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Volume 28, Issue 143, January 2024

Seminal Plasma effectiveness in IVF treatment: Systematic review

Ibtesam Fawaz Alshammari¹, Salem Abdulaziz Islam², Sara Ali Ahmed Halawi³, Mahmood Ahmad Nasser Boeisa⁴, Rayan Ali Barakat³, Hassan Mayudh Almalki³

¹Obstetrics and Gynecology Consultant, Infertility, IVF and MIS, First Health Cluster, King Saud Medical City, Maternity Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
²Assisted Consultant, Riyadh First Health Cluster, King Saud Medical City, Maternity Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
³Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, First Health Cluster, King Saud Medical City, Maternity Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
⁴Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident, Maternity and Children's Hospital Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT

Background: Seminal plasma (SP) serves as a medium of transportation for sperm and a conduit for communication between the female and male reproductive organs. Preparing the female's reproductive systems for an ideal pregnancy is also one of its roles. This research aimed to investigate and gather information about the use of SP to improve cycle outcomes in IVF or ICSI. Method: we conducted a literate search through MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library. The results of IVF treatments for patients exposed to SP close to the time of embryo transfer or oocyte pickup were compared with those of placebo or who were not exposed to seminal plasma controls in all randomized controlled trials included in this analysis. Results: seven articles were included in this review with a total of 2204 participants satisfied the review's selection criteria. Two studies compared sexual activity with abstinence, the other five compared the application of SP with no intervention or with a placebo. Patients who had previously failed an IVF cycle were included in five studies. Patients with different potential reasons for implant failure were included in one study. Patients undergoing new IVF cycles with different treatment combinations included in all seven trials. The IVF features reported in all investigations were almost identical. Conclusion: When women are exposed to SP at the time of embryo transfer or ovum pickup, the results are noticeably better.

Keywords: In vitro fertilization, seminal plasma, effectiveness