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Two subsequent seminal productions: A good strategy to treat very severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermic infertile couples
Author(s) -
Ciotti Patrizia Maria,
Calza Nilla,
Zuffa Silvia,
Notarangelo Leonardo,
Nardi Elena,
Damiano Giuseppe,
Cipriani Linda,
Porcu Eleonora
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
andrology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.947
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 2047-2927
pISSN - 2047-2919
DOI - 10.1111/andr.13020
Subject(s) - abstinence , semen , sexual abstinence , sperm , sperm motility , andrology , semen quality , medicine , miscarriage , infertility , gynecology , pregnancy , biology , population , environmental health , psychiatry , family planning , research methodology , genetics
Background Sexual abstinence is considered one of the several factors that influence sperm quality. Recent studies show that a shortening of the abstinence period could be beneficial mostly in oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) patients. Objective Retrospective study to verify the efficacy of a second semen sample after a short abstinence to treat severe OAT infertile patients. Materials and methods 127 couples treated between May 2014 and May 2018 were divided into two groups. Study Group 1 (75 cycles): severe OAT characteristics: count <0.2 × 10 6 /mL no progressive motility; count ≥0.2 × 10 6 /mL and no total or progressive motility; 0% normal morphology; a second semen sample was requested after abstinence of 2 h. Control Group 0 (52 cycles): normozoospermic or mild OAT; only one sample was requested. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was utilized in all cases. Results All semen parameters were significantly different between Group 0 vs both samples of Group 1 ( p < 0.001), excluding volume between Group 0 and 1st sample of Group 1 ( p = 0.682). The comparison between 1st and 2nd samples from Group 1 showed significant differences in volume, total and progressive motility and morphology ( p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.020) but not in total sperm count ( p = 0.970). Fertilization, pregnancy rate/transfer, implantation and miscarriage rates were 85.9% and 61.1% ( p < 0.001), 30.6% and 35.8% ( p = 0.700), 17.5% and 24.0 ( p = 0.292), 20.0% and 25.0% ( p = 0.017) in Group 0 and Group 1 respectively. Discussion and conclusion The results show that a short abstinence in severe OAT patients allows us to obtain spermatozoa with better motility. The request for a second semen sample in couples with extreme semen parameters is a valid and simple strategy that helps to achieve the same probability of pregnancy compared to a Control Group. Furthermore, it allows us to utilize fresh spermatozoa avoiding the need to resort to cryopreserved reserves or testicular surgery.