Pentoxifylline is not useful in enhancing sperm function in cases with previous in vitro fertilization failure.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the efficiency of the addition of pentoxifylline to spermatozoa for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in cases with previous fertilization failure.

DESIGN

After retrieval, oocytes were divided at random and inseminated with spermatozoa prepared with or without pentoxifylline.

SETTING

In vitro fertilization program of the Centre for Reproductive Medicine of the Dutch-speaking Brussels Free University, Belgium, a tertiary referral institution.

PATIENTS

Couples in this study were undergoing a second or third IVF attempt for the treatment of male factor infertility.

INTERVENTIONS

Sperm samples were divided into two equal parts. The first part was prepared with 3.6 mM pentoxifylline (treatment group) and the other part without pentoxifylline (control group). After swim-up, oocytes were randomly inseminated with spermatozoa from either treatment.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Fertilization and cleavage rates after IVF.

RESULTS

Overall a fertilization rate of 8.8% was achieved with no significant differences between treatment and control groups. Cleavage rate was 81.5% and was not different between groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrates no therapeutic advantage of using pentoxifylline in IVF for male factor infertility in cases with previous fertilization failure.