INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION FOR THE TRE ATMENT OF MALE FA CTOR INFERTILITY-THE FIRST PRELIMINA RY REPORT FROM IRAN

The latest micromanipulative technique, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), has been very successful in cases of severe male factor infertility. The main objective of this study is to report the results of our fIrst experience with ICSI in cases of male factor infertility, as well as patients who had failed their previous cycles with conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF). Normal fertilization occurred in 30.9% of oocytes retrieved from 99 patients. Embryo transfer was done for 67.7% of the patients, and a total of 12 (12.12%) clinical pregnancies were achieved. The success rate was noticeably lower in patients greater than 35 years old, and in patients with severely abnormal sperm parameters (e.g., oligoasthenoteratozoospermia). This study suggests that ICSI is a method of choice to treat couples with severe male factor infertility. Patients' age, as well as sperm parameters, can affect the success rate of infertility treatment with ICSI.