Novel Approach to Determine the Effect of Sub-Optimal Semen Analysis Parameters on Obtaining Euploid Blastocysts after Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

Abstract

Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) is a method of screening a blastocyst for chromosomal abnormalities during in vitro fertilization (IVF) by performing a karyotype on a single cell from the blastocyst. PGS was previously offered to couples with advanced maternal age, recurrent pregnancy loss, repeated implantation failure, or severe male factor infertility. Now PGS is common practice for all IVF cycles to improve outcomes by selecting chromosomally normal (euploid) embryos for transfer.

This investigation aims to study the effect of male semen parameters on the likelihood of obtaining chromosomally normal embryos using ICSI. A unique approach was taken by comparing the outcomes between multiple “paired couples” who have utilized donor eggs obtained from the same donor in the same cycle. This model was adopted to minimize oocyte variation as a confounding variable. Using retrospective record review and data analysis, the relationship between optimal vs suboptimal sperm parameters and the resultant percentage of euploid embryos obtained after ICSI was evaluated.