Very Low Sperm Count Affects the Result of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection

摘要

>Purpose: The aim was to examine the influence of extremelylow sperm count on intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI) outcome.>Methods: Over 1000 consecutive unselected ICSI cycleswere divided into four groups according to spermconcentration of their patients: A, cryptozoospermia, 107 patients; B,sperm concentration of ≤ 1×10⁴, 146 patients; C, spermcount of 1×10⁴–1×10⁵, 135 patients; and concentration of≤ 1×10⁵ and < 10×10⁶/ml (control group), 688 patients.>Results: A significant decrease in pregnancy rate wasnoticed in the cryptozoospermic group in comparison to thecontrol group (20% vs. 31%). Fertilization rate in group Awas significantly lower in comparison to all other groups,respectively (46% vs. 52%, 54%, 61%). Embryo quality wasinferior in group A in comparison to the control group. Ahigher yet not statistically significant abortion rate wasobserved in the cryptozoospermic group (as well as in groupC) (30%, 27%) compared to the control group (15%).>Conclusions: It seems that an extremely low sperm counthas a negative effect on the outcome of ICSI. Neverthelesspatients with cryptozoospermia should not be offered ICSItreatment with the ejaculated sperm before karyotype isestablished.