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PubMed2006

[Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus application rate on population growth and grain yield of hybrid wheat C6-38/ Py85-1].

This paper studied the effects of different nitrogen and phosphorous application rates (112.5-337.5 kg N x hm(-2) and 90-270 kg P2O5 x hm(-2)) on the population growth and grain yield of hybrid wheat C6-38/Py85-1 under field condition. The results showed that the total number of population stems (PS), population dry weight (PDW), leaf area index (LAI) , photosynthetic potential (PP) and crop growth rate (CGR) were the lowest under low fertilization rate (112.5 kg N x hm(-2) and 90 kg P2O5 x hm(-2)), PS and PDW were higher under high fertilization rate (337.5 kg N x hm(-2) and 270 kg P2O5, hm(-2)) than under medium fertilization rate (225 kg N hm(-2) and 180 kg P2O5 x hm(-2)), and LAI, PP and CGR were higher under high than under medium fertilization rate before flagging, jointing, and anthesis stage, respectively, but in adverse after these stages. Under low and medium fertilization rates, PS had no mid-parent heterosis (Hm), while under high fertilization rate, it had the positive values of 6.3%, 49.7%, 4.2% and 10.8% at before winter, jointing, anthesis, and maturing stages, respectively. The Hm of LAI and PDW increased significantly with increasing fertilization rate, except that the Hm of LAI was 3.8% higher under medium than under high fertilization rate at filling stage while that of PDW had no significant difference between these two fertilization rates at maturing stage. The Hm values of PP and CGR were the lowest in the whole growth period under low fertilization rate, and lower before jointing-flagging and flagginganthesis stage but higher after these stages respectively under medium than under high fertilization rate. The grain yield and its Hm of the hybrid wheat were the highest under medium fertilization rate, lower under high fertilization rate, and the lowest under low fertilization rate. The grain yield under medium fertilization rate was 216.2 kg x hm(-2) higher than that under high fertilization rate, but its Hm had no significant difference between these two fertilization rates.

Biomass↗

PubMed1996

The family and demographic change in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has almost completed the demographic transition with low mortality rates and fertility rates approaching replacement levels. Sri Lanka shares these characteristics with the South Indian states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu in contrast to elsewhere in South Asia where mortality and especially fertility rates remain much higher. A key part of the explanation for these differences lies in the nature of the family. The Sri Lankan family is essentially the conjugal unit of husband, wife and dependent children whereas in northern South Asia agnatic relations between son and parents are central to family structure. Related to this family system the position of women in Sri Lankan society was relatively high in South Asian terms. Consequently women had a strong say in health and fertility behaviour. When required, for example, mothers take the initiative in seeking health care for themselves and their children. Importantly family structure has facilitated female education which is associated with both mortality and fertility decline. There are few concerns that the values imparted by secular education are contrary to the values of the family or to women's roles within it. The egalitarian family structure has also contributed to fertility decline by raising the costs of children and reducing the long-run benefits to be gained from them. Sri Lanka is particularly distinctive in the contribution of changes in female age at marriage to its fertility decline, marriage age having risen six years this century. This change has been accompanied in recent times by a shift from family-arranged to self-selected (love) marriage. The explanation lies in changes in the socio-economic system which have reduced the centrality of the family in wider social and economic relations, and placed a greater premium on an individual's own abilities and attributes.

Birth Rate↗

PubMed1990

Differential evaluation of human sperm hypoosmotic swelling test and its relationship with the outcome of in-vitro fertilization of human oocytes.

The hypoosmotic swelling test is a simple laboratory test to measure the functional integrity of the human sperm membrane. Its in-vivo and in-vitro applicability needs to be evaluated before it can be accepted as a useful routine test for the fertilizing potential of human semen. We studied the standard semen analysis results and differential sperm tail swelling patterns of seminal and swim-up sperm after hypoosmotic treatment in 97 semen samples used for in-vitro fertilization of human oocytes. Semen samples were classified as infertile (0% fertilization rate; n = 27) or fertile (greater than 0% fertilization rate; n = 70) before statistical analyses. There was a significant difference (P less than 0.005) in percentage normal morphology of seminal sperm between the fertile and infertile semen samples. The percentage normal morphology of seminal sperm correlated (r = 0.4250; P less than 0.005) with the in-vitro fertilization rate of human oocytes and this parameter was selected by the multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis as the discriminator capable of predicting the in-vitro fertilization rate with 57.7% accuracy. The percentage total swelling of seminal and swim-up sperm after hypoosmotic treatment was not correlated with the in-vitro fertilization rate. The percentage swelling pattern g (the open type) of seminal sperm was also selected by the multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis as the discriminator to predict the in-vitro fertilization rate. This parameter correlated with the percentage normal morphology of seminal sperm (r = 0.3014; P less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cell Membrane↗

PubMed2004

Pregnancy with frozen-thawed and fresh testicular biopsy after motile and immotile sperm microinjection, using the mechanical touch technique to assess viability.

BACKGROUND: There are few reports of pregnancy using immotile sperm, and none using a purely mechanical assessment of viability. METHODS: In this pilot study, we retrospectively analysed 66 cycles in 61 patients with determinant male factor, recording rates of fertilization, implantation, normal pregnancy and take-home babies achieved with ICSI. Sperm selection was based on morphologically normal appearance under the inverted microscope. Viability of immotile spermatozoa was assessed by the mechanical touch technique to observe tail flexibility and tail shape recovery. RESULTS: Of 17 ICSI cycles using frozen-thawed testicular sperm, six microinjected with immotile and 11 with motile sperm, we achieved fertilization rates of 65.7 and 74.3%, respectively, and five pregnancies (two and three, respectively). Of 49 ICSI cycles using fresh testicular sperm, 10 microinjected with immotile and 39 with motile sperm, we achieved fertilization rates of 73.4 and 64.4%, respectively, and 12 pregnancies (three and nine, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Immotile (fresh and frozen-thawed) testicular sperm of normal morphological appearance can be used to achieve clinical pregnancy with ICSI. Our results strongly suggest that immotile sperm viability can be assessed by the mechanical touch technique.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

The role of luteinizing hormone in human follicle development and oocyte fertility: evidence from in-vitro fertilization in a woman with long-standing hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism and using recombinant human follicle stimulating hormone.

To evaluate the relative importance of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in follicular development and oocyte fertility in the human species, the use of recombinant human FSH, human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG), and very highly purified urinary human FSH (FSH-HP) plus oestradiol valerate for ovarian stimulation and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) were compared in three cycles in a woman with isolated congenital gonadotrophin deficiency who had never been treated with ovarian stimulating agents. The total number of ampoules of gonadotrophins used was lower in the HMG treatment cycle. Ovarian response and IVF outcome in the three treatment cycles were as follows: (i) HMG cycle: normal follicular growth, normal pattern of oestradiol and inhibin through the menstrual cycle, high fertilization rate (93%); (ii) recombinant FSH cycle: normal follicular growth, low oestradiol and abnormal inhibin, finally poor rate of fertilization (28%); (iii) FSH-HP plus oestradiol valerate cycle: normal follicular growth, normal pattern of inhibin and poor fertilization rate (27%). Luteal plasma progesterone concentrations were much higher in the HMG treatment cycle. This case shows that FSH is the only factor required in order to induce follicular growth in the human, although LH or a product derived from its action may assist in order to achieve full follicular maturity and oocytes capable of fertilization. Though oestradiol might have a mediatory role in the process of follicular maturation, our results favour a direct primary role of LH in complete maturation of the follicle.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection with motile and immotile frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa (the Hungarian experience).

The authors summarize their experience in 75 in vitro fertilization cycles, where frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa were used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In 32 cases, motile spermatozoa could be observed in the frozen-thawed sample. In 34 cases, motility could be induced by pentoxifylline and in nine cases immotile spermatozoa, selected with hypoosmotic swelling test, were used for fertilization. The fertilization rates obtained with motile and immotile spermatozoa (66.1% versus 52.3%) were not significantly different. Our data demonstrate that freezing of testicular spermatozoa opened new possibilities for the treatment of azoospermic men. The clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer (ET) (21.87%) was comparable with previous results use of fresh testicular spermatozoa (27.7%). The quality and number of transferred embryos had the most significant impact on the pregnancy rate. The fertilization rate and frequency distribution of good-quality embryos were lower in the case of immotile spermatozoa, and pregnancies were only achieved when motile spermatozoa had been used.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Is the retrieval of high numbers of oocytes desirable in patients treated with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) and gonadotrophins?

Continuous administration of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) in patients stimulated for the purpose of IVF might have a direct effect on the ovary. We have evaluated the IVF outcome of patients treated with Buserelin and subsequently with a combination of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG). Patients were divided into three groups according to the number of oocytes obtained by transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration: group 1 (n = 35), in which 1-5 oocytes were retrieved; group 2 (n = 30), in whom 6-10 oocytes were obtained; group 3 (n = 32), in whom greater than or equal to 11 oocytes were collected. Only couples with normal semen samples at oocyte retrieval were included in this study. The dose of Buserelin employed was not different between groups. However, the amount of FSH/HMG necessary to reach an optimal response significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased as follicular development increased. The quality of the oocytes obtained was evaluated based on the appearance of the oocyte-corona-cumulus complex, fertilization rate, morphological appearance of the embryos, and implantation rate. The fertilization rate was significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased in group 3 (57.2%) in comparison with groups 1 (77.1%) and 2 (74.2%). There was no significant difference between the groups in the quality of the embryos obtained or the quality of those replaced into the uterus. The implantation rate per embryo transferred was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher in group 1 (16.5%) in comparison with groups 2 (6.6%) and 3 (8.2%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Differential growth of human embryos in vitro: role of reactive oxygen species.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship of early human embryonic development with the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the culture media on the first day (day 1 ROS) after insemination. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: Patients undergoing assisted reproduction in a teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Patients undergoing conventional IVF (n = 104; 115 cycles) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) (n = 91; 96 cycles) were included. Both fertilization and early cultures were performed in human tubal fluid with 5% serum substitute supplement. INTERVENTION(S): Day 1 ROS levels in the central well (sample) and the outer well (control) of each embryo culture dish were measured after overnight incubation by chemiluminescence assay using luminol as the probe. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Fertilization rate and embryo quality at day 3 and 5 were recorded for each cycle. Age, parity, and demographic features were also compared. RESULT(S): High day 1 ROS levels in culture media were associated with low blastocyst rate, low fertilization rate, low cleavage rate, and high embryonic fragmentation with ICSI but not with conventional IVF. High day 1 ROS levels in culture media were associated with lower pregnancy rates in both IVF and ICSI cycles. CONCLUSION(S): Reactive oxygen species generated in culture media by day 1 may be an important biochemical marker for early embryonic growth. Increased embryonic fragmentation and slow cleavage rate may be partially attributed to early exposure of embryos to high ROS levels in ICSI cycles. Differential growth of ICSI embryos incubated under identical conditions may be in part due to differences in ROS levels of the culture medium surrounding these embryos.

Blastocyst↗

PubMed2004

Effects of oocyte age, cumulus cells and injection methods on in vitro development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection rabbit embryos.

This study assessed the effects of oocyte age, cumulus cells and injection methods on in vitro development of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) rabbit embryos. Oocytes were recovered from female rabbits superovulated with PMSG and hCG, and epididymal sperm were collected from a fertile male rabbit. The oocyte was positioned with the first polar body at 12 o'clock position, and a microinjection needle containing a sperm was inserted into the oocyte at 3 o'clock. Oolemma breakage was achieved by aspirating ooplasm, and the aspirated ooplasm and sperm were re-injected into the oocyte. The injected oocytes were cultured in M199 medium containing 10% fetal calf serum at 38 degrees C with 5% CO2 in air. The results showed that oocytes injected at 1 h post-collection produced a higher (p < 0.05) fertilization rate than those injected at 4 or 7 h post-collection. Blastocyst rate in the 1 h group was higher (p < 0.05) than in the 7 h group. Denuded oocytes (group A) and oocytes with cumulus cells (group B) were injected, respectively. Rates of fertilization and development of ICSI embryos were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between the two groups. Four ICSI methods were applied in this experiment. In methods 1 and 2, the needle tip was pushed across half the diameter of the oocyte, and oolemma breakage was achieved by either a single aspiration (method 1) or repeated aspiration and expulsion (method 2) of ooplasm. In methods 3 and 4, the needle tip was pushed to the oocyte periphery opposite the puncture site, and oolemma breakage was achieved by either a single aspiration (method 3) or repeated aspiration and expulsion (method 4) of ooplasm. Fertilization rate in method 2 was significantly higher (p < 0.05) than in methods 1 and 3. Blastocyst rates were not significantly different (p > 0.05) among methods 1, 3 and 4, but method 2 produced a higher (p < 0.05) blastocyst rate than method 3.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

A prospective, randomized comparison of two commercial media for ICSI and embryo culture.

PURPOSE: The aim of this prospective, randomized study was to compare the results obtained in ICSI with two culture media, P-1 (Irvine Scientific) and IVF-50 (Scandinavian IVF Science). METHODS: A total of 182 patients undergoing ICSI treatment were randomly included in this study and divided in two groups: Group I: P-1 medium (n = 91) or Group II: IVF-50 medium (n = 91). All the embryos were transferred on the second day. RESULTS: Patient age did not differ (p = .29) between Group I (34.8 +/- 4.8) and Group II (34.0 +/- 4.5). The number of oocytes retrieved from Group I (10.6 +/- 6.7) was also similar (p = .49) to that retrieved from Group II (11.1 +/- 6.4). In addition, there was no difference (p = .25) in the number of oocytes retrieved at metaphase II between Group I (7.9 +/- 4.6) and Group II (8.7 +/- 4.6). Normal fertilization rates, abnormal fertilization rates, and cleavage rates were similar (p = .62, p = .48, and p = .9, respectively) between Group I (68.4 +/- 23.3%, 6.7 +/- 10.3%, and 98.7 +/- 4.6%) and Group II (65.3 +/- 26.2%, 9.0 +/- 13.8%, and 98.9 +/- 3.9%, respectively). The embryo score was also similar (p = .62) for both groups (Group I: 31.9 +/- 14.0 and Group II: 33.4 +/- 15.8). There was no difference in the number of embryos transferred (p = .69) between Group I (2.8 +/- 1.0) and Group II (2.8 +/- 1.1). In addition, pregnancy rates/puncture, pregnancy rates/transfer, implantation rates, and abortion rates were also similar for Group I (36.2%, 37.0%, 17.4%, and 12.1%, respectively) and Group II (31.8%, 33.7%, 15.8%, and 10.3%, respectively) (p = .64, p = .75, p = .72, and p = 1.0, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in the results obtained with culture media P-1 (Irvine Scientific) and IVF-50 (Scandinavian IVF Science) for ICSI and embryo culture.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Murine oocyte cryopreservation: comparison between fertilization success rates of fresh and frozen metaphase I and II oocytes.

The surplus of oocytes obtained during in vitro and gamete intrafallopian transfer creates the need to either (1) cryopreserve (196 degrees C) or (2) fertilize these surplus oocytes and then freeze the resulting embryos. During this pilot study, C57BL6 X CBA female mice (F1 generation) were superovulated by means of hormone stimulation, resulting in adequate numbers of murine oocytes. Oocytes thus obtained were classified according to their nuclear status. The maturation stage of oocytes was evaluated and classified as metaphase I and metaphase II. The success of oocyte cryopreservation in each group was evaluated according to fertilization rate after the insemination procedure. Metaphase II oocytes had a fertilization rate of 33% (frozen) and 84% (fresh), whereas metaphase I oocytes had a 24% (frozen) and a 79% (fresh) fertilization rate. Metaphase I oocytes can mature to the metaphase II stage after having been frozen, metaphase II oocytes may be more vulnerable to chromosome damage, and the nuclear stage prior to freezing has no significant effect on the fertilizability of the frozen-thawed oocytes.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of the effect of the absence of sperm with rapid and linear progressive motility on subsequent pregnancy rates following intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization.

The objective of this study was to investigate the association of rapid and linear progressive motility in seminal and Percoll-separated sperm with the outcome of intrauterine insemination (IUI) and in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles. Motility was graded using the qualitative system proposed by the World Health Organization: grade A, rapid and linear, grade B, slow or nonlinear; grade C, non-progressive; or grade D, nonmotile. Absence of rapid and linear motility was defined as grade A sperm absent. Nine-hundred-fifty IVF and 1,448 IUI cycles were analyzed. In 7.9% (75) of the IVF cycles, grade A sperm were absent in the semen. Although the mean fertilization rate was lower in the absence of grade A sperm in the semen (44.5% vs. 63.4%, P < 0.05), the pregnancy rates were similar irrespective of their presence or absence (18.7% vs. 17.8%). In the cycles in which grade A sperm were absent following Percoll separation (26/950; 2.7%), the fertilization rate (29% vs. 62.8%) and the clinical pregnancy rate/retrieval were significantly lower (3.8% vs. 18.3%, P < 0.05). In 26.4% (382) of the IUI cycles, grade A sperm were absent in the semen and conception occurred in 30 (7.9%), compared to a pregnancy rate of 10.4% in the group with grade A sperm present in the semen. Following Percoll separation, only a 2.5% (2/80) pregnancy rate was observed in the group with no grade A sperm, compared to 10.2% in the group with grade A sperm (P < 0.05). The absence of rapid and linear motile sperm in the Percoll-separated sperm significantly reduced fertilization rates in vitro and pregnancy rates in both IUI and IVF cycles. The use of the total number of grade A sperm was also effective in predicting reduced fertilization in IVF and reduced pregnancy rates in IUI, but no better than the use of the mere presence/absence of grade A sperm. In a clinical situation, the simpler test is preferable. This type of evaluation is available to all centers as opposed to the more expensive computer-assisted semen analysis.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Report of final natality statistics, 1996.

OBJECTIVES: This report presents 1996 data on U.S. births according to a wide variety of characteristics. Data are presented for maternal demographic characteristics including age, live-birth order, race, Hispanic origin, marital status, and educational attainment; maternal lifestyle and health characteristics (medical risk factors, weight gain, tobacco and alcohol use); medical care utilization by pregnant women (prenatal care, obstetric procedures, complications of labor and/or delivery, attendant at birth, and method of delivery); and infant health characteristics (period of gestation, birthweight, Apgar score, abnormal conditions, congenital anomalies, and multiple births). Also presented are birth and fertility rates by age, live-birth order, race, Hispanic origin, and marital status. Selected data by mother's State of residence are shown including teenage birth rates and total fertility rates, as well as data on month and day of birth, sex ratio, and age of father. Trends in fertility patterns and maternal and infant characteristics are described and interpreted. METHODS: Descriptive tabulations of data reported on the birth certificates of the 3.9 million births that occurred in 1996 are presented. RESULTS: Birth and fertility rates declined very slightly in 1996. Birth rates for teenagers fell 3 to 8 percent. Rates for women in their twenties increased slightly in 1996, the first increase since 1990, while rates for women in their thirties rose 2 to 3 percent. The number and percent of births to unmarried women increased slightly in 1996 while the birth rate for unmarried women declined modestly. Smoking by pregnant women overall dropped again in 1996, but increased among teenagers. Improvements in prenatal care utilization continued. The cesarean delivery rate declined. The proportion of multiple births continued to rise; higher order multiple births (e.g., triplets, quadruplets) rose by 19 percent. Key measures of birth outcome--the percents of low birthweight and preterm births--increased slightly, in large part the result of increases in multiple births.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Evaluation of the Tru-Trax cervical mucus penetration test in predicting fertilization and pregnancy rates in in-vitro fertilization.

To evaluate the role of the Tru-Trax cervical mucus penetration testing of prognosis of patient performance in in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and to examine its use as a possible screening test prior to IVF, 133 couples presenting with infertility prospectively underwent in-vitro cervical mucus penetration testing. Of these, 66 couples subsequently underwent IVF. The penetration distance of the vanguard spermatozoa in both human and bovine mucus was compared to the fertilization and pregnancy rates during IVF. The fertilization rates in couples with normal human mucus penetration (n = 42, 80.6%) were higher than those with abnormal scores (n = 24, 49.6%; P < 0.001). Similarly, the fertilization rates in those couples with normal bovine mucus penetration (n = 50, 77.5%) were higher than those with abnormal results (n = 16, 40.0%; P < 0.001). Fertilization rates and penetration scores were highly correlated for both human (r = 0.66; P < 0.0001) and bovine (r = 0.66; P < 0.0001) mucus. However, the predictive value of an abnormal result for failed fertilization was poor for both human and bovine penetration, since 83.33 and 81.25% fertilized respectively. Pregnancy rates did not differ among couples with normal and abnormal penetrations. In conclusion, in-vitro cervical mucus penetration testing was highly correlated with fertilization rates in IVF. However, the poor predictive value of an abnormal result may limit the value of this test for generalized pretreatment screening.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

An evaluation of the effect of pentoxifylline on sperm function and treatment outcome of male-factor infertility: a preliminary study.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to study the effect of pentoxifylline (PF) on fertilization rates in couples with previous failure of fertilization and male-factor infertility and to determine the predictive value of conventional semen analysis parameters in selecting the couples who would benefit from the elective use of PF in IVF. DESIGN: This prospective controlled study was conducted in an assisted conception METHODS: Sixty-nine couples with previous failed IVF cycle, who had a low fertilization rate and/or male-factor infertility, were recruited to the study. Multiple follicular development was induced using the same protocol of human menopausal gonadotropin and gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue in both cycles. The oocytes were inseminated with spermatozoa treated with PF. The fertilization rates in the PF cycle were compared to the reference cycle based on semen analysis parameters and previous fertilization rates. RESULTS: In couples with male infertility, the fertilization rate improved significantly, from 17 to 50% in PF cycles (P < 0.001). A significant improvement in fertilization rate was also demonstrated in couples with previous poor fertilization, < 30% (P < 0.01), particularly in those with a very low fertilization rate, < 20% (P < 0.001). Although there was an overall improvement in fertilization rates in couples with male-factor infertility, there was no cutoff value in sperm motility that would make a significant difference in the impact of PF on fertilization rates. CONCLUSION: Couples with poor fertilization rates in vitro benefit with a significant improvement in fertilization by the elective use of PF. The improvement is most significant in couples with previous complete failure of fertilization and poor fertilization rates, < 30%.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Recent fertility decline in Dariusleut Hutterites: an extension of Eaton and Mayer's Hutterite fertility study.

A church book that has been routinely updated by the Dariusleut Hutterites enabled us to update some fertility tables presented by Eaton and Mayer in the 1950s. The age-specific (nuptial) fertility rates and the total fertility rates (TFRs) were calculated for every 5-year period from 1901-1905 to 1981-1985. Our calculations for Dariusleut, one of the three sects of the Hutterites, gave slightly lower age-specific nuptial fertility rates before 1951 compared with the figures given by Eaton and Mayer (1953) for all Hutterites in the corresponding time periods. The recent decline in Hutterite fertility, especially at higher maternal ages, was confirmed in this study. The TFR, given as a sum of 5-year-grouped age-specific nuptial fertility rates from 15 to 49 years of maternal age, was higher (8.80-9.83) in the years 1946-1965, but it declined to 8.13 in 1966-1970, to 7.22 in 1971-1975, to 6.39 in 1976-1980, and to 6.29 in 1981-1985. For the age groups 35-39 years and older the age-specific nuptial fertility rate in 1981-1985 decreased by more than 50% compared with the rate during the peak period of 1951-1955. The probability of a married woman having a live birth at each age from 15 to 49 years still peaked around the twentieth year of life, as found by Eaton and Mayer (1953), but it decreased more rapidly from the late twenties among the recently married women, most evidently in their thirties.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Influence of sperm parameters on outcome of subzonal insemination in the case of previous IVF failure. off.

Subzonal insemination (SUZI) has been proposed for patients with sperm male factor infertility, and in cases of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) failures. However despite SUZI, there still remain couples with very low fertilization rates and even with fertilization failures. Since sperm parameters are known to influence the IVF fertilization rate, we investigated the relation between sperm parameters and the SUZI issue in cases of previous IVF failures with normal or subnormal sperm. Twenty-seven couples were included in the study and were split into two groups according to whether they had normal or subnormal sperm. In the first part of the study a randomized prospective trial comparing SUZI to classic IVF insemination was carried out (11 cycles). In the second part, all the oocytes had SUZI (35 cycles). None of the control inseminated oocytes fertilized. Including all the cases, the fertilization rate after SUZI was 29.8% with a pregnancy rate of 15.2% per cycle. We concluded that: (i) SUZI is efficient for achieving fertilization in cases of IVF failures; (ii) the post SUZI fertilization rate is inversely correlated to the percentage of acrosome defects in the semen (P < 0.001); and (iii) when the sperm is normal, the oocyte quality might be responsible for the previous IVF failures. In spite of a good fertilization rate for this indication, it seems that the chance of having a baby is low.

Adult↗

PubMed2001

Prediction of unexpectedly poor fertilization and pregnancy outcome using the strict criteria for sperm morphology before and after sperm separation in IVF-ET.

This study was performed to investigate if unexpectedly poor fertilization and in-vitro fertilization (IVF) outcome could be predicted using sperm morphology as diagnosed by the strict criteria. Sperm morphology was assessed in 137 IVF-ET cycles with at least three oocytes collected. The lowest amount of normal forms was 5% in 137 samples, indicating there were no patients belonging to 'poor prognosis' (<5% normal forms). Treatment using intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was also excluded. Before sperm separation by the swim-up method, sperm morphology demonstrated a significant correlation with the fertilization rate (p < 0.0001). The fertilization rate (80.5%) in 110 'normal' samples (>14% normal forms) was significantly higher (p < 0.01) than that (55.4%) in 27 samples with 'good prognosis' (those with 5--14% normal forms). No embryo was available for transfer (ET) in 4 (3.6%) of 110 'normal' cycles and in 3 (11.1%) of 27 'good prognosis' cycles (not significant). Fresh ET was intentionally cancelled to avoid severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) in six of 110 'normal' cycles as well as in one of 27 'good prognosis' cycles. The pregnancy rate per ET was 31.0% (31/100) in the former group, while it was 26.1% (6/23) in the latter group. There was no difference between the two groups. In the post swim-up evaluation of sperm characteristics, morphology was significantly correlated with the fertilization rate in IVF-ET (p < 0.05) while other sperm parameters were not. When the cut off level for the post swim-up sperm morphology was set at 25%, there was a significant difference in the fertilization rates between patients (78.6%) with post-swim-up >25% and those (55.0%) with post-swim-up < or =25% (p < 0.01). Taken together, a relative indication for ICSI using sperm morphology before and after swim-up was established. Category A includes < or =14% normal forms in the ejaculate and post-swim-up < or =25%, while Category B includes < or =14% in the ejaculate and post-swim-up >25%. There was a significant difference in the fertilization rates between patients (47.2%) in Category A and those (60.2%) in Category B (p < 0.05). The clinical pregnancy rate was 11.1% for patients in Category A compared with 35.7% for patients in Category B. However, there was no significant difference between the two categories. These results indicate that the strict criteria provide a reliable estimation of the fertilizing ability of human spermatozoa. ICSI might be considered in Category A patients to avoid poor fertilization and pregnancy outcome.

Cell Separation↗