The influence of sperm parameters on the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection-embryo transfer cycle in poor responder women under 35 years of age

Abstract

To evaluate the influence of sperm parameters on the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles in poor responder women under the age of 35 years in a retrospective analysis in a fertility center. Materials and Methods: A total of 432 poor responder women who underwent ICSI cycles were evaluated. The interventions included ICSI and microdissection testicular sperm extraction (m-TESE). Main outcome measures included fertilization, cleavage, clinical pregnancy, and delivery rates. Results: Patients were divided into four groups according to the sperm parameters and the source of sperm; testicular spermatozoa obtained from men with azoospermia (group 1; n=26), severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) (group 2; n=35), OAT (group 3; n=104), and normal semen analysis (group 4; n=267). Average age of the women, antral follicle count, FSH level, male age, number of previous ICSI cycles, duration of infertility, and the maximal endometrial thickness were similar among the groups. In group 1, the fertilization rate was lower than those in all other groups. Cleavage, clinical pregnancy, and delivery rates were similar among the groups. Conclusions: Neither sperm parameters nor the source of spermatozoa affects delivery rate through ICSI in poor responder women