Research Article
Volkan Baltaci, Yasemin Aktas,
Abstract
Objective: To assess the value of the electrical activation of oocytes in ICSI patients with previous limited fertilization outcomes. Design: Prospective randomized study. Settings: Clinical IVF laboratory. Patient(s): A hundred and seven couples undergoing ICSI with possible low fertilization outcomes. Intervention(s): TESE, TESA, ICSI with Piezoelectric Activation Main Outcome Measure(s): Fertilization, clinical pregnancy rates, embryo grades. Result(s): Patients were subdivided into six study groups. In Group I, testicular elongated spermatids were used and 27.9% fertilization, 2.3% clinical pregnancy rates were evaluated. In testicular immotile spermatozoa injected group (Group II), 56.5% fertilization and 50% clinical pregnancy rates were obtained. 66.7% fertilization and 30%clinical pregnancy rates were achieved in Group III with testicular motile spermatozoa. In Group IV, patients with severe oligozoospermia, 64% fertilization and 28.6% clinical pregnancy rates were achieved. Group V included patients with total immotile spermatozoa and fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates were 50% and 57.1% respectively. In patients with history of low fertilization rate (Group VI), 38.7% fertilization and 19% clinical pregnancy rates were obtained. Conclusion(s): Piezoelectric stimulation can be used for patients with low fertilization rates and total immotile spermatozoa; as we detected an improvement in the fertilization and clinical pregnancy rates of these patients.