Effect of male HBV infection on the outcomes of IVF/ICSI cycles:a retrospective cohort study based on propensity score matching

This study aimed to investigate the effects of male hepatitis B virus(HBV)infection on male fertility,embryonic development,and in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection(IVF/ICSI)outcomes.We performed a retrospective cohort study that included 3965 infertile couples who received fresh embryo transfer cycles for the first time at the Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital(Fuzhou,China)from January 2018 to January 2021.Infertile couples were categorized based on their HBV infection status into the HBV group(HBV-positive men and HBV-negative women)and the control group(HBV-negative couples).A 1:1 propensity score matching was performed with relatively balanced covariates.Baseline characteristics,semen parameters,laboratory outcomes,clinical outcomes,and obstetric and neonatal outcomes were compared between groups.After propensity score matching,821 couples were included in each group.Both groups had similar semen parameters and obstetric and neonatal outcomes.The HBV group showed a significantly lower live birth rate than the control group(P<0.05).The HBV group had a significantly higher abortion rate than the control group(P<0.05).The rates of high-quality embryos and blastocyst formation were significantly lower in the HBV group than those in the control group(both P<0.05).In conclusion,in couples who undergo IVF/ICSI,male HBV infection reduces the live birth rate and increases the risk of miscarriage.However,the incidence of low birth weight in women with IVF/ICSI does not increase with male HBV infection.

The effect of age and abstinence time on semen quality:a retrospective study

This study analyzed the effects of male age and abstinence time on semen quality and explored the best abstinence time for Chinese males among different age groups.Semen parameters,including sperm kinetics,morphology,and DNA fragmentation index(DFI),were reviewed from 2952 men.Samples were divided into six age groups(≤25 years,26–30 years,31–35 years,36–40 years,41–45 years,and>45 years)and were divided into six groups according to different abstinence time(2 days,3 days,4 days,5 days,6 days,and 7 days).The differences in semen quality between the groups were compared,and the effect of age and abstinence time on semen quality was analyzed.Significant differences were observed in semen volume,progressive motility(PR),and DFI among the age groups(all P<0.05),and no significant differences were observed in sperm morphological parameters(all P>0.05).There were significant differences in semen volume,PR,and DFI among different abstinence time groups(all P<0.05)and no significant differences in sperm morphological parameters(all P>0.05).Pearson analysis showed that male age and abstinence time were both significantly correlated with sperm kinetics and DFI(both P<0.05),while no significant correlation was found with sperm morphological parameters(all P>0.05).The box plots and histograms of men’s age,abstinence time,and semen quality show that most semen quality parameters differ significantly between the 2 days and 7 days abstinence groups and other groups at different ages.Except for the sperm morphology parameters,sperm kinetic parameters and sperm DFI are linearly related to male age and abstinence time.