The predictive value of zona-free hamster egg sperm penetration assay for failure of human in vitro fertilization and subsequent successful zona drilling.

The value of various sperm parameters and the zona-free hamster egg sperm penetration assay (SPA) in predicting human in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure and subsequent successful fertilization with zona drilling was assessed. In 19 couples, throughout 31 IVF cycles, a total of 153 oocytes failed to be fertilized. In subsequent 12 cycles with zona drilling, 33 of 131 (25%) were fertilized. The incidence of teratospermia and asthenospermia was significantly higher in the study group than in the control, 74% versus 32% and 42% versus 5%, respectively. Although the mean values for the performance of sperm in SPA and fertilization of human eggs after zona drilling were remarkably similar (28 +/- 6 versus 28 +/- 4), there was no correlation between individual parameters (r = 0.15). Thus, whereas male factor infertility is more likely to be associated with teratoasthenospermia, neither the SPA nor other sperm parameters have any predictive value for failure in IVF. In addition, no criterion of sperm function has yet been identified that would eliminate oligoteratoasthenozoospermic males from consideration of IVF with zona drilling.