Influence of sperm parameters on embryo quality

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the influence of sperm defects on embryo quality.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: In vitro fertilization center.

Patients: Embryo transfers (710) from IVF attempts for tubal disease (626) or male infertility (84).

Main outcome measures: Embryo morphology as a function of causes of infertility, semen, and follicular growth parameters. Embryos were classified into three groups according to their morphology.

Results: Transfers of embryos with good morphology were associated to a higher pregnancy rate (34%) than those with intermediate (24%) and poor (10%) morphology. Transfers of embryos with a poor morphology were more frequent (26 of 84 versus 114 of 626) and those with a fair aspect were less frequent (24 of 84 versus 229 of 626) in male infertility than in tubal disease. Embryos with a poor morphology were associated with lower percentage of morphologically normal sperms (62% +/- 19% versus 67% +/- 18%; means +/- SD) and a higher percentage of abnormalities of the postacrosomial region (29% +/- 15% versus 18% +/- 7%). Moreover, sperms with counts < 10 x 10(6)/mL were associated with a lower percentage of embryos with good morphology (18% versus 37%) than sperms with counts > or = 10 x 10(6)/mL.

Conclusion: Embryo quality is influenced by the semen quality and especially by sperm head abnormalities, suggesting an important role of the male gamete on the early stages of embryogenesis.