Subzonal insemination: a prospective randomized study in patients with abnormal sperm morphology.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate in a prospective randomized study the outcome of subzonal insemination (SUZI) in patients with male subfertility.


METHODS
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%.


METHODS
Private fertility center in Leuven, Belgium.


METHODS
The fertilization rates, cleavage rates, implantation rates, and pregnancy rates between the normally 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%).


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that SUZI increases the fertility outcome in patients with male subfertility and that there is a marked difference in fertilization rate when morphology, using strict criteria, is < 10%.
Gordts
S
S
Medical Center for Fertility Diagnostics, Leuven, Belgium.
Garcia
G
G
Vercruyssen
M
M
Roziers
P
P
Campo
R
R
Swinnen
K
K
D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007317:Insemination, Artificial, Homologous / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013076:Sperm Count; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015044:Zona Pellucida