BACKGROUND: Deletions of the AZFb region on the long arm of the human Y chromosome cause male inf... more BACKGROUND: Deletions of the AZFb region on the long arm of the human Y chromosome cause male infertility. However, the reciprocal products of these deletion events, AZFb duplications, have not been reported to date. Furthermore, it is not known whether potential AZFb duplications represent a risk factor for spermatogenic failure. METHODS: A total of 150 patients with male idiopathic subfertility (79 non-obstructive azoospermics and 71 oligozoospermics) and 150 fertile men were analysed for deletion/duplication of the sY125 locus and of the JARID1D gene using real-time PCR. RESULTS: Three azoospermic men had deletion of the sY125 locus and of the JARID1D gene. No duplication was detected. CONCLUSIONS: In our limited sample, AZFb duplications do not appear to be associated with male infertility.
BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the psychological stress related to a short war (26 June-7 Ju... more BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the psychological stress related to a short war (26 June-7 July, 1991) in Slovenia induced changes in fertility, sex ratio at birth and semen quality characteristics. METHODS: Sex ratios [i.e. males/(males ⍣ females)] for 4966 births in the general population of Slovenia and separately for 1565 births in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, from January-March 1992 were compared with the sex ratio calculated for the same time period in 1991 and 1993. Semen analyses for 38 normozoospermic men attending an outpatient infertility clinic from May to September 1991 were also evaluated. RESULTS: In the general population in Slovenia there was a significant fall in the sex ratio at birth in 1992, compared with 1991 (0.504 versus 0.518; P ⍧ 0.03). In Ljubljana, the decline in sex ratio in 1992 was even more pronounced: 0.483 versus 0.537 in 1991 (P ⍧ 0.0001) and 0.483 versus 0.516 in 1993 (P ⍧ 0.005). A decrease in the proportion of sperm that were progressively motile from 56% before the war to 52% after it (P ⍧ 0.01) and of those that were rapidly motile from 40 to 36% (P ⍧ 0.01) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Acute psychological stress in relation to a short war in Slovenia resulted 6 to 9 months later in a decrease in the observed sex ratio at birth. Negative changes in sperm motility may be involved in the sex ratio modifications.
BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the psychological stress related to a short war (26 June-7 Ju... more BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the psychological stress related to a short war (26 June-7 July, 1991) in Slovenia induced changes in fertility, sex ratio at birth and semen quality characteristics. METHODS: Sex ratios (i.e. males/(males females)) for 4966 births in the general population of Slovenia and separately for 1565 births in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, from January-March 1992 were compared
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of blastocyst culture in patients with... more 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 (b20 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.
The aim of this study was to find out whether C282Y and H63D mutations in the hemochromatosis (HF... more The aim of this study was to find out whether C282Y and H63D mutations in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene are associated with male infertility and whether the prevalence of the HFE mutations is higher in a group of 262 infertile men in comparison to 200 fertile men. Because the C282Y and H63D HFE gene distributions in infertile men were not significantly different from fertile controls, our data suggest that the C282Y and H63D HFE gene mutations are not risk factors for male infertility and are not associated with clinical manifestations of male infertility. (Fertil Steril 2006;86:1796 -8.
Background. Polycystic ovaries (PCO) are manifested either independently or as a syndrome (PCOS).... more Background. Polycystic ovaries (PCO) are manifested either independently or as a syndrome (PCOS). They are one of the commonest endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. Despite a variable clinical picture one of the leading symptoms is infertility for anovulation. Surgical treatment of the disease witnessed a revival after the introduction of minimally invasive operative laparoscopy. Various techniques of ovarian tissue destruction have been applied, the most common being laparoscopic electrocoagulation of the ovaries (LECO). The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the pregnancy rates and pregnancy outcomes following LECO.
- Abstract - Abstract - Abstract - Background. Since in in vitro fertilization two embryos - blas... more - Abstract - Abstract - Abstract - Background. Since in in vitro fertilization two embryos - blastocysts are routinely transferred, the twin pre- gnancy rates are higher than in the general population. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical results after elec- tive single-blastocyst transfer. Methods. Retrospectively we analysed clinical results of 696 in vitro fertilization
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the most frequently sexually transmitted viruses and etiological... more Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the most frequently sexually transmitted viruses and etiological agents of several human cancers. Controversial results of the role of HPV in infertile population on sperm parameters have been published. The aim of this study was to estimate the type-specific prevalence of HPV DNA infection of the external genitalia and semen in 340 Slovenian men from infertile couples and to establish the relationship between seminal HPV DNA infection and abnormal sperm parameters. Self-taken swabs of the entire penile surface and semen samples were collected, and HPV detection and genotyping were performed. HPV DNA was detected in 37.12% of external genitalia and in 13.61% of semen samples with high HPV type concordance of both sampling sites. The most prevalent HPV types in the male external genitalia were HPV-CP6108 and HPV-84. The most prevalent HPV types in semen were HPV-53 and HPV-CP6108. The prevalence of HPV infection between normozoospermic men and men with abnormal sperm parameters did not differ significantly. Sperm quality did not differ significantly between men with seminal HPV infection and uninfected men. In conclusion, the men from infertile couples are equally susceptible to HPV infection regardless of their fertile potential; seminal HPV infection does not impair sperm quality.
- Abstract - Abstract - Abstract - Background. Because of complications related to multiple pregn... more - Abstract - Abstract - Abstract - Background. Because of complications related to multiple pregnancies after in vitro fertilization this patho- logy represent a real problem. Intracytoplasmic sperm injec- tion (ICSI) may lead to higher risk in developing monozygo- tic pregnancies. We sought to investigate whether the mul- tiple pregnancies after ICSI differ of those consecutive to clas- sical
Ključne besede: policistični jajčniki; neplodnost; kirurško zdravljenje Izvleček - Izvleček - Izv... more Ključne besede: policistični jajčniki; neplodnost; kirurško zdravljenje Izvleček - Izvleček - Izvleček - Izvleček - Izvleček - Izhodišča. Policistični jajčniki (PCO) obstojajo lah- ko kot samostojen pojav ali pa v obliki sindroma (PCOS). So ena najpogostejših endokrinopatij pri ženskah v reproduk- tivnem obdobju. Kljub pestri klinični sliki je eden vodilnih simptomov neplodnost zaradi anovulacije. Kirurško zdrav- ljenje te bolezni je doživelo prerod z uvedbo minimalno inva- zivne laparoskopske kirurgije. Uveljavile so se različne tehni- ke destrukcije tkiva jajčnika, med katerimi je najpogostejša laparoskopska elektrokoagulacija ovarijev (LEKO). Namen re- trospektivne raziskave je bil ugotoviti stopnjo zanositve in izid nosečnosti po LEKO. Bolnice in metode. V obdobju 1993 do vključno leta 2000 smo na Kliničnem oddelku za reprodukcijo Ginekološke klinike v Ljubljani naredili LEKO pri 222 neplodnih bolnicah s PCO(S), pri katerih je bilo medikamentno spodbujanje ovulacije ne- uspešno ...
Factors that influenced the clinical results of 220 first-attempt intracytoplasmic sperm injectio... more Factors that influenced the clinical results of 220 first-attempt intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with testicular spermatozoa were evaluated in 107 men with non-obstructive azoospermia, 72 with obstructive azoospermia and 41 with aspermia. Linear and logistic regression analysis showed that the fertilization rate depended positively on Johnsen score (P = 0.016) and on the type of ovarian stimulation: a higher fertilization rate was observed after ovarian stimulation with agonist and recombinant FSH than after stimulation with agonist and urinary menopausal gonadotrophin (P = 0.026). Embryo development to the blastocyst stage was predicted positively by the number of injected oocytes (P = 0.016) and negatively by male FSH concentration (P = 0.019). A higher proportion of blastocysts developed after the use of frozen-thawed spermatozoa in comparison to fresh spermatozoa (P = 0.034). Embryo development to the blastocyst stage influenced pregnancy (P = 0.002) and live birth outcomes (P = 0.005); live birth was also predicted by female age (P = 0.046). Embryo culture to day 5 in comparison to day 2 did not provide higher live birth rates. In azoospermia/aspermia, the ICSI outcome depends on both male factors (FSH, Johnsen score, sperm status and motility) and female factors (age, number of injected oocytes).
Pfl?gers Archiv European Journal of Physiology, 2001
Apoptosis is a widespread phenomena during development. It represents a form of cell death and ha... more Apoptosis is a widespread phenomena during development. It represents a form of cell death and has a crucial role in tissue homeostasis. Apoptosis is also involved in a number of pathological conditions. Spermatogenesis is a dynamic process of germ cell proliferation and differentiation. During regular spermatogenesis, the number of testicular germ cells degenerate by an apoptotic process. The significance of regulating cell population by apoptosis is more apparent when sperm production is halted. The presence and frequency of apoptosis in germ cells of human testis biopsy specimens were tested. The results confirm the presence of germ cell apoptosis but not the apoptosis of Sertoli cells. The increased apoptotic index was observed in patients with azoospermia in comparison with normal but obstructed spermatogenesis.
In this study we sought to determine whether intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) could improv... more In this study we sought to determine whether intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) could improve the efficacy of treatment with gonadotrophins in gonadotrophin-deficient men in terms of pregnancy. A series of six adult men (aged 26-47 years) with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH) is reported: four men with prepubertal isolated idiopathic HH (IIHH) and two adult-onset HH, as part of hypopituitarism secondary to surgical treatment of a pituitary tumour. All were azoospermic. To restore spermatogenesis, all received hormonal treatment with intramuscular human menopausal gonadotrophins (HMG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) for 2 to 23 months. High basal serum inhibin B was predictive of rapid and complete recovery of spermatogenesis. In the two adult-onset HH, a natural pregnancy was achieved within 3 months. The four men with IIHH underwent ICSI because of poor sperm quality. ICSI using fresh or frozen-thawed ejaculated spermatozoa was performed after 6-23 months of gonadotrophin treatment. ICSI provided good clinical results in terms of fertilization and embryo quality, and resulted in three pregnancies that ended in three term deliveries. In men with oligozoospermia related to prepubertal IIHH, ICSI shortens the hormonal treatment and enhances the chances of pregnancy.
High seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) are related to poor semen quality and impaired fertili... more High seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) are related to poor semen quality and impaired fertilization. We aimed at finding whether there is an association between ROS and fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy rates after conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In prepared semen of 147 male partners of infertile couples, ROS were assessed with luminol chemiluminescence. Spermiogram was assessed in native semen. ROS were negatively correlated with standard sperm characteristics and testicular volume, and positively with abnormal sperm head morphology. Fertilization rate and embryo morphology on day 2 and on day 4 were assessed in 41 IVF and 106 ICSI cycles. The influence of maternal (female age and number of oocytes) and paternal (sperm motility, morphology and ROS) factors on fertilization and embryo quality were assessed by means of regression analyses. After IVF, fertilization and pregnancy rates were negatively associated with ROS level (p ¼ 0.031 and 0.041, respectively). In case of higher ROS, significantly fewer ICSI-derived embryos (p ¼ 0.036) reached the morula-blastocyst stage on day 4. High seminal ROS levels are associated with impaired sperm fertilizing ability and lower pregnancy rates after IVF. In ICSI, a negative association of ROS with embryo development to the blastocyst stage has been observed.
BACKGROUND: Deletions of the AZFb region on the long arm of the human Y chromosome cause male inf... more BACKGROUND: Deletions of the AZFb region on the long arm of the human Y chromosome cause male infertility. However, the reciprocal products of these deletion events, AZFb duplications, have not been reported to date. Furthermore, it is not known whether potential AZFb duplications represent a risk factor for spermatogenic failure. METHODS: A total of 150 patients with male idiopathic subfertility (79 non-obstructive azoospermics and 71 oligozoospermics) and 150 fertile men were analysed for deletion/duplication of the sY125 locus and of the JARID1D gene using real-time PCR. RESULTS: Three azoospermic men had deletion of the sY125 locus and of the JARID1D gene. No duplication was detected. CONCLUSIONS: In our limited sample, AZFb duplications do not appear to be associated with male infertility.
BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the psychological stress related to a short war (26 June-7 Ju... more BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the psychological stress related to a short war (26 June-7 July, 1991) in Slovenia induced changes in fertility, sex ratio at birth and semen quality characteristics. METHODS: Sex ratios [i.e. males/(males ⍣ females)] for 4966 births in the general population of Slovenia and separately for 1565 births in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, from January-March 1992 were compared with the sex ratio calculated for the same time period in 1991 and 1993. Semen analyses for 38 normozoospermic men attending an outpatient infertility clinic from May to September 1991 were also evaluated. RESULTS: In the general population in Slovenia there was a significant fall in the sex ratio at birth in 1992, compared with 1991 (0.504 versus 0.518; P ⍧ 0.03). In Ljubljana, the decline in sex ratio in 1992 was even more pronounced: 0.483 versus 0.537 in 1991 (P ⍧ 0.0001) and 0.483 versus 0.516 in 1993 (P ⍧ 0.005). A decrease in the proportion of sperm that were progressively motile from 56% before the war to 52% after it (P ⍧ 0.01) and of those that were rapidly motile from 40 to 36% (P ⍧ 0.01) was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Acute psychological stress in relation to a short war in Slovenia resulted 6 to 9 months later in a decrease in the observed sex ratio at birth. Negative changes in sperm motility may be involved in the sex ratio modifications.
BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the psychological stress related to a short war (26 June-7 Ju... more BACKGROUND: We investigated whether the psychological stress related to a short war (26 June-7 July, 1991) in Slovenia induced changes in fertility, sex ratio at birth and semen quality characteristics. METHODS: Sex ratios (i.e. males/(males females)) for 4966 births in the general population of Slovenia and separately for 1565 births in the Slovenian capital, Ljubljana, from January-March 1992 were compared
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of blastocyst culture in patients with... more 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 (b20 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.
The aim of this study was to find out whether C282Y and H63D mutations in the hemochromatosis (HF... more The aim of this study was to find out whether C282Y and H63D mutations in the hemochromatosis (HFE) gene are associated with male infertility and whether the prevalence of the HFE mutations is higher in a group of 262 infertile men in comparison to 200 fertile men. Because the C282Y and H63D HFE gene distributions in infertile men were not significantly different from fertile controls, our data suggest that the C282Y and H63D HFE gene mutations are not risk factors for male infertility and are not associated with clinical manifestations of male infertility. (Fertil Steril 2006;86:1796 -8.
Background. Polycystic ovaries (PCO) are manifested either independently or as a syndrome (PCOS).... more Background. Polycystic ovaries (PCO) are manifested either independently or as a syndrome (PCOS). They are one of the commonest endocrinopathy in women of reproductive age. Despite a variable clinical picture one of the leading symptoms is infertility for anovulation. Surgical treatment of the disease witnessed a revival after the introduction of minimally invasive operative laparoscopy. Various techniques of ovarian tissue destruction have been applied, the most common being laparoscopic electrocoagulation of the ovaries (LECO). The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the pregnancy rates and pregnancy outcomes following LECO.
- Abstract - Abstract - Abstract - Background. Since in in vitro fertilization two embryos - blas... more - Abstract - Abstract - Abstract - Background. Since in in vitro fertilization two embryos - blastocysts are routinely transferred, the twin pre- gnancy rates are higher than in the general population. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical results after elec- tive single-blastocyst transfer. Methods. Retrospectively we analysed clinical results of 696 in vitro fertilization
Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the most frequently sexually transmitted viruses and etiological... more Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the most frequently sexually transmitted viruses and etiological agents of several human cancers. Controversial results of the role of HPV in infertile population on sperm parameters have been published. The aim of this study was to estimate the type-specific prevalence of HPV DNA infection of the external genitalia and semen in 340 Slovenian men from infertile couples and to establish the relationship between seminal HPV DNA infection and abnormal sperm parameters. Self-taken swabs of the entire penile surface and semen samples were collected, and HPV detection and genotyping were performed. HPV DNA was detected in 37.12% of external genitalia and in 13.61% of semen samples with high HPV type concordance of both sampling sites. The most prevalent HPV types in the male external genitalia were HPV-CP6108 and HPV-84. The most prevalent HPV types in semen were HPV-53 and HPV-CP6108. The prevalence of HPV infection between normozoospermic men and men with abnormal sperm parameters did not differ significantly. Sperm quality did not differ significantly between men with seminal HPV infection and uninfected men. In conclusion, the men from infertile couples are equally susceptible to HPV infection regardless of their fertile potential; seminal HPV infection does not impair sperm quality.
- Abstract - Abstract - Abstract - Background. Because of complications related to multiple pregn... more - Abstract - Abstract - Abstract - Background. Because of complications related to multiple pregnancies after in vitro fertilization this patho- logy represent a real problem. Intracytoplasmic sperm injec- tion (ICSI) may lead to higher risk in developing monozygo- tic pregnancies. We sought to investigate whether the mul- tiple pregnancies after ICSI differ of those consecutive to clas- sical
Ključne besede: policistični jajčniki; neplodnost; kirurško zdravljenje Izvleček - Izvleček - Izv... more Ključne besede: policistični jajčniki; neplodnost; kirurško zdravljenje Izvleček - Izvleček - Izvleček - Izvleček - Izvleček - Izhodišča. Policistični jajčniki (PCO) obstojajo lah- ko kot samostojen pojav ali pa v obliki sindroma (PCOS). So ena najpogostejših endokrinopatij pri ženskah v reproduk- tivnem obdobju. Kljub pestri klinični sliki je eden vodilnih simptomov neplodnost zaradi anovulacije. Kirurško zdrav- ljenje te bolezni je doživelo prerod z uvedbo minimalno inva- zivne laparoskopske kirurgije. Uveljavile so se različne tehni- ke destrukcije tkiva jajčnika, med katerimi je najpogostejša laparoskopska elektrokoagulacija ovarijev (LEKO). Namen re- trospektivne raziskave je bil ugotoviti stopnjo zanositve in izid nosečnosti po LEKO. Bolnice in metode. V obdobju 1993 do vključno leta 2000 smo na Kliničnem oddelku za reprodukcijo Ginekološke klinike v Ljubljani naredili LEKO pri 222 neplodnih bolnicah s PCO(S), pri katerih je bilo medikamentno spodbujanje ovulacije ne- uspešno ...
Factors that influenced the clinical results of 220 first-attempt intracytoplasmic sperm injectio... more Factors that influenced the clinical results of 220 first-attempt intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles with testicular spermatozoa were evaluated in 107 men with non-obstructive azoospermia, 72 with obstructive azoospermia and 41 with aspermia. Linear and logistic regression analysis showed that the fertilization rate depended positively on Johnsen score (P = 0.016) and on the type of ovarian stimulation: a higher fertilization rate was observed after ovarian stimulation with agonist and recombinant FSH than after stimulation with agonist and urinary menopausal gonadotrophin (P = 0.026). Embryo development to the blastocyst stage was predicted positively by the number of injected oocytes (P = 0.016) and negatively by male FSH concentration (P = 0.019). A higher proportion of blastocysts developed after the use of frozen-thawed spermatozoa in comparison to fresh spermatozoa (P = 0.034). Embryo development to the blastocyst stage influenced pregnancy (P = 0.002) and live birth outcomes (P = 0.005); live birth was also predicted by female age (P = 0.046). Embryo culture to day 5 in comparison to day 2 did not provide higher live birth rates. In azoospermia/aspermia, the ICSI outcome depends on both male factors (FSH, Johnsen score, sperm status and motility) and female factors (age, number of injected oocytes).
Pfl?gers Archiv European Journal of Physiology, 2001
Apoptosis is a widespread phenomena during development. It represents a form of cell death and ha... more Apoptosis is a widespread phenomena during development. It represents a form of cell death and has a crucial role in tissue homeostasis. Apoptosis is also involved in a number of pathological conditions. Spermatogenesis is a dynamic process of germ cell proliferation and differentiation. During regular spermatogenesis, the number of testicular germ cells degenerate by an apoptotic process. The significance of regulating cell population by apoptosis is more apparent when sperm production is halted. The presence and frequency of apoptosis in germ cells of human testis biopsy specimens were tested. The results confirm the presence of germ cell apoptosis but not the apoptosis of Sertoli cells. The increased apoptotic index was observed in patients with azoospermia in comparison with normal but obstructed spermatogenesis.
In this study we sought to determine whether intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) could improv... more In this study we sought to determine whether intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) could improve the efficacy of treatment with gonadotrophins in gonadotrophin-deficient men in terms of pregnancy. A series of six adult men (aged 26-47 years) with hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (HH) is reported: four men with prepubertal isolated idiopathic HH (IIHH) and two adult-onset HH, as part of hypopituitarism secondary to surgical treatment of a pituitary tumour. All were azoospermic. To restore spermatogenesis, all received hormonal treatment with intramuscular human menopausal gonadotrophins (HMG) and human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) for 2 to 23 months. High basal serum inhibin B was predictive of rapid and complete recovery of spermatogenesis. In the two adult-onset HH, a natural pregnancy was achieved within 3 months. The four men with IIHH underwent ICSI because of poor sperm quality. ICSI using fresh or frozen-thawed ejaculated spermatozoa was performed after 6-23 months of gonadotrophin treatment. ICSI provided good clinical results in terms of fertilization and embryo quality, and resulted in three pregnancies that ended in three term deliveries. In men with oligozoospermia related to prepubertal IIHH, ICSI shortens the hormonal treatment and enhances the chances of pregnancy.
High seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) are related to poor semen quality and impaired fertili... more High seminal reactive oxygen species (ROS) are related to poor semen quality and impaired fertilization. We aimed at finding whether there is an association between ROS and fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy rates after conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). In prepared semen of 147 male partners of infertile couples, ROS were assessed with luminol chemiluminescence. Spermiogram was assessed in native semen. ROS were negatively correlated with standard sperm characteristics and testicular volume, and positively with abnormal sperm head morphology. Fertilization rate and embryo morphology on day 2 and on day 4 were assessed in 41 IVF and 106 ICSI cycles. The influence of maternal (female age and number of oocytes) and paternal (sperm motility, morphology and ROS) factors on fertilization and embryo quality were assessed by means of regression analyses. After IVF, fertilization and pregnancy rates were negatively associated with ROS level (p ¼ 0.031 and 0.041, respectively). In case of higher ROS, significantly fewer ICSI-derived embryos (p ¼ 0.036) reached the morula-blastocyst stage on day 4. High seminal ROS levels are associated with impaired sperm fertilizing ability and lower pregnancy rates after IVF. In ICSI, a negative association of ROS with embryo development to the blastocyst stage has been observed.
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