The correlation of the degree of abnormal sperm morphology using strict criteria and pregnancy rates following intrauterine insemination (IUI).

Objective: To determine the effect of extremely low sperm morphology on pregnancy rates following intrauterine insemination (IUI) where all other semen parameters were normal.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review of all IUI cycles over a two-year period on infertile women age ≤ 35 where all parameters, but morphology had to be normal. The data were evaluated according to seven levels of percentage of normal morphology (NM): 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and ≥ 6%.

Failed fertilization with conventional oocyte insemination can be overcome with the ability of ICSI according to binding or failing to bind to the zona pellucida.

Purpose: To determine the frequency of failed fertilization with conventional oocyte insemination and to determine the ability of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to overcome the failed fertilization according to binding or failing to bind to the zona pellucida.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective review of 12,448 in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle to identify cycles where failed fertilization occurred following conventional oocyte insemination with seemingly normal sperm. A number of three oocytes retrieved was required.

Correlation of ImmunoBead® and ImmunoSphere™ Immunoglobulin G (IGG) tests on detecting antisperm antibody (ASA) on sperm.

Purpose: To determine the correlation with detection of antibody on sperm by a new ImmunoSphere™ Immunoglobulin test vs. ImmunoBeads®.

Materials And Methods: A sampling of sperm tested for antisperm antibody (ASA) tested by direct Immunobead? assay with levels varying from zero to 100% were compared to the percentage of sperm positive for ASA by a new test using immunospheres.

Effect of poor motility on pregnancy outcome following intracytoplasmic sperm injection in couples whose male partners have subnormal hypo-osmotic swelling test scores.

Purpose: To determine the confounding effect, if any, of poor motility of sperm that are already compromised by an abnormal hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test on pregnancy outcome following in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Materials And Methods: Clinical and live-delivered pregnancy and implantation rates were retrospectively evaluated in first cycles of couples undergoing IVF-ET with ICSI where the HOS test was < 50% according to deciles of subnormal percentage motility (< 50%) and compared to those with normal motility > or = 50%.

Results: The combination of very poor motility and low HOS test scores did diminish pregnancy rates following IVF with ICSI.

Low hypo-osmotic swelling tests correlate with low percent motility and age of the male.

Purpose: To determine if sperm motility and hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) test scores are associated. Furthermore the study would determine if the chance of having a subnormal HOS test increases as motility levels decrease. Finally the study would determine if age, motility, and HOS test scores are independent factors or if they interact.