title: The influence of testicular microlithiasis on the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation in a Chinese Han population.
abstract: To investigate the influence of testicular microlithiasis (TM) on the outcomes of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), we retrospectively reviewed the ultrasonography results of the TM patients who underwent IVF treatment in our hospital. They were classified as classic-TM (CTM) or limited-TM (LTM) comparing with patients without TM (Non-TM). Semen parameters, rates of fertilisation, normal fertilisation, good embryos and clinical pregnancy were analysed. The Non-TM group showed higher percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa than the CTM or LTM group (4.08 ± 2.07 versus 3.40 ± 2.00 versus 3.04 ± 1.66, p = .003) while the other general semen parameters were comparable. The LTM group showed higher rate of fertilisation than the CTM group (85.10% versus 81.12%, p = .044). Moreover, the rates of normal fertilisation of Non-TM (62.47%) and LTM (66.32%) group were significantly higher than the CTM (58.02%) group (p = .027 and p = .001 respectively). There were 333 embryo transfer cycles in total (including 222 fresh and 111 frozen). The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 54.95%, 58.33% and 64.12% in the group of CTM, LTM and Non-TM respectively. However, no statistically significant difference was obtained (p = .326). Our results suggest that TM may have influence on the IVF outcomes. The extent of microlithiasis correlates inversely with the rates of fertilisation and normal fertilisation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.|National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Jinan, China.|The Key laboratory for Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Jinan, China.|Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.|National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Jinan, China.|The Key laboratory for Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Jinan, China.|Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: F-F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Second Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: H-L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.|National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Jinan, China.|The Key laboratory for Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Jinan, China.|Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Taian Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Taian, China.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Engineering, Handan, China.
authors.forename: K-J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.|National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Jinan, China.|The Key laboratory for Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Jinan, China.|Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: T-J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.|National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Jinan, China.|The Key laboratory for Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Jinan, China.|Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: J-L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China.|National Research Center for Assisted Reproductive Technology and Reproductive Genetics, Jinan, China.|The Key laboratory for Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Jinan, China.|Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: X-J
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Xuan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002137:Calculi / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D006801:Humans; D020347:Lithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013733:Testicular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: fertilisation rate; in vitro fertilisation; outcome; testicular microlithiasis