Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 5, 1070-1076,
May 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Blastocyst formationgood indicator of clinical results after ICSI with testicular spermatozoa
evi
er-Kermavner
ek
Reproductive Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Medical Centre Ljubljana,
lajmerjeva 3, 1000-Ljubljana, Slovenia
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed. e-mail: irma.virant{at}kclj.si
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of blastocyst culture in patients with azoospermia. METHODS: In 98 cycles embryos were cultured for 2 days and in 128 cycles for 5 days to reach the blastocyst stage; a maximum of two of the most developed embryos were transferred in each group. RESULTS: There was a negative correlation between a high (
20 IU/l) male serum FSH and embryo development, manifested as embryos not reaching the morula stage on day 5 (r = 0.387; P < 0.05). After prolonged culture, 23% of embryos reached the blastocyst stage. The pregnancy rates per transfer, and the abortion rates were approximately the same in the day 2 group and the day 5 group (20 versus 20% and 19 versus 18% respectively). After blastocyst transfer, a high clinical pregnancy rate (55%) and a low abortion rate (6%) were achieved, whereas the transfer of arrested embryos provided a low pregnancy rate (2%) and a high abortion rate (100%). If only blastocysts had been transferred on day 5, the clinical pregnancy rate per started cycle would have been approximately the same in both groups (13 versus 16%). CONCLUSIONS: Blastocyst formation is a good indicator of clinical results after ICSI with testicular sperm.
Key words: blastocysts/ICSI/spermatozoa/testis