In Vitro Fertilisation and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection predictive factors: A review of the effect of female age, ovarian reserve, male age, and male factor on IVF/ICSI treatment outcomes

Abstract

The development of assisted reproductive technology has allowed offspring in infertile couples, and specifically, allowed infertile men to conceive through Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). Despite the proven efficacy of In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and ICSI, many factors can influence its success. In this review we present an analysis on the effect of Female age, Ovarian Reserve, Male age and Male factor on the outcomes of IVF/ICSI, to determine if and which can be applied to the practical context. A literature search on PubMed, EMBASE and MEDLINE for relevant articles was elaborated until July 2021, leading to the selection of 234 articles based on their titles. After reading through the abstracts, those that evaluated IVF/ ICSI predicting factors were selected. Finally, only those approaching female age, ovarian reserve, male age and male factor were considered in this review. Higher female age and baseline ovarian markers alterations such as lower anti-Müllerian hormone and antral follicular count, and higher basal follicle-stimulating hormone, were associated with poorer outcomes. The predictive value of Male age and Male factor presented varied results across literature. The multifactorial nature of male fertility makes evaluation difficult. Although the first assessment of male infertility is based on sperm concentration, motility and morphology, semen parameters have shown low prognostic value, whilst sperm DNA alterations gain importance. Nevertheless, results remain controversial. While some factors have proven to predict IVF/ICSI success, other need to be further studied to be applied to practical context to allow the best prognosis possible.

Stain-Free Sperm Analysis and Selection for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Complying with WHO Strict Normal Criteria

“…ICSI success rates are highly dependent on clinical parameters, such as female age and oocyte quality as well as male age and sperm quality [28]. In conventional ICSI, a live, swimming and rotating sperm cell needs to be selected by the embryologist without access to a quantitative, objective evaluation of the cell's morphology [12,29].…”

The effects of endometrial thickness on outcomes of pregnancy following embryo transfer: A retrospective cohort

“…We used controlled ovary stimulation for ICSI and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists or antagonists to prevent premature ovulation. Follicle-stimulating hormone injections were administered until the follicular diameter of 18 mm was reached (Huang et al, 2022;Ribeiro & Sousa, 2023;Rodriguez-Wallberg et al, 2022). A 10000-unit human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) was injected and after 36 hours the oocytes were retrieved using a transvaginal ultrasound probe to guide a specialized needle through the vaginal wall and into the ovaries and were fertilized with husband sperms.…”

Detoxification as a potential intervention for improving in vitro fertilization outcomes: a comparative analysis of failed cycles before and after detox

“…In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex medical procedure that involves the fertilization of an egg with sperm outside the body, typically in a laboratory setting. Although IVF has revolutionized the field of reproductive medicine and helped many couples achieve their dream of parenthood, its success rates can vary widely depending on various factors, including maternal age, ovarian reserve, uterine health, and sperm quality [1] .…”