Fluorescence in situ hybridisation sperm examination is significantly impaired in all categories of male infertility.

ABSTRACT

To study the outcome of FISH sperm examination in cases with sperm pathology and outline the potential correlation with certain chromosomal defects. A retrospective study of prospectively collected data was performed in IAKENTRO, Infertility Treatment Center. Rates of abnormal FISH semen examination were compared between male infertility patients and fertile controls. Detection of abnormal FISH semen examination as well as each chromosomal abnormality detected was correlated with each sperm deficiency (asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia and teratozoospermia) in a univariate regression model. There were 72 male partners included, of which 52 male infertility patients and 20 controls. The rate of abnormal sperm FISH examination was significantly higher in patients' group (55.8% vs. 15.0% for controls, p = .002). Asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia and teratozoospermia were significantly correlated with detection of abnormal FISH examination (p = .004, p = .01 and p < .001 respectively). Teratospermia was significantly correlated with increased aneuploidy rate for chromosome 17 (p = .005), chromosome X (p = .05) and Y (p = .03). FISH examination reveals pathology in a significant proportion of patients with sperm defects and should be recommended to achieve early detection of chromosomal defects that may postpone favourable reproductive outcome.