Prognostic value of sperm fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis over PGD

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sperm aneuploidy screening is now widely used as a counseling tool before performing a PGD cycle in infertile patients. The goal of this study was to determine whether sperm aneuploidy has a direct influence on embryo chromosomal abnormalities. METHODS: Two groups were set up: (i) study group consisting of 13 oocyte-donation PGD cycles from males with normal karyotype and a previous altered sperm fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) result and (ii) control group including nine cycles of PGD for X-linked disease with no fertility problems and maternal age <36 years. Sperm samples and Day 3 embryos were evaluated using FISH for chromosomes X, Y, 13, 18 and 21. RESULTS: A total of 179 embryos were analyzed: 91 embryos for the control group versus 88 for the study group. The study group presented more abnormal embryos than the control group (51.14% versus 35.16%; P = 0.0353). Patients from the study group were then classified according to sperm count. Oligozoospermic patients showed a much higher proportion of abnormal embryos compared with the control group (64.87% versus 35.16%; P = 0.0030). CONCLUSIONS: Sperm aneuploidy and diploidy screening seems to be an effective prognostic tool that would be useful in the reproductive genetic counseling of infertile couples, especially in oligozoospermic patients.