title: Relationship between human spermatozoa-hyaluronan-binding assay, conventional semen parameters and fertilisation rates in intracytoplasmic spermatozoa injection.
abstract: Selecting the best spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic spermatozoa injection (ICSI) has recently been a topic of great interest among embryologists. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between the spermatozoa-hyaluronan-binding assay (HBA), routine semen analysis results and fertilisation rates as recorded during conventional ICSI therapy. Ninety-one patients undergoing conventional ICSI treatment in the Medfem Fertility Clinic in Johannesburg (South Africa) were included in the study. A total of 797 oocytes were injected of which 457 oocytes fertilised (57.3%, range 0-100%). None of the semen parameters correlated with the fertilisation rates (Table 2). HBA scores, however, revealed a highly significant association (p ≤ 0.0001) with the fertilisation rates. The HBA scores also correlated significantly with the biochemical pregnancy values (Spearman r = 0.24, P = 0.02, 95% CI 0.039-0.43); however, the HBA scores did not correlate with the clinical pregnancy rates (Spearman r = 0.14, P = 0.16, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.34). No correlation was recorded between HBA and the standard semen parameters. The study showed that HBA is significantly associated with fertilisation in conventional ICSI. The HBA scores were also significantly associated with the fertilisation rates and biochemical pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Medfem Clinic, Cramerview, Gauteng, South Africa.
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Esterhuizen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of The Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Franken
authors.affiliation: Medfem Clinic, Cramerview, Gauteng, South Africa.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bosman
authors.affiliation: Medfem Clinic, Cramerview, Gauteng, South Africa.
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: Medfem Clinic, Cramerview, Gauteng, South Africa.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Van Rensburg
authors.affiliation: Medfem Clinic, Cramerview, Gauteng, South Africa.
authors.forename: J A M
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Van Schouwenburg
authors.affiliation: Department Biostatistics, South African Medical Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lombaard
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D055101:Semen Analysis; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D006820:Hyaluronic Acid
keywords: CMA
  3; ICSI treatment; hyaluronan-binding assay; routine semen analysis