Reproductive outcomes of testicular versus ejaculated sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection among men with high levels of DNA fragmentation in semen: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To compare sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) levels between testicular and ejaculated sperm and to evaluate outcomes of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) with the use of testicular (Testi-ICSI) versus ejaculated (Ejac-ICSI) sperm in nonazoospermic men with high SDF.

Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Setting: Not applicable.

Patient(s): Normo- and oligozoospermic men with high levels of SDF in semen subjected to Testi-ICSI or Ejac-ICSI.

Intervention(s): Summary mean difference (MD) and odds ratio (OR) were calculated with the use of an inverse variance model and fixed- or random-effects models, respectively.

Main outcome measure(s): Primary outcomes were SDF levels, clinical pregnancy rates (CPRs), and live birth rates (LBRs). Secondary outcomes were fertilization and miscarriage rates.

Result(s): Five studies involving 143 patients provided paired SDF rates for testicular and ejaculated sperm, revealing lower SDF in testicular sperm (MD -24.58%). Four studies involving 507 cycles and 3,840 oocytes reported clinical outcomes of Testi-ICSI and Ejac-ICSI. Fertilization rates were not different between sperm sources, but a trend to lower rates was observed with Testi-ICSI. CPRs were higher for Testi-ICSI than for Ejac-ICSI, as were LBRs, whereas miscarriage rates were reduced with Testi-ICSI.

Conclusion(s): Testicular sperm have lower levels of SDF than ejaculated sperm, with Testi-ICSI for high post-testicular SDF men improving reproductive outcomes compared with Ejac-ICSI. Infertile couples may benefit from Testi-ICSI if male partners have confirmed high SDF in the ejaculate.

Keywords: Semen; intracytoplasmic sperm injection; male infertility; sperm DNA fragmentation; testicular sperm.