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Updated: Jun 11, 2025

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Using Mouse Oocytes to Assess Human Gene Function During Meiosis I
Published on: April 10, 2018
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Do sperm factors influence embryonic aneuploidy? Long live the oocyte
Yuval Fouks1,2,3, Denis Vaughan1,4,5, Veda Sripada6
1Boston IVF, IVIRMA Global Research Alliance, Waltham, MA, USA.
Human Reproduction (Oxford, England)
|October 1, 2024
Summary
Male age and sperm quality do not significantly impact embryonic aneuploidy, unlike female age. This study found female factors, including age and oocyte retrieval numbers, are dominant in determining embryo ploidy.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Science
- Genetics
- Embryology
Background:
- Maternal age is a known factor influencing embryonic aneuploidy.
- The impact of paternal age and sperm quality on embryo ploidy remains less understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between male age, sperm quality, and embryonic aneuploidy.
- To compare the influence of paternal factors versus maternal factors on embryo ploidy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of 11,087 preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) cycles.
- Analysis included patient-level, embryo-level, and propensity score matching.
- Evaluated aneuploidy rate as the ratio of aneuploid to total biopsied blastocysts.
Main Results:
- No clinically significant interactions were found between male age/sperm quality and embryo ploidy.
- Female age, BMI, prior ART cycles, and oocyte retrieval number were significant patient-level factors.
- Embryo age and ICSI usage were significant embryo-level factors.
Conclusions:
- Paternal age and sperm quality do not appear to be significant drivers of embryonic aneuploidy.
- Oocyte quality and female age are the dominant factors influencing embryo ploidy.
- Findings suggest focusing on female-related factors for improving IVF outcomes.
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