Maximilian Schuff

The combination matters - distinct impact of lifestyle factors on sperm quality: a study on semen analysis of 1683 patients according to MSOME criteria

BackgroundPoor sperm quality can negatively affect embryonic development and IVF outcome. This study is aimed at investigating the influence of various lifestyle factors on semen quality according to MSOME (motile sperm organelle morphology examination) criteria.Methods1683 male patients undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in our clinic were surveyed about their age, BMI (body mass index), ejaculation frequency, nutrition, sports, sleeping habits and social behavior. Semen samples were collected and evaluation of semen parameters according to MSOME and WHO criteria was performed. Results were grouped and statistically analyzed.ResultsAlthough single parameters had minor effects on sperm parameter, the combination of age, BMI, coffee intake, ejaculatory frequency and duration of sexual abstinence were identified as factors having a negative effect on sperm motility. Additionally, we could demonstrate that MSOME quality was reduced. The negative impact of age, BMI and coffee intake on sperm quality could be compensated if patients had a high ejaculation frequency and shorter periods of sexual abstinence.ConclusionsCombinations of adverse lifestyle factors could have a detrimental impact on sperm, not only in terms of motility and sperm count but also in terms of sperm head vacuolization. This negative impact was shown to be compensated by higher ejaculation frequency and a shorter period of sexual abstinence. The compensation is most likely due to a shorter storage time in the male gonads, thus reducing the duration of sperms’ exposure to reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Transfer of blastocysts with deviant morphological and morphokinetic parameters at early stages of in-vitro development: a case series

Time-lapse imaging is increasingly applied as an adjunct to reproductive medicine. The gained information of the morphological and morphokinetic variables before the onset of transcription are supposed to be good predictors for the selection of the best embryo for transfer and are often seen in line with clinical outcomes. This retrospective case series investigated the outcome of transferred blastocysts that did not fulfil the proposed embryo scores at early cleavage or at later stages of development. The observations were made by time-lapse imaging. This study reports the birth of 16 healthy children after day-5 blastocyst transfer, of which at least one of the transferred embryos originated from deviant morphology and/or kinetic cleavage patterns. This case series suggests that some blastocysts derived from embryos with poor conventional morphological score and/or suboptimal morphokinetics can be successfully transferred and might result in live births. Such results might raise awareness that discarding embryos based only on early events is not a suitable approach to give patients the chance to conceive. In conclusion, to date only the transfer of viable embryos after culturing them until day 5 guarantees optimal embryo selection and helps to prevent embryo wastage.

Antioxidant Supplementation of Subfertile Men Improves Top-Blastocyst Rate in Couples Undergoing IVF/IMSI

Antioxidant Supplementation of Subfertile Men Improves Top-Blastocyst Rate in Couples Undergoing IVF/IMSI In recent years, oxidative stress (OS) has been identified as important factor in male infertility. Thus, the intake of antioxidants to improve semen quality (in subfertile men) has been widely discussed. Improvements of semen quality after supplementation have been reported. However, this issue is still underevaluated. Critics complain a lack of data regarding firstly the use of antioxidants due to the heterogeneity between patient groups, nutritional supplements and treatment effect and secondly rare data in regard to the impact of supplementation on assisted reproduction technique (ART) outcome. In this study the effect of an antioxidant supplementation (AOS) on semen quality and therapy outcome of 92 couples undergoing fertility treatment was assessed..

Relationship between follicular volume and oocyte competence, blastocyst development and live-birth rate: optimal follicle size for oocyte retrieval

To analyze oocyte competence in gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) stimulation cycles with regard to maturity, fertilization and blastocyst rate, as well as clinical outcome (pregnancy and live‐birth rate), in relation to follicular volume, measured by three‐dimensional transvaginal sonography (3D‐TVS), and follicular fluid composition.