Evidence that oligoasthenozoospermia may be an etiologic factor for spontaneous abortion after in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate whether oligoasthenozoospermia may lead to a higher spontaneous abortion (SAB) rate once a pregnancy is established by IVF-ET.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical observational study.


METHODS
University-based IVF program.


METHODS
Three hundred sixty-four couples with normal semen parameters who underwent IVF-ET with conventional sperm incubation; 70 couples with oligoasthenozoospermia but without marked abnormal sperm morphology (< 4% normal forms using strict criteria) who underwent ET after IVF with conventional sperm incubation; and 20 couples with oligoasthenozoospermia but without abnormal sperm morphology who underwent ET after IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).


METHODS
Implantation rate, clinical pregnancy rate, SAB rate, and delivery rate after IVF-ET.


RESULTS
Despite similar pregnancy and implantation rates per ET, as a result of a higher SAB rate (40.0% versus 11.7%), the delivery rates were lower in the female partners of men with oligoasthenozoospermia. Similar patients who used ICSI had a 0% SAB rate.


CONCLUSIONS
Oligoasthenozoospermia should be considered a possible risk factor for SAB in IVF achieved pregnancies. Further studies are needed to determine whether ICSI reduces the risk of SAB associated with oligoasthenozoospermia.
Kiefer
D
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Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, USA.
Check
J H
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Katsoff
D
D
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009845:Oligospermia / Q000150:complications*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies