CLINICAL ASSISTED REPRODUCTION - DOES PATIENT SEMEN QUALITY ALTER DURING AN IN-VITRO FERTILIZATION (IVF) PROGRAM IN A MANNER THAT IS CLINICALLY SIGNIFICANT WHEN SPECIFIC COUNSELING IS IN OPERATION

Purpose: It has been shown that the stress of infertility may impair s emen quality. Whether counseling can attenuate this affect is unproven . This study examines, in an IVF program setting, where specific couns eling is in operation, whether semen collected on the day of oocyte re covery is significantly different from that obtained during the prior clincal suitability assessment of the couple. Results: In the 125 cons ecutive couples examined, there were no significant overall difference s in semen volume or sperm density. There was a significant increase i n sperm motility on the day of oocyte retrieval (P < 0.001). Twenty-th ree patients (18.4%) showed an increase in quality, and 21 (16.8%) a d ecrease, on the day of oocyte recovery. The environment of production appeared to exert no influence. Fertilization failure occurred in seve n couples, three (14%) of whom presented for the first time with decre ased semen parameters on the day of IVF. This compares with 1 of 23 (4 %) fertilization failure in those whose parameters increased. Conclusi on: The semen quality of the vast majority of the patients studied in this highly counseled program does not appear to be significantly affe cted by the superstress of participation in the day of oocyte recovery .