Computer‐assisted assessment of sperm morphology: comparison with conventional techniques

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to compare conventional and computer-assisted morphology assessment of spermatozoa. Sixty-two semen samples from patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) and 40 samples from patients undergoing an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) were studied using both techniques. The percentage of normal spermatozoa found was closely correlated between the techniques (r=0.788, p < 0.0001). The intra-operator variation was low for both techniques but the inter-operator variation was much higher with the conventional than with the computer-assisted method (coefficient of variation = 0.43 vs. 0.08, respectively, for conventional and computer-assisted assessments). The percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology, as well as sperm motility, was significantly enhanced after PureSperm preparation, whatever the method used for assessment. In the IVF study, fertilization rate was poorly correlated with sperm morphology using both methods. However, combined with motility, morphology assessed with the computer allowed discrimination of two groups of patients with significantly different fertilization rates (30.5 +/- 5.4% vs. 63.1 +/- 5.4%, p < 0.0001). In contrast, the fertilization rate in ICSI was influenced neither by sperm morphology nor by motility. In conclusion, computer-assisted assessment of sperm morphology has a slightly better predictive value for ART than conventional assessment, but above all is much more reproducible, allowing standardization.

The usefulness of Real Time Morphology software in semen assessment of teratozoospermic boars

“…Our data were similar to previous studies that reported equal clinical relevance in the conventional and computer assisted techniques of morphology assessment [Marnet et al 2000]. …”

“…Some studies claim that different staining techniques are both effective and reliable [Menkveld et al 1997;Marnet et al 2000;Graves et al 2005]. However, other studies have shown marked differences between stains with regard to stain intensity, differentiation, and contrast, but more importantly sperm size and shape, all of which may significantly influence the outcomes of morphology evaluation [Coetzee et al 2001].…”

“…However, it has been generally assumed that the morphological evaluation of spermatozoa is of the most crucial clinical importance [Ombelet et al 1997]. Several studies have shown that the percentage of normal spermatozoa is highly correlated with in vivo fertilizing ability of sperm cells in humans and boars [Hirai et al 2001;Kozdrowski and Dubiel 2004;Marnet et al 2000;Ombelet et al 1995]. The ability of spermatozoa to bind to the zona pellucida, initiates the acrosomal reaction and binding to the oolemma that are necessary for a normal fertilization [Marnet et al 2000].…”

“…Several studies have shown that the percentage of normal spermatozoa is highly correlated with in vivo fertilizing ability of sperm cells in humans and boars [Hirai et al 2001;Kozdrowski and Dubiel 2004;Marnet et al 2000;Ombelet et al 1995]. The ability of spermatozoa to bind to the zona pellucida, initiates the acrosomal reaction and binding to the oolemma that are necessary for a normal fertilization [Marnet et al 2000]. These phenomena occur in a subpopulation of spermatozoa with normal morphology [Menkveld et al 1997].…”

Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) does not improve outcome in patients with two successive IVF-ICSI failures

“…An HTM-IVOS analyzer version 12.3 (Hamilton-Thorne Biosciences, Beverly, MA, USA) was used. The spermatozoon was identified and then analyzed by computerized software according to strict criteria [17,18].…”