Delayed fertilization and poor embryonic development associated with impaired semen quality.

Delayed fertilization is common in cycles with immature oocytes. This phenomenon was observed in 42 of 423 with mature oocytes. Of the 42 cycles, 16 were excluded because of the presence of sperm autoantibodies. Sperm parameters of the remaining 26 (6.1%) cycles (group A) were compared with those in cycles with no fertilization at all (group B) and those in the control group (group C). The percentage of normal forms was 15% in group B and 24% in group A compared with 51% in group C. Fertilization rates were 32% in group A compared with 81% in group C. The incidence of poor embryonic morphology was 82% in group A compared with 29% in group C. Delayed fertilization and poor embryonic morphology associated with impaired sperm quality is of clinical and prognostic importance.