Sperm morphology analysis (strict criteria) in male infertility is not a prognostic factor in intrauterine insemination with husband’s sperm

Introduction. Sperm morphology is one of the most common tests in fertility practice. The interlaboratory variability is the main drawback of the method. The clinical significance of sperm morphology in assisted reproductive technologies is controversial. The aim of the review is to address this question. Materials and methods. The search of relevant publications was carried out in PubMed and e-Library databases using the keywords «male infertility», «sperm morphology», «teratozoospermia», «IUI», «IVF», «ICSI». Conference abstracts and dissertations were excluded from analysis and 56 publications were included in this literature review. Results. The small numbers of studies were evaluated to the effect of teratozoospermia on the likelihood of natural pregnancy. The pregnancy rate was higher in the group of couples with normozoospermia. In the couples with severe teratozoospermia pregnancies rate was also detected. The most studies did not reveal a statistically significant effect of tertozoospermia on the frequency of pregnancy during intrauterine insemination. The data about the influence of sperm morphology on in vitro fertilization are contradictory. Early studies showed a positive correlation between normal sperm morphology and frequency of conception, but these results were not confirmed in further studies. The most studies have not been revealed the correlation between normal sperm morphology male fertility status, clinical and live birth rate. Discussion. To date the spermatozoa mofophology studying remains the «starting point» ofa man's examination for infertility. However, the data available do not confirm its role in choosing the method ofassisted reproductive technologies or predicting their results. Conclusions. To date the role of sperm morphology on conceive and pregnancy frequencies in ART use is controversal. The data available does not confirm the value of this test as a proxy of higher pregnancy and birth of healthy child probability. The further studies are required to address this question.

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Intrauterine insemination for treatment of male infertility: experience and clinical recommendations

Problemy reproduktsii ◽

10.17116/repro20212706188 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 27 (6) ◽

pp. 88

Author(s):

V.A. Bozhedomov ◽

M.A. Mashina ◽

I.A. Korneyev ◽

E.V. Isakova ◽

N.K. Bichevaya ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Male Infertility ◽

Intrauterine Insemination ◽

Clinical Recommendations

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Role of Glutathione in Male Infertility

Bangladesh Journal of Medical Biochemistry ◽

10.3329/bjmb.v4i2.13772 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 20-25

Author(s):

ZU Naher ◽

SK Biswas ◽

FH Mollah ◽

M Ali ◽

MI Arslan

Keyword(s):

Male Infertility ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Antioxidant Defense ◽

Sperm Morphology ◽

Sperm Count ◽

Antioxidant Systems ◽

Infertile Male ◽

Semen Volume ◽

Infertile Group ◽

Male Subjects

Infertility is a worldwide problem and in almost 50% of cases infertility results from abnormality of the male partners. Apart from endocrine disorders, definitive cause and mechanism of male infertility is not clear in many cases. Recent evidence indicates that imbalance between pro-oxidant stress and antioxidant defense plays an important role in the pathogenesis of male infertility. Among the endogenous antioxidant systems, reduced glutathione (GSH) plays a significant role in the antioxidant defense of the spermatogenic epithelium, the epididymis and perhaps in the ejaculated spermatozoa. The current study was therefore designed to evaluate any association that may exist between GSH levels and male infertility. Infertile male patients (having female partners with normal fertility parameters; n=31) and age- matched healthy male fertile control subjects (n=30) were included in this study. In addition to medical history, semen analyses including semen volume, sperm count, motility and morphology were done for each subject. As a measure of antioxidant capacity erythrocyte and seminal plasma GSH concentrations were measured by Ellman's method in fertile and infertile male subjects. The infertile subjects were similar to fertile subjects in terms of age. However, semen volume and sperm count was found significantly lower (p<0.001) in infertile males compared with healthy fertile male subjects. Percentage of subjects with abnormal sperm morphology and motility were found higher in infertile group compared with fertile group. The median (range) erythrocyte GSH level did not differ between the two groups (12.62 (0.67-29.82) versus 13.93 (2.10-21.08) mg/gm Hb). However, the seminal plasma GSH level was found markedly suppressed in infertile group (1.64 (0.23-7.50)) compared with fertile group (4.26 (2.32-7.50)) mg/dl (p<0.001). In the present study seminal plasma GSH level was found markedly suppressed along with abnormal values for semen volume, sperm concentration and sperm morphology and motility in infertile subjects compared with fertile subjects. This finding indicates that low level of seminal plasma GSH level may be associated with male infertility. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjmb.v4i2.13772 Bangladesh J Med Biochem 2011; 4(2): 20-25

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Improvement in Sperm Parameters With Traditional Iranian Remedy

Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1177/2156587215627536 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 223-226 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Farnaz Sohrabvand ◽

Somaye Mahroozade ◽

Sodabe Bioos ◽

Seyed Mohammad Nazari ◽

Fataneh Hashem Dabaghian

Keyword(s):

Male Infertility ◽

Traditional Medicine ◽

Assisted Reproductive Technology ◽

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Intrauterine Insemination ◽

Sperm Count ◽

Reproductive Technology ◽

Sperm Parameters ◽

Medicinal Treatment

Introduction. Idiopathic male infertility is a global problem with almost no definite medicinal treatment. Most patients have to go through intrauterine insemination or assisted reproductive technology for achieving fertility. Unfortunately, success rates are low in cases with very low sperm count. Therefore it seems that improvement in sperm quality can have beneficial effects on assisted reproductive technology outcome. Case Report. A 39-year-old man with history of infertility for 6 years was referred to the traditional medicine clinic with a recurrent unsuccessful intracytoplasmic sperm injection trial. His sperm analysis showed severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. After taking a traditional remedy he had a remarkable improvement in his sperm parameters, which led to the formation of 8 embryos in the following intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycle. Conclusion. Traditional medicine presents various food and remedy options for treating male infertility. It seems that combination therapy can be beneficial in obtaining better results in treatment of male idiopathic infertility.

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