Comparison of fertilization outcome between microdrop and open insemination methods in non-male factor IVF patients

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic data of the women in the microdrop insemination and the open insemination groups.

	Microdrop insemination group	Open insemination group	P
Case (n)	573	602	–
Female age, mean ± SD (years)	31.8 ± 4.1	32.1 ± 3.7	NS
Body mass index, mean ± SD (kg/m^2)	21.3 ± 2.1	21.7 ± 1.8	NS
Infertility diagnosis, n (%)
Tubal factor	306 (53.4)	300 (49.8)	NS
Endometriosis	30 (5.2)	28 (4.7)	NS
Unexplained	184 (32.1)	226 (37.5)	NS
Anovulation	53 (9.2)	48 (8.0)	NS
Quantity of gonadotrophins used, mean ± SD (IU)	1998.5 ± 246.4	2023.7 ± 291.1	NS
No. of stimulation days, mean ± SD	10.5 ± 2.2	10.4 ± 3.0	NS
No. of oocytes retrieved, mean ± SD	12.0 ± 4.9	12.4 ± 6.1	NS
No. of mature oocytes, mean ± SD	10.1 ± 3.2	9.7 ± 2.8	NS

NS: not significant

Table 2. Descriptive statistics of semen specimens provided for the in vitro fertilization.

Parameters	Microdrop insemination	Open insemination	P
Pre wash (semen)
Sperm concentration, mean ± SD (×10^6/ml)	73.2 ± 27.3	72.6 ± 30.1	NS
Sperm progressive motility, mean ± SD (%)	62.2 ± 13.6	59.8 ± 16.5	NS
Percentage of normal morphology* (%)	6.18 ± 2.9	5.74 ± 3.6	NS
Post swim-up (sperm suspension after sperm selection)
Sperm concentration mean ± SD (×106/ml)	47.3 ± 10.4	46.9 ± 14.1	NS
Sperm progressive motility, mean ± SD (%)	92.4 ± 9.7	93.1 ± 10.5	NS
Final concentration for insemination, mean ± SD	0.3 × 10^6/ml	0.3 × 10^6/ml	NS

*Based on WHO-5 standard.

Table 3. Oocyte fertilization outcome, embryo quality, and pregnancy rate.

	Microdrop insemination group	Open insemination group	p Value
Cases (n)	573	602	–
Fertilization failure cases* n (%)	68/573 (11.9%)	20/602 (3.3%)	<0.001
Total fertilization failure n (%)	28/573 (4.9%)	7/602 (1.2%)	<0.001
Low fertilization n (%)	40/573 (7.0%)	13/602 (2.2%)	<0.001
Normal fertilization rate per oocytes ( ± SD, 2 PN%)	59.3 ± 21.8	62.0 ± 21.3	0.374
Polyspermy rate per oocytes ( ± SD, %)	6.5 ± 8.4	10.1 ± 40.1	0.283
Normal fertilization rate per mature oocyte ( ± SD, %)	66.1 ± 13.7	67.3 ± 11.2	0.423
Fertilization failure rate per mature oocyte ( ± SD, %)	21.7 ± 8.3	20.3 ± 7.9	0.919
Polyspermy rate per mature oocyte ( ± SD, %)	5.6 ± 7.7	5.8 ± 11.9	0.864
Cleavage rate ( ± SD, %)	96.1 ± 11.1	96.1 ± 8.1	0.990
Good embryo rate ( ± SD, %)	73.9 ± 35.7	76.1 ± 23.2	0.611
Transferred embryos ( ± SD)	2.21 ± 0.55	2.26 ± 0.61	0.333
Clinical pregnancies n (% per embryo transfer)	223/532 (41.9%)	256/592 (43.2%)	0.654

*The fertilization failure cases included total fertilization failure cases (TFF, 0% oocytes fertilized) and low fertilization cases (<25% oocytes fertilized).