open access

Vol 94, No 2 (2023)
Research paper
Published online: 2021-05-14
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The influence of preincubation time of prepared sperm before IVF on fertilization, embryo developmental competence and the reproductive outcomes

Sai Liu12, Guoxuan Wu3, Li Wang2, Yanyan Zhao1, Yongqing Lv2, Nannan Dang2, Yuanqing Yao1
·
Pubmed: 34105750
·
Ginekol Pol 2023;94(2):107-112.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
  2. Department of Reproductive and Genetics Center, The First Hospital of Kunming Calmette Hospital, Kunming, China
  3. Department of Reproductive Medicine Center, The 988 Hospital of the Joint Logistics Support Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, Zhengzhou, China

open access

Vol 94, No 2 (2023)
ORIGINAL PAPERS Obstetrics
Published online: 2021-05-14

Abstract

Objectives: It has been provided that if incubation time of prepared sperm can affect sperm motility and DNA fragment, but little is known about the influence of sperm preincubation time (SI) on the sperm’s fertilizing ability, subsequent embryonic development and pregnancy outcomes in in vitro fertilization (IVF). The aim of this study was to explore the association of SI with fertilization rate, embryo development and clinical outcomes in IVF, further, to find an optimal preincubation time for prepared sperm before insemination in IVF.

Material and methods: This retrospective cohort study included a total of 1453 infertile couples undergoing IVF in our center performed from January 2016 to January 2019. Sperm were preincubated at 37℃ 6% CO2 for different times before insemination. Preincubation time associated with fertilization rate (FR), 2PN rate, D3 good quality embryo rate, fresh embryo implantation rate (IR), blastocyst formation rate, cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR), cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate (COPR), cumulative live birth rate (CLBR), newborn health and gender ratio were analyzed by chi-square analysis.

Results: FR and 2PN rate of SI more than four hours SI groups (> 4 h SI group) decreased significantly compared with other SI groups (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences of the D3 high quality embryo rate among five SI groups. The blastocyst formation rate of  > 4 h SI group was significantly lower than that of 2–3 h SI group (45.5% vs 56.1%, p < 0.05); and 1–2 h SI group also had significant difference with 2–3 h and 3–4 h SI group (48.9% vs 56.1% and 54.6%, p < 0.05). There were a significant decrease of fresh IR and CPR in ≤1 h SI group compared with 1–2 h SI group (19.6% vs. 38.0%, p < 0.05; 62.7% vs 73.7%, p < 0.05); ≤ 1 h SI group also have the lowest CLBR (45.6%), it had statistic differences with 1–2 SI group and 3–4 SI group (45.6% vs 63.2%, p < 0.01; 45.6% vs 61.2%, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The sperm preincubated time at 37℃ 6% CO2 before insemination could influence sperm fertilizing ability, blastocyst formation, embryo implantation and CLBR in IVF cycles. The best time for prepared sperm preincubation at 37℃ is one to four hours before insemination in IVF.

Abstract

Objectives: It has been provided that if incubation time of prepared sperm can affect sperm motility and DNA fragment, but little is known about the influence of sperm preincubation time (SI) on the sperm’s fertilizing ability, subsequent embryonic development and pregnancy outcomes in in vitro fertilization (IVF). The aim of this study was to explore the association of SI with fertilization rate, embryo development and clinical outcomes in IVF, further, to find an optimal preincubation time for prepared sperm before insemination in IVF.

Material and methods: This retrospective cohort study included a total of 1453 infertile couples undergoing IVF in our center performed from January 2016 to January 2019. Sperm were preincubated at 37℃ 6% CO2 for different times before insemination. Preincubation time associated with fertilization rate (FR), 2PN rate, D3 good quality embryo rate, fresh embryo implantation rate (IR), blastocyst formation rate, cumulative pregnancy rate (CPR), cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate (COPR), cumulative live birth rate (CLBR), newborn health and gender ratio were analyzed by chi-square analysis.

Results: FR and 2PN rate of SI more than four hours SI groups (> 4 h SI group) decreased significantly compared with other SI groups (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences of the D3 high quality embryo rate among five SI groups. The blastocyst formation rate of  > 4 h SI group was significantly lower than that of 2–3 h SI group (45.5% vs 56.1%, p < 0.05); and 1–2 h SI group also had significant difference with 2–3 h and 3–4 h SI group (48.9% vs 56.1% and 54.6%, p < 0.05). There were a significant decrease of fresh IR and CPR in ≤1 h SI group compared with 1–2 h SI group (19.6% vs. 38.0%, p < 0.05; 62.7% vs 73.7%, p < 0.05); ≤ 1 h SI group also have the lowest CLBR (45.6%), it had statistic differences with 1–2 SI group and 3–4 SI group (45.6% vs 63.2%, p < 0.01; 45.6% vs 61.2%, p < 0.05).

Conclusions: The sperm preincubated time at 37℃ 6% CO2 before insemination could influence sperm fertilizing ability, blastocyst formation, embryo implantation and CLBR in IVF cycles. The best time for prepared sperm preincubation at 37℃ is one to four hours before insemination in IVF.

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Keywords

sperm; preincubation time; IVF; fertilization rate; embryo development; cumulative live birth

About this article
Title

The influence of preincubation time of prepared sperm before IVF on fertilization, embryo developmental competence and the reproductive outcomes

Journal

Ginekologia Polska

Issue

Vol 94, No 2 (2023)

Article type

Research paper

Pages

107-112

Published online

2021-05-14

Page views

3531

Article views/downloads

893

DOI

10.5603/GP.a2021.0078

Pubmed

34105750

Bibliographic record

Ginekol Pol 2023;94(2):107-112.

Keywords

sperm
preincubation time
IVF
fertilization rate
embryo development
cumulative live birth

Authors

Sai Liu
Guoxuan Wu
Li Wang
Yanyan Zhao
Yongqing Lv
Nannan Dang
Yuanqing Yao

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