OBJECTIVETo explore the quality of the embryos, clinical outcomes and birth defects resulting from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment using sperms of different origins and parameters.

METHODSA total of 980 ICSI-ET (embryo-transfer) cycles were divided into 4 groups, namely normal sperm or mild oligozoospermia group (group A), severe oligozoospermia group (group B), epididymal aspirates group (group C) and testicular biopsies group (group D). The cleavage rate, embryo quality, fertilization rate, clinical pregnancy rate, and rates of birth defects were compared between the groups.

RESULTSThe fertilization rate, cleavage rate and good-quality embryo rate were not significantly different among the 4 groups (P>0.05), and the embryo implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate were significantly higher in group C than in groups A and B (P<0.05). Groups A, B and C showed no significant differences in the rates of birth defects (P>0.05), and no birth defects occurred in group D.

CONCLUSIONSSperms of different parameters and origins used in ICSI treatment can achieve similar fertilization rate, good-quality embryo rate and delivery rate. The embryo implantation rate and clinical pregnancy rate of epididymal sperm group are higher than those of ejaculated groups, possibly due to the younger age of the patients and a greater number of oocytes retrieved in group C than in groups A and B.