Physiological Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (PICSI) outcomes after oral pretreatment and semen incubation with myo-inositol in oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men: results from a prospective, randomized controlled trial

T. Korosi, C. Barta, K. Rokob, T. Torok

Kaáli Institute, IVF Unit, Györ, Hungary. korosita@gmail.com

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• Andrology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of an oral pretreatment with a mix of myo-inositol (Myo-Ins), folic acid, vitamin E, L-carnitine, L-arginine and selenium (Folandrol, Exeltis, Hungary) and subsequent direct Myo-Ins incubation of spermatozoa before Physiological Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (PICSI) procedures in infertile couples due to oligoasthenoteratozoospermia with previous failed PICSI procedures.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed a prospective, randomized controlled trial at the Assisted Reproduction Unit of the Kaáli Institute (Győr, Hungary). The male partners were randomly assigned to two groups: the first one treated with a myo-Inositol-based supplement (Folandrol®, Exeltis, Hungary) for two months; the second one did not undergo any treatment in the same time range (controls). The semen of the treated group was incubated for 2 h with 2 mg/ml of MI (Andrositol Lab, Lo.Li. Pharma, Rome, Italy) for the PICSI protocol.

RESULTS: There was no significant difference for mean female partner age (p = 0.17) and mean previous failed PICSI procedures (p = 0.65) between the two groups. Although there was no significant difference (p = 0.85) regarding the rate of mature oocytes and the fertilization index was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the treatment group than control group. Also, despite the comparable average number of transferred embryos between the two groups (p = 0.55), in the treatment group there was a significantly higher rate of good quality embryos at day 3 after fertilization (p = 0.001). Finally, 11 pregnancies were obtained only in the treatment group (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: The combination of oral supplementation and semen incubation with MI in oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men could improve PICSI outcomes.

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