Session 175: RBMO 17
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Session 175: RBMO LIVE 17: Sperm Standards
Tuesday 29th Sept 3pm ET, 8pm BST, 9pm CET
This webinar is kindly sponsored by RBMO
Hosts:
Dr. Nicolas Garrido
Professor Sandro Esteves
Speakers:
Dr. Ahmed Metwalley: Dual Calcium Ionophore Activation After
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection in Globozoospermia: Fertilization Efficiency, Embryological Development, and Cumulative Live Birth Outcomes in a 33-Couple Cohort
Professor Sarah Martins da Silva: UK Guidelines for the Medical and Laboratory Procurement and Use of Sperm, Egg, and Embryo Donors
Professor Sandro Esteves: Paternal reproductive health in focus: new World Health Organization infertility guideline interpreted through a biological and clinical lens
Q and A
Synopsis:
Session 175, moderated by Dr Nicolas Garrido and Professor Sandro Esteves, brought together three complementary perspectives on sperm standards, covering severe sperm abnormalities, donor gamete guidelines and the evolving approach to male reproductive health.
Dr Ahmed Metwalley presented outcomes from a 33-couple cohort using dual calcium ionophore activation following ICSI in globozoospermia. Discussion focused on the genetic basis and potential inheritance of the condition, patient counselling, genetic testing and the rationale for dual rather than single oocyte activation. Practical questions also addressed the timing of activation, oocyte tolerance and the role of sperm DNA fragmentation testing.
Professor Sarah Martins da Silva reviewed UK guidelines for the procurement and use of sperm, egg and embryo donors. Questions covered donor selection and screening, including CMV, malaria, Zika, HIV, syphilis and COVID-19, as well as smoking and recreational drug use. International movement of donor gametes, family limits, donor counselling and the use of GP information were also discussed.
Professor Sandro Esteves examined the new WHO infertility guideline from the perspective of paternal reproductive health. Discussion emphasised moving beyond viewing the male partner simply as a source of sperm towards a more comprehensive assessment of male reproductive health. Topics included sperm DNA fragmentation, oxidative stress, varicocele, HIV and the challenges of implementing evidence-based male infertility guidelines in everyday practice.
Overall, the session highlighted how modern sperm standards extend beyond conventional semen analysis to encompass genetics, donor governance, laboratory interventions, infectious-disease screening and the wider reproductive health of the male patient.
