Laser-assisted ICSI: a novel approach to obtain higher oocyte survival and embryo quality rates
- Resource Type
- Authors
- S. Abdelmassih; Roger Abdelmassih; J. A. Dias; J. Cardoso; Z.P Nagy; V. Abdelmassih
- Source
- Human Reproduction. 17:2694-2699
- Subject
- Adult
Male
Microinjections
medicine.medical_treatment
Biology
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection
Andrology
Embryonic and Fetal Development
Human fertilization
Pregnancy
medicine
Humans
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
Zona pellucida
Microinjection
Zona Pellucida
reproductive and urinary physiology
urogenital system
Lasers
Rehabilitation
Embryogenesis
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Embryo
Embryo Transfer
Embryo, Mammalian
Oocyte
Treatment Outcome
medicine.anatomical_structure
Reproductive Medicine
embryonic structures
Oocytes
Tissue and Organ Harvesting
Female
Follicle Stimulating Hormone
Leuprolide
therapeutics
Embryo quality
- Language
- ISSN
- 1460-2350
BACKGROUND: Degeneration of oocytes occurs even when maximum care is exercised during ICSI, especially when the oolemma is very fragile and/or the zona pellucida is resistant. In order to be able to minimize the risk of degeneration associated with microinjection this study applied a new method: a microhole on the zona pellucida of the oocyte was drilled by laser beam just prior to ICSI to permit the penetration of the microneedle without any trauma. METHODS: A total of 32 patients (32 cycles) who had one or more previously failed ICSI cycles with a high degeneration rate of oocytes (>20%) were included in the study. Oocytes of the same patients were randomly divided into the study group [laser-assisted ICSI (LA-ICSI)] and the control group [conventional ICSI (C-ICSI)]. The outcomes of the cycles were compared and analysed. RESULTS: After LA-ICSI compared with C-ICSI, survival rates of oocytes were 99.6 and 84% (P < 0.0001), fertilization rates were 76.6 and 68.6% (not significant) and embryo development rates (≥6 cells on day 3) were 76.5 and 57.3% (P 0.0024) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Creating a microhole on the zona pellucida of the oocyte by laser beam prior to ICSI provides a less traumatic penetration of the injection needle into the ooplasm and results in lower degeneration and higher embryo development rates than C-ICSI in patients with fragile oocytes.