Does Kruger's strict criteria have prognostic value in predicting ICSI clinical results?

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to compare clinical results of ICSI for different sperm morphology subgroups divided according to Kruger's classification system.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospectively study was conducted at Zeynep Kamil Training and Researching Hospital in Istanbul (Turkey). The study included 332 intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. The patients were under 37 years of age with primary infertility who were admitted to the Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, from January 2005 to June 2009. The patients were divided in three groups based on Kruger's strict criteria. Normal sperm morphology was less than 4% in group 1, between 4-14% in group 2, and greater than 14% in group 3. All patients underwent ICSI and embryo transfer (ET) following controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). The groups were compared to the rates of fertilization, implantation, clinical pregnancy, abortion, and live birth.

RESULTS

Pregnancy occurred in 132 (39.7%) of all ICSI cycles. There was no statistically significant difference between regarding groups regarding the rates of fertilization, implantation, clinical pregnancy, biochemical pregnancy, abortion, and live birth.

CONCLUSION

The authors concluded that the normal sperm morphology defined by Kruger's strict criteria and sperm motility will not be able to predict prognosis of ICSI cycles.