title: The effect of pentoxifylline on sperm motility, oocyte fertilization, embryo quality, and pregnancy outcome in an in vitro fertilization program.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of pentoxifylline on sperm motility, oocyte fertilization, embryo cleavage, and quality as well as pregnancy outcome on asthenospermic patients participating in an IVF program.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private IVF unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-seven couples, 24 of whom were repeating IVF. Two semen specimens were obtained from each patient and each specimen was divided equally into two parts, nontreated (control semen) and pentoxifylline-treated (treated semen).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sperm progressive motility, oocyte fertilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall and progressive motility did not differ significantly between the two semen specimens. There was a significant increase in the progressive motality of the pentoxifylline-treated semen compared with control semen. No significant difference was noticed between control and treated semen in fertilization rate, cleavage rate, embryo quality, and pregnancy rate. The percentage of patients who fertilized only with control semen (9.3%) was not significantly different from that of patients who fertilized only with treated semen (10.3%). Couples who were repeating IVF did not show significant difference in fertilization between the present study and previous attempts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results showed that although the sperm progressive motility is improved after pentoxifylline treatment, it is doubtful whether this effect is of any clinical significance.
authors.affiliation: Euromedica Medical Institute of High Technology S.A., Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dimitriadou
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rizos
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mantzavinos
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arvaniti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Voutsina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prapa
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanakas
mesh_terms: D002970:Cleavage Stage, Ovum / Q000187:drug effects; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000187:drug effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D010431:Pentoxifylline