Assisted reproductive treatments with hyperbaric oxygen therapy in male infertility

This study aimed to analyze the results of hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) in addition to assisted reproductive technologies in male infertility cases.

Medical records of male infertility patients who had HBOT sessions for any reason between January 1, 2015-December 31, 2019, were analyzed retrospectively.

A total of 15 male patients were included. Patients were classified as group 1 [DNA fragmentation (n=5)], group 2 [globozoospermia (n=5)], and group 3 [azoospermia (n=5)]. Round spermatid injection (ROSI), intrauterine insemination (IUI), or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures were performed in 10 of the 15 patients. A total of 31 embryos were obtained out of which 19 (61%) were transferred. While a total of 15 embryos were obtained in the globozoospermic group, which was the highest number, 10 were obtained from the azoospermic patients, and 6 from the DNA fragmentation patients (p=0.515). A total of 3 (30%) healthy pregnancies were obtained, overall. The mean sperm count of the patients (n=9) before HBOT was 8.4±11.1 mil/mL, while it was found to be 15.7±15.0 mil/mL after HBOT (azoospermic patients were not included). The TESE results were analyzed for azoospermic patients; positive changes were observed in 4 patients (80%). On the other hand, there was an improvement in 50% of group 1 according to sperm DNA fragmentation after HBOT (p=0.500).

While a total of 15 embryos were obtained in the globozoospermic group, which was the highest number, 10 were obtained from the azoospermic patients.. Further studies should be conducted on HBOT and male infertility.