In-vitro fertilization with husband and donor sperm in patients with previous fertilization failures using husband sperm.

When previous attempts at in-vitro fertilization using semen from the husband failed, a subsequent IVF attempt was performed using husband and donor sperm in order to compare fertilization and embryo formation after insemination with husband and donor sperm of the same oocyte population. Significantly more eggs were fertilized in patients suffering from andrological and idiopathic infertility when donor sperm were used. No differences were seen in patients with tubal infertility. In the andrological group, the embryos fertilized by the husband showed significantly more fragmentation. No pregnancies were established when husband-fertilized oocytes (embryos) were replaced in the andrological and idiopathic infertility group. This study suggested that an IVF trial using husband and donor sperm might be indicated in couples suffering from andrological or idiopathic infertility in whom no fertilization occurred in a previous cycle using sperm from the husband.