Sperm Movement Characteristic in Prediction of in Vitro Fertilization

Abstract

To determine the relationship between the in vitro fertilization rates and sperm movement characteristics, inseminated sperm suspensions used for in vitro fertilization in 125 patients were assessed using the Hamilton Thorn Motility Analyzer version 10 (HTMA-IVOS). Several sperm movement characteristics of the inseminated sperm suspensions were found to be weakly significantly correlated with the fertilization rate in vitro, such as, straightness (STR) (r = -0.1285; P < 0.0001), linearity (LIN) (r = -0.1188; P < 0.0001), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) (r = 0.0938; P < 0.005), curvilinear velocity (VCL) (r = 0.0607; P < 0.05) and percentage of rapid motility (r = 0.0601; P < 0.05). With stepwise regression analysis of all data, poor prediction of fertilization rates (R = 0.217) was obtained using a multiple regression equation incorporating 2 variables, including percentage of sperm motility and STR in inseminated sperm suspension. Comparison of sperm preparations giving poor with good in vitro fertilization rates revealed only a significant difference of STR in the inseminated sperm suspensions between both groups (p = 0.0339). The STR in the inseminated sperm suspension was the most significant factor negatively related to fertilization rate in vitro. However, the overall predictivity of sperm movement characteristics for in vitro fertilization was still poor. In conclusion, the objective measurement of the sperm movement characteristics by HTMA has no practical value in predicting fertilization rate in vitro. (Thai J Obstet Gynaecol 1995;7:113-122)