IVF TREATMENT OF MODERATE MALE FACTOR INFERTILITY - A COMPARISON OF MIN-PERCOLL, PARTIAL ZONA DISSECTION AND SUBZONAL SPERM INSERTION TECHNIQUES

In this study we examined various techniques of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) for treating couples in whom the male had subnormal semen param eters. We compared two sperm preparation methods (mini-Percoll and con ventional swim-up) for efficiency of recovery after preparation and fo r fertilization rates after IVF, and compared the suitability of parti al zona dissection (PZD) and sub-zonal sperm insertion (SUZI) to patie nts with different types of male factor infertility. The mini-Percoll technique allowed the recovery of significantly more motile spermatozo a from the same semen sample compared to the swim-up method. More oocy tes were fertilized after spermatozoa were prepared by the mini-Percol l technique. An increased number of spermatozoa recovered from an ejac ulate led to an improvement in the quality of spermatozoa in the insem ination droplet. Subsequently, when using the PZD technique, the ferti lization rate increased when there was a higher number of spermatozoa in the patient's ejaculate. When comparing the two micromanipulation t echniques, SUZI provided patients with oligoasthenzoospermia (i.e. < 1 0 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml and 40% motility) with a higher chance of obt aining 2-pronculeate eggs.