Success of acupuncture treatment in patients with initially low sperm output is associated with a decrease in scrotal skin temperature.

Poor spermatogenesis in patients with inflammation of the genital tract is associated with scrotal hyperthermia. These patients can benefit from acupuncture treatment. We conducted a study to verify whether the influence of acupuncture treatment on sperm output in patients with low sperm density is associated with a decrease in scrotal temperature.

Is fine morphology of the human sperm nuclei affected by in vitro incubation at 37 degrees C?

Objective: Incubation of ejaculated spermatozoa at 37 degrees C is recommended for IVF-intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Preselection of sperm cells with morphologically normal nuclei before microinjection, adapted in our laboratory, is usually a time-consuming procedure. Therefore, we aimed to verify whether incubation at 37 degrees C could affect the morphologic integrity of sperm nuclei.

Does the presence of nuclear vacuoles in human sperm selected for ICSI affect pregnancy outcome?

Background: To verify whether or not microinjection of sperm with a normal nuclear shape but large vacuoles affects IVF-ICSI pregnancy outcome.

Methods: A comparative study testing IVF outcome parameters of IVF-ICSI, based on morphological selection of spermatozoa with normal nuclei against those based on microinjection of sperm with a normal nuclear shape but large vacuoles. An experimental group, including 28 IVF-ICSI cycles, where only embryos obtained from microinjection of spermatozoa with a normal nuclear shape but large vacuoles were transferred, was matched with a control group, including 28 IVF-ICSI cycles, where only embryos obtained from microinjection of spermatozoa with a strictly defined morphologically normal nuclear shape and content were transferred.

Pregnancy rates are higher with intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection than with conventional intracytoplasmic injection.

Objective: To verify whether microinjection into retrieved oocytes of motile spermatozoa with morphologically normal nuclei, strictly defined by high power light microscopy (x >6000), improves the IVF/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) pregnancy rate in couples with repeated ICSI failures.

Design: Comparative prospective study testing routine IVF/ICSI outcome parameters against those of modified ICSI based on morphological selection of spermatozoa with normal nuclei.

Setting: Male factor fertility laboratory and IVF center.

Real-time fine morphology of motile human sperm cells is associated with IVF-ICSI outcome.

The aim of the present prospective study was to determine whether subtle sperm morphological characteristics affect the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and if so, to identify those that are relevant. For this purpose, we developed a new method, the motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME). The examination is performed in real time using an inverted light microscope equipped with high-power Nomarski optics enhanced by digital imaging to achieve a magnification up to 6300x.