Objective:The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of frozen ejaculate and frozen testicular sperm on ICSI results.
Materials and Methods: 36 infertile couples that underwent an ICSI cycle and that the semen samples were frozen between 11.10.2016-12.09.2017 in were included in the study. Ejaculate sperm cryo- preservation was performed in 14 patients and mi- cro TESE sperm cryopreservation was performed in 22 patients.ICSI results (fertilization rate, embryo development rate and pregnancy rates) of the two groups were compared.
Results: There were no statistically significant difference between total motility and viability rates before and after freezing in ejaculate and testicular sperm extraction (TESE) sperm (> 0.05). When ICSI parameteres were compared nostatistically signifi- cant difference were observed between fertilization rates, implantation rates and embryo development rates (> 0.05). But pregnancy rates were found sta- tistically significantly higher in frozen ejaculate group than frozen testicular sperm group (<0.05).
Conclusion: Although sperm cryopreservation has been used in ICSI treatments for many years, re- search and debate on the effectiveness of the method continues. According to our results frozen testicular sperm had no adverse effect on ICSI parameteres but we analyzed a significant decrease in pregnancy rates. This may be partially explained by the role of sperm in the implantation process. In order to dem- onstrate this effect and to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the implantation process, molecular studies with larger patient groups are needed.
Keywords: Cryopreservation, Sperm, TESE, ICSI
Abstract
Objective:The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of frozen ejaculate and frozen testicular sperm on ICSI results.
Materials and Methods: 36 infertile couples that underwent an ICSI cycle and that the semen samples were frozen between 11.10.2016-12.09.2017 in were included in the study. Ejaculate sperm cryo- preservation was performed in 14 patients and mi- cro TESE sperm cryopreservation was performed in 22 patients.ICSI results (fertilization rate, embryo development rate and pregnancy rates) of the two groups were compared.
Results: There were no statistically significant difference between total motility and viability rates before and after freezing in ejaculate and testicular sperm extraction (TESE) sperm (> 0.05). When ICSI parameteres were compared nostatistically signifi- cant difference were observed between fertilization rates, implantation rates and embryo development rates (> 0.05). But pregnancy rates were found sta- tistically significantly higher in frozen ejaculate group than frozen testicular sperm group (<0.05).
Conclusion: Although sperm cryopreservation has been used in ICSI treatments for many years, re- search and debate on the effectiveness of the method continues. According to our results frozen testicular sperm had no adverse effect on ICSI parameteres but we analyzed a significant decrease in pregnancy rates. This may be partially explained by the role of sperm in the implantation process. In order to dem- onstrate this effect and to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the implantation process, molecular studies with larger patient groups are needed.
Keywords: Cryopreservation, Sperm, TESE, ICSI