Oocyte yield and dysmorphisms as indicators of biological efficiency in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles.

The aim of the study was to examine whether oocyte yield could be an indicator of morphological oocyte quality and biological competency in patients younger than 36 years undergoing controlled ovarian stimulation (COS). Three hundred and thirty-five intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures were arbitrarily subdivided into five groups according to the number of retrieved oocytes. Patients' demographic characteristics and treatment success were compared among the groups.

Assisted reproductive technology outcomes in azoospermic men: 10 years of experience with surgical sperm retrieval.

An azoospermic man suffers from an absence of sperm in the ejaculate and this condition is present in about 10% of infertile men. Obstructive azoospermia (OA) is characterized by an occlusion or partial absence of the reproductive tract with the presence of normal spermatogenesis. On the other hand, non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is characterized by impaired spermatogenesis.

Metaphase II human oocyte morphology: contributing factors and effects on fertilization potential and embryo developmental ability in ICSI cycles.

Morphologic abnormalities in the oocyte are relevant for determining its developmental fate and could be related to controlled ovarian stimulation protocols and ovarian response. The contributing factors of oocyte dysmorphism incidence and its effects on fertilization potential and embryo development are the object of discussion in this study.

Outcome of ICSI using zona pellucida-bound spermatozoa and conventionally selected spermatozoa.

This study aimed to investigate whether the spermatozoa-zona pellucida binding test is able to select spermatozoa with higher fertilization potential and higher rate of successful embryo development. This prospective study was performed with metaphase II (MII) oocytes retrieved from couples undergoing intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles. For each patient, half of the MII oocytes were injected using a routine ICSI method (control group, n = 194) while the other half were injected with previously zona pellucida-bound spermatozoa (ZP-binding group, n = 194).

Zona pellucida birefringence score and meiotic spindle visualization in relation to embryo development and ICSI outcomes.

The meiotic spindle and the zona pellucida exhibit molecular order when imaged with polarized optics. This study aimed to investigate possible factors contributing to the zona pellucida birefringence score and meiotic spindle visualization, and to evaluate whether these structures may predict intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes. Oocytes were divided into groups according to zona pellucida birefringence and meiotic spindle visualization.

Poor ovarian response in patients younger than 35 years: is it also a qualitative decline in ovarian function?

Objective: To investigate whether poor response to controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) is due to a qualitative decline in ovarian function.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 436 patients younger than 35-years old, undergoing COS for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Patients with four or fewer MII oocytes after COS (poor-responder group, PR, n = 52) were age-matched with normoresponder patients (NR, n = 364).