Effect of abnormal sperm head morphology on the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in humans

Hum Reprod. 1997 Jun;12(6):1214-7. doi: 10.1093/humrep/12.6.1214.

Abstract

The present study was designed to determine the efficacy of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using spermatozoa with abnormal head morphology in 17 cases with total teratozoospermia. A total of 160 oocytes were retrieved and 144 metaphase II oocytes were injected. The fertilization and cleavage rates were 50.7 and 93.2% respectively. Fertilization failure occurred in two couples. A total of 54 embryos were transferred and pregnancy rates per initiated and per embryo transfer cycle were 17.6 and 20.0% respectively, while the clinical pregnancy rates per initiated and embryo transfer cycle were 11.8 and 13.3%. The implantation rate was 3.7% (2/54). Out of two pregnancies achieved, one resulted in abortion in the first trimester. The ongoing pregnancy rates per initiated and embryo transfer cycle were 5.88% (1/17) and 6.6% (1/15) respectively. Although the implantation and ongoing pregnancy rates are very low, ICSI seems to be the only treatment modality in cases where teratozoospermia was total with 100% abnormal head morphology.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cytoplasm
  • Embryo Transfer
  • Female
  • Fertilization in Vitro / methods*
  • Humans
  • Infertility, Male / pathology*
  • Infertility, Male / therapy*
  • Male
  • Microinjections
  • Pregnancy
  • Sperm Head / pathology*
  • Spermatozoa / abnormalities*
  • Treatment Outcome