Assessment of sperm chromatin condensation and ploidy status using flow cytometry correlates to fertilization, embryo quality and pregnancy following in vitro fertilization.

Purpose: Sperm flow cytometry (SFC) was used to evaluate the association of sperm chromatin condensation and ploidy with fertilization, embryo development, pregnancy and abortion rates following IVF.

Methods: Conventional semen analysis was performed in one hundred fifty men, as well as SFC analysis, after acridine orange and propidium iodide staining, for the evaluation of sperm maturity and ploidy respectively. Conventional IVF was performed in all couples.