Screening for abnormalities of chromosomes X, Y, and 18 and for diploidy in spermatozoa from infertile men participating in an in vitro fertilization-intracytoplasmic sperm injection program.

To evaluate the frequency of disomy (for chromosomes X, Y, and 18) and of diploidy in the spermatozoa of infertile men undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Prospective analysis of sperm nuclei by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). University-affiliated IVF-ICSI program. Semen samples from 19 patients participating in an IVF-ICSI program. Semen samples were analyzed and prepared for FISH. Semen parameters were evaluated. The frequency of disomy for chromosomes X, Y, and 18 and the frequency of diploidy were analyzed by FISH. A total of 9,373 spermatozoa from 19 infertile patients were analyzed and compared with spermatozoa from a control group of 5 healthy men. No differences in the frequency of disomy 18 were found, but statistically significant differences in the incidence of sex chromosome disomy and of diploidy were observed. The study of sperm nuclei by FISH is useful to improve genetic counseling in infertile patients selected for ICSI.