Sperm morphological normality under high magnification predicts laboratory and clinical outcomes in couples undergoing ICSI

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether ‘motile sperm organelle morphology examination’ (MSOME) is correlated with the outcome of ICSI. A total of 14400 spermatozoa from 72 couples undergoing ICSI were analysed by MSOME (x6600) and graded into four groups: grade I, normal form and no vacuoles; grade II, normal form and lesser than or equal to 2 small vacuoles; grade III, normal form greater than 2 small vacuoles or at least one large vacuole and grade IV, large vacuole and abnormal head shapes or other abnormalities. The correlations between the proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa (grade I + II) and ICSI outcomes were assessed. The proportion of grade I+ II spermatozoa was lower in patients with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) compared to patients with other types of semen alterations (10.6% vs. 17.0%, p = 0.001). The proportion of grade I+ II spermatozoa was positively correlated with blastocyst formation (S = 8.31, R2:13.5%, p = 0.014) and implantation rates (S = 8.32, R2: 7.9%, p = 0.030). The proportion of grade I + II spermatozoa was higher in patients with ongoing pregnancy in comparison with those who had a miscarriage (23.2% vs. 10.8%, p = 0.007). Sperm morphological normality was lower in oligoasthenoteratozoospermia patients but correlated with blastocyst formation, implantation and miscarriage rates in couples undergoing ICSI. MSOME may be valuable in predicting ICSI outcomes.