Table 1.

Links between vacuoles and sperm chromatin condensation status

	Number of patients	Chromatin condensation assessment	Vacuolated spermatozoa			Spermatozoa used as “controls”		P
			Number and size of vacuoles	Presence of other potential abnormalities	Proportion of vacuolated spermatozoa with a non condensed chromatin (%)	Type of spermatozoa used as “controls”	Proportion of “control” spermatozoa with a non condensed chromatin (%)
Cassuto 2012 [18]	26	AB	At least one vacuole (size not specified)	Yes	19.5	Unselected spermatozoa (obtained after two-layer density centrifugation)	10.1	p<0.0001
Perdrix 2011 [19]	20	AB	A single vacuole occupying > 13% of the sperm head area	Yes	50.4	Whole sperm	26.5	p<0.0001
Franco 2012 [20]	66	CMA3	At least one vacuole occupying > 50% of the sperm head area	Yes	53.2	Morphologically normal and vacuole-free	40.3	p<0.0001
Boitrelle 2011 [16]	15	AB	A single vacuole occupying > 25% of the sperm head area	No	36.2	Morphologically normal and vacuole-free	7.6	p<0.0001
Boitrelle In press	15	AB	At least three vacuoles occupying each < 4% of the sperm head area	No	39.8	Morphologically normal and vacuole-free	9.3	p<0.0001

Studies (with sample sizes and methodological details) evaluating the relationship between the presence of vacuoles (or not) and sperm chromatin condensation status. AB: aniline blue staining, CMA3: chromomycin A3 staining. P values in bold type are statistically significant.