P. Queiroz

Sperm banking for male cancer patients: social and semen profiles

PURPOSE Report the characteristics of cryopreserved semen from a cohort of male cancer patients, attitudes towards cryopreservation and outcomes of semen samples based on a 12-year cryopreservation program. MATERIAL AND METHODS Data from 98 male cancer patients whose sperm samples were banked were evaluated. Demographic parameters, semen characteristics, destination of sperm banked samples and questionnaires answered by the patients regarding cryopreservation time were evaluated. RESULTS The cancer diagnoses were testicle (56.1%), prostate (15.3%), Hodgkins lymphomas (9.2%), non-Hodgkins lymphomas (7.1%), leukemia (3.1%) and other malignancies (9.2%). The patients with testicular cancer presented lower sperm concentration (p < 0.001); however, there were no differences with the percentage of normozoospermic patients among cancer type groups (p = 0.185). A shorter time between cancer diagnosis and sperm banking was observed for testicular and prostate cancer patients (p < 0.001). Most of the patients (89.5%) favored sperm banking as a fertility preservation method. CONCLUSIONS Although less than 20% of banked sperm samples were disposed of, the majority of patients related sperm banking with safe for fertility preservation. Our results show that all male cancer patients of reproductive age facing cancer treatment could be offered sperm banking.

Zona pellucida birefringence in in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes

OBJECTIVE To evaluate zona pellucida birefringence (ZPB) in immature and mature oocytes collected after controlled ovarian stimulation and to assess the influence of ZPB on oocyte development. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING(S) Private assisted reproduction centre. PATIENT(S) Thirty patients undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection. INTERVENTION(S) The ZPB of mature and immature oocytes was evaluated using a polarization imaging software module, and the oocytes were classified as high birefringence (HB) or low birefringence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) The ZPB of in vivo and in vitro matured oocytes and its influence on spontaneous nuclear maturation in vitro, fertilization, and embryo quality. RESULT(S) The percentage of HB oocytes was higher in immature than in mature oocytes (40.1 vs. 23.6%). Among immature oocytes, an increased percentage of HB in prophase-I stage oocytes compared to metaphase I stage oocytes was also observed (50.7 vs. 25.0%). However, the percentage of HB oocytes did not change when comparing oocytes before and after in vitro maturation for both prophase I and metaphase I oocytes. No influence of ZPB was observed on the spontaneous in vitro maturation potential. Exclusively for metaphase II retrieved oocytes, a positive influence of ZPB on fertilization (odds ratio [OR], 1.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.27-2.49) and embryo quality (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.04-4.99) was noted. CONCLUSION(S) ZPB may be a useful tool to predict embryo quality for metaphase-II oocytes. Moreover, the completion of nuclear changes in the production of metaphase-II oocytes in vitro may not reflect their molecular maturity.