Pentoxifylline is not useful in enhancing sperm function in cases with previous in vitro fertilization failure.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficiency of the addition of pentoxifylline to spermatozoa for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in cases with previous fertilization failure. DESIGN: After retrieval, oocytes were divided at random and inseminated with spermatozoa prepared with or without pentoxifylline. SETTING: In vitro fertilization program of the Centre for Reproductive Medicine of the Dutch-speaking Brussels Free University, Belgium, a tertiary referral institution. PATIENTS: Couples in this study were undergoing a second or third IVF attempt for the treatment of male factor infertility. INTERVENTIONS: Sperm samples were divided into two equal parts. The first part was prepared with 3.6 mM pentoxifylline (treatment group) and the other part without pentoxifylline (control group). After swim-up, oocytes were randomly inseminated with spermatozoa from either treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Fertilization and cleavage rates after IVF. RESULTS: Overall a fertilization rate of 8.8% was achieved with no significant differences between treatment and control groups. Cleavage rate was 81.5% and was not different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates no therapeutic advantage of using pentoxifylline in IVF for male factor infertility in cases with previous fertilization failure.