[Sperm morphology does not influence fertilization rate in vitro].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the correlation of the rate of morphologically normal sperm, sperm head defect, teratozoosperm index (TZI) and sperm deformity index (SDI) with the fertilization outcome of IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

METHODS

We detected normal sperm morphology, sperm head defect, TZI and SDI by Krüger's strict criteria and compared them with the rate of fertilization.

RESULTS

In either IVF or ICSI, the fertilization rate did not show any correlation with the normal sperm morphology rate, the head defect rate, TZI and SDI, nor any statistic differences were found in the rates of fertilization, clinical pregnancy and quality embryos either between the SDI > 1.6 and the SDI < 1.6 groups (P > 0.05) or between the normal sperm morphology rate > 15% and < 15% groups (P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Sperm morphology has no predictive value for the rate of fertilization in vitro.