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Male Fertility in the Modern Age: Challenges and Opportunities

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Reproductive Medicine & Andrology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 611

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Reproductive Medicine Unit, Andros Day Surgery Clinic-Palermo, 90144 Palermo, Italy
Interests: reproductive medicine; gynecological endocrinology; male infertility

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The last WHO report on infertility prevalence estimates that one in six people may experience infertility during their lifetime (WHO, 2023). It is calculated that a male factor may be the sole or a contributing cause in around 50% of infertile couples. Furthermore, recent evidence has shown a persistent and accelerated worldwide decline in semen quality, which, in 21st century, is reaching such levels that it is considered a real public health problem. Moreover, semen quality is now recognized as a marker of general health.

For all these reasons, this Special Issue will provide updated information on the possible causes of this decline, the therapeutic options to improve seminal parameters in terms of natural fertility, and new diagnostic tools for selecting the best spermatozoa for in vitro fertilization procedures. This Special Issue will be the right “place” for sharing experiences and discussing novel possibilities in the field of male infertility. Therefore, clinicians, researchers, and experts are invited to send their contributions and research findings to enable possible advancements in this field. We particularly encourage the submission of original research articles and high-interest systematic reviews and meta-analyses on this topic.

Dr. Angelo Alessandro Marino
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • male infertility
  • semen parameters
  • sperm selection
  • IVF/ICSI

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 536 KiB  
Article
Teratozoospermia and Embryo Development: The Significance of Sperm Selection in In Vitro Fertilization Success
by Petronela Naghi, Ioana Alexandra Zaha, Liana Stefan, Andrea Sorian, Adelin Marcu, Liliana Sachelarie and Anca Huniadi
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(11), 3763; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14113763 - 27 May 2025
Viewed by 60
Abstract
Background: Sperm morphology is a key factor influencing fertilization and embryo development in assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, the predictive value of sperm deformity indices and selection techniques remains debated. This study evaluated the impact of teratozoospermia on fertilization, blastocyst formation, and embryo [...] Read more.
Background: Sperm morphology is a key factor influencing fertilization and embryo development in assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, the predictive value of sperm deformity indices and selection techniques remains debated. This study evaluated the impact of teratozoospermia on fertilization, blastocyst formation, and embryo quality, comparing conventional and microfluidic sperm selection methods. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on ART cycles involving patients with teratozoospermia. Sperm selection was performed using density gradient centrifugation (DGC) or microfluidic sperm sorting (MFSS). The correlations between the Sperm Deformity Index (SDI), Multiple Anomalies Index (MAI), and Teratozoopermia Index (TZI) with fertilization rates, blastocyst formation, and embryo quality were assessed. Statistical analysis included correlation tests, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and independent samples t-tests. Results: Patients with severe teratozoospermia exhibited lower fertilization rates (p < 0.01) and reduced blastocyst formation (p = 0.02). The SDI and MAI showed moderate negative correlations with fertilization (r = −0.15 and r = −0.25, respectively) and blastocyst development (r = −0.20 and r = −0.30, respectively), while the TZI had only weak associations (r = −0.10 and r = −0.15, respectively). ROC analysis demonstrated that the SDI and MAI were moderate predictors of embryo viability (AUC = 0.70 and 0.75, respectively). Patients who underwent microfluidic sperm selection had higher fertilization rates (p = 0.03) and improved blastocyst quality (p = 0.04) than those processed with DGC. Conclusions: Severe teratozoospermia negatively affects fertilization and blastocyst formation, with the SDI and MAI showing moderate predictive value for embryo development. The use of microfluidic sperm selection significantly improved embryo quality, supporting its clinical relevance in ART. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Male Fertility in the Modern Age: Challenges and Opportunities)
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