This manuscript explores the intricacies and nuances of the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) procedure, drawing on insights from three decades of experience at a specialized center managing numerous cases of male factor infertility. Our center is comprised of an embryology laboratory, an andrology and assisted fertilization laboratory, and a Preimplantation Genetic Testing for Aneuploidy (PGT-A) laboratory, each fostering specialized expertise independently. Collaboration among these laboratories, alongside reproductive physicians and urologists, ensures comprehensive feedback and optimal care for patients undergoing infertility treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssessing fertilized human embryos is crucial for in vitro fertilization, a task being revolutionized by artificial intelligence. Existing models used for embryo quality assessment and ploidy detection could be significantly improved by effectively utilizing time-lapse imaging to identify critical developmental time points for maximizing prediction accuracy. Addressing this, we develop and compare various embryo ploidy status prediction models across distinct embryo development stages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: To identify germline mutations related to azoospermia etiology and reproductive potential of surgically retrieved spermatozoa, and to investigate the feasibility of predicting seminiferous tubule function of nonobstructive azoospermic men by transcriptomic profiling of ejaculates.
Materials And Methods: Sperm specimens were obtained from 30 men (38.4 ± 6 years) undergoing epididymal sperm aspiration for obstructive azoospermia (OA, n = 19) acquired by vasectomy, or testicular biopsy for nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA, n = 11).
Purpose: We evaluate microscopic (micro) testicular sperm extraction (TESE) timing relative to oocyte retrieval on intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcome.
Materials And Methods: Couples with nonobstructive azoospermia who underwent intracytoplasmic sperm injection with freshly retrieved spermatozoa were analyzed based on whether micro-TESE was performed at least 1 day prior to oocyte retrieval (TESE-day-before group) or on the day of oocyte retrieval (TESE-day-of group). Embryology and clinical outcomes were compared.
To understand the impact of sperm speed as they swim against the flow on fertilization rates, we created conditions similar to the female reproductive tract (FRT) on a microfluidic platform for sperm selection. Selected sperm were evaluated based on early development of fertilized embryos. Bovine and human spermatozoa were selected at various fluid flow rates within the device.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To evaluate the degree of agreement of embryo ranking between embryologists and eight artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.
Design: Retrospective study.
Patient(s): A total of 100 cycles with at least eight embryos were selected from the Weill Cornell Medicine database.
Fertility preservation is a growing field in reproductive medicine that may raise ethical questions. Preservation of fertility must be discussed with the patient if gonadotoxic treatment is required, whether in the case of benign or malignant pathology, or in the management of transgender identity. As a result, surgery or chemotherapy that has fewer adverse impacts on fertility should be proposed if this does not alter the prognosis of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAssessing fertilized human embryos is crucial for in vitro-fertilization (IVF), a task being revolutionized by artificial intelligence and deep learning. Existing models used for embryo quality assessment and chromosomal abnormality (ploidy) detection could be significantly improved by effectively utilizing time-lapse imaging to identify critical developmental time points for maximizing prediction accuracy. Addressing this, we developed and compared various embryo ploidy status prediction models across distinct embryo development stages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine the prevalence of sperm suitable for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in fresh ejaculated semen samples provided by men scheduled for a microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) procedure. Secondary objectives included an evaluation of the effect of a short abstinence period on semen quality and ICSI outcomes for men with cryptozoospermia.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
The human sperm centrosome, comprising the two morphologically distinct centrioles and associated pericentriolar materials, plays a crucial role in fertilization and early embryonic development after fertilization. Once inside the oocyte, the sperm centrosome serves as a microtubule-organizing center, orchestrating mitotic spindle formation, chromosome segregation, and syngamy. Abnormalities of the sperm centrosome can lead to abnormal embryonic development and embryonic chromosomal instability, and are associated with pregnancy loss.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOocyte-mediated somatic cell haploidization is a process in which a diploid cell halves its chromosomal content by segregating its homologue within the ooplasm. Replacing the donor oocyte nucleus with a patient's female diploid somatic nucleus can generate patient-genotyped oocytes. Insemination of these resulting constructs enables their activation and induces a reductive meiotic division, haploidizing the diploid female donor cell that can subsequently support syngamy with the male genome and create a zygote.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To treat couples with total fertilization failure (TFF) based on a combined oocyte- and sperm-related oocyte activation deficiency by optimizing oocyte response to chemical activation with calcium ionophore.
Design: Case report.
Setting: Tertiary Hospital.
The desire to have offspring of a specific sex has a long history but has been particularly present with the appearance of assisted reproduction. However, embryo selection raises ethical concerns. Thus, several techniques to select sex-specific spermatozoa have been proposed but carry limitations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To obtain de novo male gametes capable of inducing full preimplantation blastocyst development using a novel three-dimensional (3D) culture system.
Design: Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were spherified by plunging in sodium alginate followed by calcium chloride, delineating a 3D environment that simulates the seminiferous tubule. As a control, mESCs cultured on two-dimensional plates were used.
Objective: To analyze the use of services regarding fertility preservation (FP) in cancer patients at a single institution.
Design: A retrospective cohort study.
Setting: Academic medical center.
Background: One challenge in the field of in-vitro fertilisation is the selection of the most viable embryos for transfer. Morphological quality assessment and morphokinetic analysis both have the disadvantage of intra-observer and inter-observer variability. A third method, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A), has limitations too, including its invasiveness and cost.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe activation, growth, development, and maturation of oocytes is a complex process that is coordinated not just between multiple cell types of the ovary but also across multiple points of control within the hypothalamic/pituitary/ovarian circuit. Within the ovary, multiple specialized cell types grow in close association with the oocyte within the ovarian follicles. The biology of these cells has been well described at the later stages, when they are easily recovered as byproducts of assisted reproductive treatments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ovarian reserve is finite and begins declining from its peak at mid-gestation until only residual follicles remain as women approach menopause. Reduced ovarian reserve, or its extreme form, premature ovarian insufficiency, stems from multiple factors, including developmental, genetic, environmental exposures, autoimmune disease, or medical/surgical treatment. In many cases, the cause remains unknown and resulting infertility is not ultimately addressed by assisted reproductive technologies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Spermatozoa with the highest motility retain a superior genomic integrity, and elevated sperm chromatin fragmentation (SCF) has been linked to a lower ability of the conceptus to develop and implant. Therefore, the utilization of a sperm selection method, such as microfluidic sperm selection (MFSS), is capable of reducing the SCF by yielding the most motile fraction of spermatozoa with the highest embryo developmental competence. What remains unclear, however, is the causal mechanism that links SCF to an impaired embryo development.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To identify specific germline mutations related to sperm reproductive competence, in couples with unexplained infertility.
Design: In this retrospective study, couples were divided according to whether they had successful intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes (fertile) or not (infertile). Ancillary sperm function tests were performed on ejaculates, and whole exome sequencing was performed on spermatozoal DNA.
Objective: To estimate the live-birth rate per in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle and after cumulative infertility treatment among patients with anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) levels of 0.3 ng/mL or lower.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a single academic center of patients with infertility and AMH levels of 0.