SUBZONAL INSEMINATION - A PROSPECTIVE RANDOMIZED STUDY IN PATIENTS WITH ABNORMAL SPERM MORPHOLOGY

Objective: To evaluate in a prospective randomized study the outcome o f subzonal insemination (SUZI) in patients with male subfertility. Des ign: In a period of 7 months, 48 patients underwent IVF treatment for male subfertility reasons. Normal insemination and SUZI were performed on sibling oocytes. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the sperm morphology (strict criteria): group 1, 10% to 14%; group 2, 5% to 10%; group 3, 0% to 5%. Setting: Private fertility center in Leuven, Belgium. Main Outcome Measures: The fertilization rates, clea vage rates, implantation rates, and pregnancy rates between the normal ly inseminated and the SUZI-treated group were compared. Results: The fertilization rate with SUZI was significantly higher (32%) than after normal insemination (7%). The difference was striking in groups 2 and 3 (35% and 33% versus 11% and 4%). Conclusion: This study indicates t hat SUZI increases the fertility outcome in patients with male subfert ility and that there is a marked difference in fertilization rate when morphology, using strict criteria, is <10%.