Effect of advanced paternal age on reproductive outcomes in IVF cycles of non-male-factor infertility: a retrospective cohort study

Evaluation of telomere length and telomerase activity on predicting in vitro fertilization treatment outcomes

The current article is a literature review aiming to provide an overview of the existing knowledge on the association between telomere length and telomerase activity and in vitro fertilization. Recently, telomeres have been used as an effective biomarker to determine biological age, which may differ from chronological age due to genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors. Cellular senescence, along with other exogenous and mainly environmental factors, can enhance telomere wear, further shortening their ends and may also affect reproductive aging. IVF is a common fertility treatment caused by female reasons (age, ovulation disorders, damaged or blocked fallopian tubes, endometriosis), male reasons (low sperm quantity or quality), or unexplained infertility. A growing number of studies have proposed a relationship between telomere length and telomerase activity and IVF success and have suggested their use as candidate biomarkers for IVF outcome. Nevertheless, additional studies are necessary to be conducted, in order to clarify the possible implication of telomeres in IVF and to evaluate their possible role as valuable predictors of IVF result.

Is There Any Effect of Change in Pre-Wash and Post-Wash Semen Parameters on the Success of Intrauterine Insemination?

(1) Background: We aimed to investigate the effect of change in pre-wash and post-wash semen parameters on intrauterine insemination (IUI) success in a homogenous study group. (2) Methods: IUI cycles conducted at an infertility clinic were included in this study. Patient records were examined retrospectively. Δ sperm count (per mL) was calculated as [pre-wash sperm count (per mL)-post-wash sperm count (per mL)]. Δ Total progressive motile sperm count (TPMSC) was also calculated as (post-wash TPMSC-pre-wash TPMSC). (3) Results: No statistically significant difference was detected in terms of Δ sperm count (p = 0.38), and Δ TPMSC (p = 0.76) regarding the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR). There was no statistically significant difference between CPR (+) and CPR (-) groups in terms of post-wash sperm count, TPMSC, TPMSC ≥ 10 × 10⁶, TPMSC ≥ 5 × 10⁶ (p = 0.65, p = 0.79, p = 0.49, p = 0.49, respectively). The live birth rate (LBR) showed no statistically significant differences except for a pre-wash TPMSC ≥ 10 × 10⁶ (p = 0.02). Through the performed ROC analysis, no statistically significant cutoff value could be set for the pre-wash TPMSC. (4) Conclusions: There is only a pre-wash TPMSC ≥ 10 × 10⁶ that showed a significant role in the success of IUI, even when considering all other pre-wash and post-wash semen parameters. Δ sperm count and Δ are not useful markers for IUI success.