Human immunodeficiency type-1 virus (HIV-1) infection in serodiscordant couples (SDCs) does not have an impact on embryo quality or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the embryo quality in our program for human immunodeficiency type-1 virus (HIV-1) serodiscordant couples (SDCs) with the male infected in comparison with a tubal-factor infertility control group.


METHODS
Retrospective case-control study.


METHODS
Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain.


METHODS
Thirty SDC and 79 control couples without HIV-1 infection attending for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Only first cycles were considered.


METHODS
Controlled ovarian hyperstimulation and ICSI in both groups; sperm wash, nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in semen sample, and capacitation by swim-up after thawing the semen sample in the SDC group; and sperm capacitation by swim-up after thawing the semen sample in the control group.


METHODS
ICSI procedure and embryo characteristics (fertilization, cleavage, embryo morphology, and development) and cycle outcome (ongoing pregnancy and miscarriage rates).


RESULTS
Fertilization and cleavage rates were similar between the groups. On days 2 and 3 of embryo development, very similar embryo features were found between the groups. There was no difference in mean number of optimal embryos on day 3. When embryos were cultured up to 5-6 days, a significant increase in embryo blockage was found in the SDC group compared with the control group. The mean number of optimal blastocysts on day 6 was comparable in both groups. No difference was found regarding the number of cryopreserved and transferred embryos or implantation, pregnancy, multiple pregnancy, or miscarriage rates between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-1 infection in SDCs with infected males does not appear to have a significantly negative impact on embryo development or ICSI outcome.
Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain.
Marco Antonio Barreto
MA
Melo
Marcos
M
Meseguer
José
J
Bellver
José
J
Remohí
Antonio
A
Pellicer
Nicolás
N
Garrido
D000328:Adult; D001755:Blastocyst / Q000473:pathology*; D010064:Embryo Implantation; D004624:Embryo Transfer; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization; D015483:HIV Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010062:Ovulation Induction; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012661:Semen / Q000821:virology*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013075:Sperm Capacitation; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015483:HIV Antibodies