OBJECTIVES: To determine whether there are indications for and benefits from electron microscopy (EM) of sperm during the era of assisted reproductive technology. METHODS: The medical history, semen analyses, and EM findings of 55 @entity1 with pure @entity4810 were reviewed to determine: (1) which semen characteristics (seminal volume, sperm concentration, percent motility, and percent normal morphology) were associated with normal or abnormal ultrastructure as determined by EM, (2) whether EM findings correlated with success or failure of @entity52 ( @entity52 ), and (3) whether EM could screen for potentially inheritable @entity74 . RESULTS: Principal EM diagnoses were normal sperm ultrastructure (11 of 55; 20%), tail abnormalities (21 of 55; 38%), necrospermia (12 of 55; 22%), @entity154 (9 of 55; 16%), @entity135 (1 of 55; 2%), and incomplete maturation (1 of 55; 2%). Every @entity1 with an abnormal EM study had @entity1319 (33% or below) and abnormal morphology (13% or lower normal forms by World Health Organization criteria). The percentage of normal sperm morphology differed significantly across EM diagnoses (P < 0.0001). Differences in motility across the groups could not be detected because EM was only performed on @entity1 with @entity1319 . Although the partner of 1 @entity1 with a normal EM study who underwent @entity52 achieved pregnancy, 11 with abnormal EM studies failed to establish a pregnancy by @entity52 . Finally, 5 (11%) of 44 @entity1 with abnormal EM findings were diagnosed with primary @entity910 directly as a result of EM. In addition, 3 (6.8%) of the 44 @entity1 with abnormal EM findings were diagnosed with complete acrosomal loss. CONCLUSIONS: @entity1 with severely abnormal motility and morphology on routine semen analysis may benefit from EM study of sperm. Our data indicate that EM findings correlate with success or failure of @entity52 , and that EM can screen for potentially inheritable @entity74 .

Role of electron microscopy of sperm in the evaluation of XXXX during the era of assisted reproduction.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['Patients', 'patients', 'patient'] @entity154 :: ('MESH:D000013', 'Disease') :: ['acrosomal defects'] @entity135 :: ('MESH:D006258', 'Disease') :: ['neck abnormalities'] @entity4810 :: ('MESH:D007248', 'Disease') :: ['male-factor infertility'] @entity910 :: ('MESH:D004409', 'Disease') :: ['ciliary dyskinesia'] @entity74 :: ('MESH:D030342', 'Disease') :: ['genetic disorders'] @entity52 :: ('MESH:C566179', 'Disease') :: ['IVF', 'in vitro fertilization'] @entity1319 :: ('MESH:D015835', 'Disease') :: ['impaired motility']
@entity4810 :: (MESH:D007248,Disease) :: ['male infertility']
