THE EFFECT OF SPERM PARAMETERS ON THE OUTCOME OF INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION

Objective: To investigate the influence of sperm parameters on the fer tilization and pregnancy rates in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IC SI). Design: A retrospective analysis of 130 cycles of ICSI performed for the treatment of male factor infertility. Setting: The Egyptian IV F-ET Center. Participants: One hundred thirty couples with the diagnos is of male factor infertility or with previous failed fertilization in conventional IVF or subzonal sperm injection. Intervention: Ovum pick -up and ICSI. Main Outcome Measure: Fertilization and pregnancy rates in relation to different; semen parameters. Results: A total of 1,433 oocytes were retrieved and 1,071 metaphase II oocytes were injected. N ormal fertilization occurred in 620 oocytes (58%). Embryo transfer was done for 128 (98.5%) patients, and a total of 46 (35%) clinical pregn ancies were achieved. There was no statistically significant differenc e in the fertilization or pregnancy rates between patients who had pre viously failed fertilization in conventional IVF, patients with subfer tile semen, patients with semen between 1 and 10 x 10(6)/mL, and patie nts with semen <1 X 10(6)/mL. There was also no significant difference in the fertilization and pregnancy rates between patients with <95% o r >95% teratozoospermia. Conclusion: In ICSI, the fertilization and pr egnancy rates are not affected by different semen parameters as long a s morphologically well-shaped live sperms could be used for the inject ion.