

Intervention(s): Patients divided into two groups according to sperm morphology and vacuolization pattern: group A comprising patients with good quality spermatozoa (type I and/or type II spermatozoa) (n = 63 patients); group B comprising patients with low quality spermatozoa (type III and/or IV spermatozoa) (n = 38 patients).

Main outcome measure(s): Fertilization rate, embryo quality, pregnancy, implantation, and live-birth rates.

Result(s): No statistically significant differences were observed between group A and B with regard to "early" assisted reproduction outcomes (fertilization rate and embryo quality). However, the "late" outcomes (pregnancy, implantation, and live-birth rates) were statistically significantly higher in group A.

Conclusion(s): These results confirm a correlation between sperm vacuoles and a negative IMSI outcome, suggesting that sperm vacuoles are related to the late paternal effect.

Keywords: Clinical outcomes; IMSI; intracytoplasmic; live-birth rate; morphologically selected sperm injection; vacuoles.