Staff Members - Benha University
Ejaculation frequency improves ICSI outcomes for idiopathic Oligoasthenoteratozoosepmic patients
The Egyptian journal of fertility and sterility • 2023
Publication Information
Authors
Ahmed Fathy, Salah Elbashir, Hussein Shaher, Ayman Rashed, Alaa Elshaer, Yasmin Magdi
Keywords
Idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia Male factor Ejaculation frequency lifestyle modification ICSI treatment
Journal
The Egyptian journal of fertility and sterility
Publisher
The Egyptian journal of fertility and sterility
Volume
27
Issue
1
Pages
3-9
publication.type
International
Paper Link
Open Link
Supplementary Materials
Not Available
Abstract
Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the association between increasing the frequency of ejaculation and ICSI outcomes for idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (iOAT) male partners of couples undergoing ICSI.
Methods: The present prospective case-control study included 81 participants of iOAT men. The participants of the intervention group (n=44) received an instruction to change the lifestyle by increasing the ejaculation frequency and prescribed antioxidant therapy for 3months before ICSI. The subjects of the control group (n=38) received only antioxidant for 3 months before ICSI.
Results: A significant increase in the rate of top-quality blastocyst in the intervention group (42.9%) than in the control (24.7%), (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.65-0.89, P=0.005) was detected. No significant differences in the rates of biochemical pregnancy (59% vs. 28.6%; RR: 1.2, 95% CI: 0.80–1.83), clinical pregnancy (52.3% vs. 37.8%; RR: 1.2, 95% CI 0.76–1.92), and implantation (37.8% vs. 27.9%; RR 1.4, 95% CI 0.88- 2.06] in the intervention group as compared to control were detected. Ongoing pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group [RR 1.96, 95% CI 1.03-3.75; P=0.04).
Conclusions: High frequency of ejaculation may significantly improve the rates of the top quality blastocyst and ongoing pregnancy on ICSI/OAT cycles when combined with antioxidant therapy. Although the study’s sample size is small to detect the clinical outcomes, there is a trend toward better rates of clinical pregnancy and implantation. However, a larger sample size is warranted to detect whether these would be of true significance.
Methods: The present prospective case-control study included 81 participants of iOAT men. The participants of the intervention group (n=44) received an instruction to change the lifestyle by increasing the ejaculation frequency and prescribed antioxidant therapy for 3months before ICSI. The subjects of the control group (n=38) received only antioxidant for 3 months before ICSI.
Results: A significant increase in the rate of top-quality blastocyst in the intervention group (42.9%) than in the control (24.7%), (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.65-0.89, P=0.005) was detected. No significant differences in the rates of biochemical pregnancy (59% vs. 28.6%; RR: 1.2, 95% CI: 0.80–1.83), clinical pregnancy (52.3% vs. 37.8%; RR: 1.2, 95% CI 0.76–1.92), and implantation (37.8% vs. 27.9%; RR 1.4, 95% CI 0.88- 2.06] in the intervention group as compared to control were detected. Ongoing pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group [RR 1.96, 95% CI 1.03-3.75; P=0.04).
Conclusions: High frequency of ejaculation may significantly improve the rates of the top quality blastocyst and ongoing pregnancy on ICSI/OAT cycles when combined with antioxidant therapy. Although the study’s sample size is small to detect the clinical outcomes, there is a trend toward better rates of clinical pregnancy and implantation. However, a larger sample size is warranted to detect whether these would be of true significance.