Introduction: In different studies worldwide, gender ratios derived from ICSI (Assisted reproductive techniques) have been reported differently. Objective: Evaluation of neonatal gender in ICSI women referred to Mehr Infertility Research Center of Rasht. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the cases of infertile women referred to Mehr Infertility Research Center in Rasht for ICSI were examined to determine the sex ratio of the neonates. Data were analyzed using SPSS 21 and descriptive and an alytical (Chi-square and independent t) tests. Results: The results showed that 52% of single-born neonates, 60% of multiple pregnancies (single sex) and 52. 5% of multiple pregnancy (two sexes) were male. Conclusion: The ratio of male in single and multiple pregnancies in ICSI was higher than female.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Varicocele is one of the causes of male infertility. It changes with temperature and drainage of testicular veins that due to SPERMatogenesis disturbance and decrease of fertility in these patients. However varicocelectomy is a treatment for varicocele, but there are other methods of treating this disease including assisted reproductive technology (ART), SPERM processing and swim up. METHODS: This interventional study was performed on 155 cases in fertility and infertility Center of Babol University of medical sciences in 2004. SPERM parameters in varicocele patients was assessed before and after SPERM processing. FINDINGS: The mean age of patients was 31.8 years. SPERM motility before SPERM processing in grade III and IV was 53.9% and 12.9%, respectively but after SPERM processing in grade III and IV changed to 78.7% and 56.8%, respectively. Total motility before SPERM processing was 40 % and changed after processing to 80%. CONCLUSION: The results show that with SPERM processing and collection of appropriate SPERMs, we are able to increase fertility.

Today, SPERM cryopreservation is a routine practice in infertility clinics. One of the alternative methods to preserve SPERM is freeze-drying. This process consists of three steps. The first step is sample freezing, during which the solvent is separated from the solvent. Water forms ice crystals and the solute is placed between the ice crystals. Freezing may be done in a separate device or in a freeze dryer. The second step is the primary drying, in which the pressure of the device is reduced and heat is used to begin sublimation of the ice crystals. During the third step, which is the secondary drying, the final absorption of the remaining water is usually done by increasing the temperature of the product and slightly reducing the water vapor pressure in the container (17). This method has many advantages, including that it eliminates the need for liquid nitrogen for long-term storage and the dried samples can be stored at 4˚ C or room temperature. To use SPERM, rehydration must be done. In the preservation of human SPERM by freeze-drying, the general lack of movement in the dried specimens indicates severe damage to the plasma membrane of the SPERM. The effect of the physical and chemical environments to which SPERM are exposed and the subsequent swelling and shrinkage as a result of water flow cause damage to the organelles, the lipid structure of the cell plasma membrane, and the water channels in the membrane (9). After freeze-drying, SPERM become immobile in all culture media. SPERM viability has been reported following freeze-drying in various animal species (16). One of the anomalies that occurs after SPERM freezing drying is morphological anomalies, especially in the tail, where curved tails have the highest proportion of these anomalies (9). When SPERM returns to isotonic conditions after exposure to high osmolarity solutions, this causes the tail to twist and bend around the SPERM head. In addition, changes in water content during cell dehydration may lead to tail twisting. The acrosome is the part of the SPERM that is highly affected by freeze-drying in all culture media, regardless of semen status or storage temperature, which can be preserved in this technique (22). The effect of freeze-drying on DNA structure is contradictory. Numerous studies have shown that DNA integrity can be maintained following this method (9, 28). Adding trehalose to freeze-drying media help to maintain the SPERM DNA integrity (36). The use of trehalose in freeze-drying can also lead to the preservation of microtubules (23). This article reviews the studies on freeze-drying of SPERM and its effects on SPERM parameters.

Introduction: We aimed to determine pregnancy and miscarriage rates following intracytoplasmic SPERM injection (ICSI) cycles using retrieved epididymal and testicular SPERM in azooSPERMic men and ejaculated SPERM in oligoSPERMic and normoSPERMic men.Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on 517 couples who underwent ICSI. They included 96 couples with azooSPERMia and 421 with oligoSPERMia or normal SPERM count in the male partner. Of the men with azooSPERMia, 69 underwent percutaneous epididymal aspiration (PESA) and 47 underwent testicular SPERM extraction (TESE). In the 421 men with oligoSPERMia or normal SPERM count, ejaculated SPERM was used for ICSI. The differences in the outcomes of ICSI using PESA or TESE and ejaculated SPERM were evaluated. The main outcome measures were pregnancy and miscarriage rates.Results: No significant differences were seen in pregnancy and miscarriage rates with surgically retrieved and ejaculated SPERM. The pregnancy rates (including frozen embryo transfer) were 43.5%, 36.2%, and 41.4% in couples with PESA, TESE, and ejaculated SPERM, respectively (P = .93). The miscarriage rates were 16.7%, 23.5%, and 12.1%, respectively (P = .37).Conclusion: Intracytoplasmic SPERM injection in combination with PESA and TESE is an effective method and can successfully be performed to treat men with azooSPERMia. The outcomes with these procedures are comparable to ICSI using ejaculated SPERM.

Background: Infertility treatment is important due to the high prevalence and destructive effects of psychological and social concerns of infertility. Intra Uterine SPERM Insemination (IUI) is a costeffective and noninvasive treatment method of infertility.Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between SPERM count, SPERM motility, women's age and IUI success.Methods: This analytical study was performed on 55 couples, with 63 treatment cycles, in Kosar infertility center, Qazvin during 2009-2010. Basic information on women's age and their husband’s occupation was obtained through questionnaires. SPERM count and SPERM motility were determined according to the WHO criteria. SPERM were prepared by swim up method and were transferred to the uterus with a catheter. After two weeks, the pregnancy was confirmed by urinary b-HCG test.Data were analyzed by Chi-square and Fisher exact tests and P£0.05 was considered significant.Findings: The success rate was 9.5% per cycle of IUI. No significant difference was seen between the mean age of women in both successful and unsuccessful IUI groups. The relationship between the mean number of SPERMatozoa, the mean percentage of SPERM progressive motility in the semen and pregnancy was not statistically significant.Conclusion: With regard to the results, women’s age and percentage of SPERM progressive motility could not be used to predict the success rate of IUI, accurately.

Introduction: 10 to 15 percent of the couples are infertile .In this respect, the use of assisted fertilization techniques is inevitable for those who do not respond to pharmacological treatments. Swim-up is one of those techniques that may improve the SPERM quality. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of swim-up technique on the motion, density and morphology of SPERM.Materials and Methods: This is an analytic- experimental study conducted on 345 semen samples of patients who referred to Navin Infertility Center for Intra Uterine Fertilization. The number, motility and morphology of SPERM were evaluated both before and after administrating the technique of swim-up. The data were then analyzed using SPSS, version11. The statistical techniques of paired t-test, independent two sample T-test and ANOVA revealed the results.Results: The mean of SPERM count decreased significantly after using the swim-up technique (48/14×106) versus before the swim up (55/92×106). As for the mean of SPERM motility, it was estimated as 55/6% before administrating the technique of swim-up, which increased to 92/3% after the swim-up. The results indicate that swim up led to the improvement of SPERM motility of grade A on a scale of 22/11±7/40 unit.Conclusion: After doing the swim-up technique, the normal morphology, motility and grading of SPERM improve significantly.