In Vitro Fertilization and Male-Factor Infertility

The gradients separate sperm cells on the basis of morphological characteristics and motility, permitting harvest of the layer containing sperm cells with normal appearance and forward progression in cases of mild to moderate male factor. Discontinuous-gradient approaches and medical management of the male partner may result in pregnancies where the male factor is mild or moderate in severity. The use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) for male-factor infertility carries a variety of risks. Established IVF programs report a range of results for fertilization of 70-85 percent and clinical pregnancy rates of 10-20 percent where malefactor infertility is not the main indication for IVF treatment. Generally, fertilization and pregnancy rates using techniques are extremely limited, and the decision to pursue such treatment requires an extensive process of counseling and informed consent. At this time, micromanipulation techniques for male-factor infertility are better considered as clinical experimentation rather than treatment.