[Correlation of sperm nuclear maturity with the outcomes of in vitro fertilization].

Objective: To investigate the correlation between sperm nuclear maturity and the outcomes of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data on 1 393 cycles of IVF in our center from September 2018 to May 2020. According to the high DNA stainability (HDS) of sperm, we divided the patients into a mature (HDS ≤ 10%) and an immature sperm nucleus group (HDS > 10%), compared the results of IVF, embryonic development and clinical outcomes between the two groups, and analyzed their correlation with HDS.
Results: The rates of fertilization and normal fertilization were significantly higher and that of fertilization failure remarkably lower in the mature than in the immature sperm nuclear group (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in the rates of cleavage, high-quality embryo, blastocyst formation, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth (P > 0.05). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that HDS was correlated negatively with the rates of fertilization, normal fertilization and blastocyst formation (P < 0.05), positively with fertilization failure (P < 0.05), but not significantly with the rates of cleavage, high-quality embryo, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth (P > 0.05). After adjusting for confounding factors by multivariate logistic regression analysis, HDS was found correlated negatively with the fertilization rate (OR = 0.945, 95% CI: 0.918 to 0.972, P < 0.05), positively with fertilization failure (OR = 1.043, 95% CI: 1.010 to －1.078, P < 0.05), but not significantly with the rates of normal fertilization, cleavage, high-quality embryo, blastocyst formation, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage and live birth (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Sperm nuclear maturity significantly affects the rates of fertilization and fertilization failure in IVF patients. Taking sperm nuclear maturity indicators in consideration in the process of IVF may contribute to comprehensive evaluation of semen and male fertility and guide clinical decision-making.