In this video, Silvia Azaña, an embryologist at inviTRA, explains what effects vacuoles have on sperm:
The presence of vacuoles in sperm has been related to significant defects in chromatin condensation. This means that this non-condensed chromatin remains entirely unprotected and is, therefore, more susceptible to sustaining serious sperm DNA damage. Consequently, spermatozoa exhibiting vacuoles have been correlated with an elevated rate of sperm DNA fragmentation.
Thus, if these spermatzoa containing vacuoles and chromatin condensation defects are successfully avoided and not selected for microinjection into the egg, it has been suggested that overall reproductive outcomes could be improved. With the implementation of IMSI there could be an improvement in embryo development to blastocyst, implantation and clinical pregnancy rate and a reduction in miscarriage rate.
However, the superiority of IMSI over ICSI is still not very clear in terms of improving these outcomes. This means that IMSI technique is not a standard or routine procedure in current practice in assisted reproduction clinics.
