EFFECT OF OOCYTE ACTIVATION WITH CALCIUM IONOPHORE ON ICSI OUTCOMES IN PATIENTS WITH PREVIOUS FERTILIZATION FAILURE.

Abstract

Conference: 72nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, ASRM 2016 Salt Lake City, UT, United States. Conference Start: 20161015 Conference End: 20161019. Conference Publication. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficiency of chemical oocyte activation with calcium ionophore on fertilization and pregnancy outcomes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients with previous fertlization failure. DESIGN: Prospective controlled study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and eight patients with history of previous fertilization failure undergoing ICSI treatment with long agonist protocol were randomly divided into two groups: group A (n�54) and group B (n�54). A total of 756 metaphase II (MII) oocytes were retrieved . In the oocytes of\ group A(n�350 oocyte), routine ICSI was applied; while oocytes in group B (n�406 oocyte) were entered in culture medium supplemented with 5 mM calcium ionophore (A23187) for 10 minutes and then washed at least five times with MOPS solution immediately after ICSI. In both groups, the fertilization was evaluated after 16-18 hours. RESULTS: The number of fertilized oocytes and embryos obtained were significantly different between two groups (p�<0.001*). Fertilization rate was significantly higher in group B -where calcium ionophore was applied-compared to group A-control group-(32.2% vs. 9.1%, respectively, p�0.01*). Cleavage rate also was significantly higher in group B compared to group A (26.7% vs 6.25% respectively, p�0.028*). Implantation rate was significantly higher in group B than in group A (17.64% vs. 2.41% respectively, p�0.035*).Pregnancy rate also was significantly higher in group B than in group A (21% vs. 3.7% respectively, p�0.042*). CONCLUSIONS: Chemical oocyte activation with calcium ionophore resulted in a significant improvement in fertilization, cleavage, implantation and pregnancy rates after ICSI in infertile patients with previous fertilization failure.