P-096 Clinical outcome of ICSI, PICSI and testicular spermatozoa-ICSI procedures in overcoming in patients with high level of sperm DNA fragmentation
Authors: Korshunov M , Korshunova E , Korshunov D , Komarova M , Ekimova E , Kindarova L , Darenkov S 
Published: June 2022

Study question

To compare the clinical effectiveness of ICSI, PICSI and testicular spermatozoa-ICSI (T-ICSI) in patients with abnormal level of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF).

Summary answer

Clinical effect of T-ICSI procedure exceeds the effect of PICSI and ICSI in male infertility with high level of SDF.

What is known already

The effectiveness of ART in male infertility depends on sperm chromatin structure integrity. High level of SDF may be reason of IVF/ICSI procedure failures. Several studies have demonstrated impaired clinical outcomes of ICSI in patients with abnormal level of SDF. SDF has a positive correlation with pregnancy loss. It has been shown the benefit of using of testicular spermatozoa in ICSI in high level of SDF. PICSI is a method of the selection of sperm that may reduce the risk of reproductive losses. The data on the comparison of the effectiveness of these methods in high SDF are limited.

Study design, size, duration

Data was collected from 2019 to 2021 years. The couples with male factor of infertility were enrolled in the study. All the patients had abnormal level of SDF (30-45%). The age of women was less than 35 year. The couples were randomly selected and divided in 3 groups according the ART method: I (n = 25) ICSI; II (n = 22) PICSI; III (n = 20) T-ICSI procedure.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The trial involved 67 couples. The mean patients age was 33,3±6,2 y (24-46), the women age - 29,1±2,3 (25-33). All of the men were non-smokers, had idiopathic pathospermia, high level of SDF and underwent unsuccessful courses of empirical therapy in anamnesis. SDF level was measured by TUNEL method. 52 (77,6%) couples had unsuccessful attempts of ICSI including pregnancy loss. The fertilization, blastocyst formation (Gr A/B), clinical pregnancy and live birth rates were measured.

Main results and the role of chance

It was not significant difference in SDF level in the groups: I group - 37,3±3,1%; II group - 37,2±3,5%; III group - 37,8±3,2% (III). The fertilization rate was comparable in the groups I, II and III - 65,4%; 66,6%; 63,3% respectively. Blastocyst formation (good quality embryos) rate was 41,2%; 46,1%; 56,1%(p &lt; 0001) in I, II and III groups respectively. Clinical pregnancy and life birth rates were 36,0% [9/25]; 40,9%[9/22] (p &lt; 0,05); 45,0%[9/20] (p &lt; 0001) and 20,0% [5/25]; 27,2%[6/22]; 35%[7/20] in ICSI, PICSI, T-ICSI groups respectively. It was significant difference in miscarriage rate 16%, 13,7% (p &lt; 005), 10% (p &lt; 0001) in I, II и III groups respectively.

Limitations, reasons for caution

T-ICSI might compensate for ART failure in high level of SDF cases. Testicular sperm retrival is an invasive intervention, and its benefit must be carefully justified in each cases. Further studies are needed to determine whether infertility with sperm DNA damage can be overcomed by less invasive methods than T-ICSI.

Wider implications of the findings

There was no significant difference in fertilization rate in ICSI, PICSI and T-ICSI. T-ICSI demonstrated the best blastocyst formation rate and clinical outcome in trial. According results of our investigation PICSI might increase pregnancy rates and reduce pregnancy losses when compared with ICSI in infertility in high SDF.

Trial registration number

not applicable