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Oxidative stress level in fresh ejaculate is not related to semen parameters or to pregnancy rates in cycles with donor oocytes

  • Reproductive Physiology and Disease
  • Published:
Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the present study is to study the relationship between oxidative stress (OS) in semen, semen characteristics, and reproductive outcomes in oocyte donation intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles.

Methods

OS was measured in 132 semen samples.

Results

OS levels were as follows: very high (1.5 %), high (43.2 %), low (30.3 %), and very low (25.0 %). Overall seminal parameters were as follows: volume (ml) = 4.2 (SD 2.1), concentration (millions/ml) = 61.6 (SD 59.8), motility (a+b%) = 47.4 (SD 18.0), and normal spermatozoa (%) = 8.2 (SD 5.1). Of the 101 cycles that reached embryo transfer, 55.4 % evolved in biochemical, 46.5 % in clinical, and 43.6 % in ongoing pregnancy. OS level does not relate to seminal parameters, fertilization rate, or pregnancy outcomes.

Conclusions

OS testing by nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) in fresh ejaculate might not be useful for all patients. Reproductive results with young oocytes and ICSI do not seem to be affected by OS-level semen.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Clínica EUGIN, Travessera de les Corts 322, 08029, Barcelona, Spain

    Aïda Pujol, Albert Obradors, Erica Esteo, Beatriz Costilla, Valerie Vernaeve & Rita Vassena

  2. Fundació Privada EUGIN, 08029, Barcelona, Spain

    Désireé García

Authors
  1. Aïda Pujol
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  2. Albert Obradors
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  3. Erica Esteo
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  4. Beatriz Costilla
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  5. Désireé García
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  6. Valerie Vernaeve
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  7. Rita Vassena
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Correspondence to Rita Vassena.

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Capsule

Semen oxidative stress was measured in 132 patients’ ejaculates by nitro blue tetrazolium testing before performing ICSI with donor oocytes. The measured level did not correlate with either seminal parameters or reproductive outcomes.

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Pujol, A., Obradors, A., Esteo, E. et al. Oxidative stress level in fresh ejaculate is not related to semen parameters or to pregnancy rates in cycles with donor oocytes. J Assist Reprod Genet 33, 529–534 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0660-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-016-0660-1

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