Comparison of in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes in male factor infertility patients with and without spinal cord injuries

ObjectiveTo determine if outcomes after in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) using sperm from men with spinal cord injury (SCI group) differ from those of other etiologies of male factor infertility (non-SCI group). In men with SCI, to determine if IVF/ICSI outcomes differ with sperm obtained by penile vibratory stimulation (PVS group) versus electroejaculation (EEJ group).DesignRetrospective analysis.SettingUniversity medical center and major infertility center.Patient(s)Couples with male factor infertility due to SCI versus other etiologies.Intervention(s)PVS, EEJ, surgical sperm retrieval, and IVF/ICSI.Main Outcome Measure(s)Rates of fertilization, pregnancy, and live birth.Result(s)A total of 31 couples in the SCI group underwent 48 cycles of IVF/ICSI, and a total of 297 couples in the non-SCI group underwent 443 cycles of IVF/ICSI. The SCI group had lower fertilization rates but similar pregnancy and live birth rates compared with the non-SCI group. These rates, however, did not differ significantly when the PVS group was compared with the EEJ group.Conclusion(s)IVF/ICSI of sperm from men with SCI yield lower fertilization rates but similar pregnancy and live birth outcomes as IVF/ICSI of sperm from men with other etiologies of male factor infertility. Sperm collected by PVS versus EEJ in men with SCI appear to result in similar IVF/ICSI success rates.