title: The use of r-hFSH in treatment of idiopathic male factor infertility before ICSI.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of pre-treatment of idiopathic oligozoospermic patients with r-hFSH to improve the clinical results of ICSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  82 infertile couples due to male factor who attended our center were included in the study. Thirty-six were randomized to the treatment group (group A) and forty-six to the control group (group B). The male partners in group A were treated with recombinant human FSH (r-hFSH; Gonal F®) 150 IU subcutaneously three times a week for a 3-months period. The control group (group B) did not receive any treatment. After the treatment couples of both groups underwent a cycle of ICSI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fertilization rate was comparable in both groups. However, in the treatment group (group A), the clinical pregnancy rate was significantly higher (42%) compared to the control group (group B) (20%) (p < 0.02). Also, the implantation rate was significantly higher in treatment group (26%) compared to the control (15%) (p < 0.04). Miscarriage rate was lower (15.7%) in the treatment group than in the control (43.7%), and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment of idiopathic male factor infertility with r-hFSH before ICSI improves clinical pregnancy rate, increases implantation rate and decreases the early pregnancy loss.
authors.affiliation: Biofertility IVF Center, Rome, Italy. franco.lisi01@gmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farrag
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sagnella
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pappalardo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Costantini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lisi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carfagna
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Manna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods; D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000639:trends*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000379:methods; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D043373:Follicle Stimulating Hormone, Human; D011994:Recombinant Proteins