Application of Physiological Sperm Selection in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) for Patients With Diabetes Mellitus: A Case Report

TL;DR

A couple with infertility due to diabetes and previous failed treatments achieved a successful pregnancy using a specialized sperm selection technique.

Contribution

Demonstrates the effectiveness of PICSI in improving clinical pregnancy outcomes for diabetic patients with sperm DNA fragmentation.

Findings

The husband had normozoospermia but elevated sperm DNA fragmentation.

Switching to PICSI after failed traditional ICSI led to a successful clinical pregnancy.

Diabetes management and physiological sperm selection improved outcomes in this infertility case.

Abstract

This case report revolves around a 35-year-old woman and her 39-year-old husband, who have been married for 10 years and were seeking treatment for their secondary infertility. The husband had been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) for the past seven years and had been on continued medication. Both partners underwent medical evaluations, and the husband was found to have normozoospermia. The wife had a normal ovarian reserve but was still facing difficulties in conception. Previous medical history showed that the husband’s DM had been treated with metformin, and the woman had a history of unsuccessful in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles and one miscarriage upon investigation. Our initial treatment attempt had failed, and upon assessment of the semen, it revealed a significantly increased sperm DNA fragmentation index, leading us to consider physiological intracytoplasmic sperm injection (PICSI). The couple then opted for a rescheduled ovum pick-up with PICSI over traditional ICS. PICSI involves selecting mature sperm with hyaluronic acid affinity, aiming to avoid immature, morphologically defective spermatozoa during microinjection. The couple then followed up for treatments; the husband continued with diabetes treatment, and the woman was advised to take progesterone supplements to ensure optimum uterine thickness. The PICSI procedure was followed by a successful embryo transfer, which subsequently led to a positive clinical pregnancy. This report highlights the importance of utilizing advanced technologies like PICSI in infertility cases after considering factors such as sperm quality to enhance the chances of a successful clinical pregnancy.

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