Andrology: Which semen parameters have a predictive value for pregnancy in infertile couples?

Abstract

A prospective study was carried out in 156 couples attending an infertility clinic. To assess the predictive value of semen parameters in relation to pregnancy, we defined a group of 16 couples (group II) in whom the female became pregnant by intra-uterine insemination (IUI), and therefore in whom a female factor could be ruled out. Studies of semen parameters before and after capacitation were carried out in the first trimester of pregnancy (< 12 weeks). The same studies were done in the remaining 140 men (group III) with primary infertility and then all results were compared with a control group of 27 healthy, fertile men (group I), with normal semen parameters. Our results showed that progressive motility and straight line velocity were significantly lower in group III compared with group II: 33.4 and 45.2% respectively (P < 0.001) for progressive motility, and 25.7 and 32.8% respectively (P < 0.005) for straight line velocity. Acrosome alterations, on the other hand, were significantly more frequent in group III compared with group II: 21.4 +/- 0.7 and 5.9 +/- 1.7 respectively (P < 0.003). After capacitation, the recovery in terms of numbers of motile spermatozoa, spermatozoa with normal morphology and acrosome-reacted spermatozoa could be a predictive parameter of fertilization, because all were significantly decreased in group III compared with group II (P < 0.01).

Prognostic value of objective semen parameters in an in vitro fertilization program

“…Concerning the acrosomal reaction the results of different studies are more in agreement: a low percentage of reacted sperm after induction is associated with a low fertilization rate (7,21,(28)(29)(30).…”

The significance of the ionophore-challenged acrosome reaction in the prediction of successful outcome of controlled ovarian stimulation and intrauterine insemination

“…These controversial results could be due to the selection of spontaneous acrosomereacted sperm or small sample size in some of the studies. Combined parameters of acrosome-reacted sperm, total number of motile and morphologically normal sperm had predictive value for pregnancy for infertile couples in IUI (Bielsa et al, 1994) and IVF (Parinaud et al, 1995). Spontaneous AR (%) (±A23187) 6.0 (1±12) 6.0 (1±14) NS Induced AR (%) (+A23187)…”

“…The signi®cance of ARIC score in predicting successful fertilization in IVF treatment is well documented in the literature. A low percentage of acrosome-reacted sperm after induction has been shown to be associated with a low fertilization rate in IVF (Schill, 1991;Calvo et al, 1994a;Sukcharoen et al, 1995) and IUI (Bielsa et al, 1994). Moreover, AR was signi®cantly related to fertilization rates in vitro in teratozoospermic patients in male infertility (Liu and Baker, 1998).…”

Circannual variation in human semen parameters

“…The percentage of motile spermatozoa was calculated from the ratio of the number of rapidly and slowly moving spermatozoa (grades ab, according to the WHO classification 1992) to the total number of spermatozoa counted. Sperm morphology was assessed by counting at least 100 spermatozoa in two different smears, using our staining technique (Bielsa et al ., 1994), because a good correlation exists with the Papanicolaou method and ours is easier and provides more information about the cells. The intertechnician variation was <10% for this parameter.…”