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

OBJECTIVE: To 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).

DESIGN: Retrospective analysis.

SETTING: University 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.