Analysis of clinical outcomes with respect to spermatozoan origin after artificial oocyte activation with a calcium ionophore.

Purpose: Fertilization failures have occurred repeatedly in reproductive centers after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and artificial oocyte activation (AOA) has been used to prevent it. This study was performed to investigate whether spermatozoan origin influences clinical outcomes of AOA with a calcium ionophore.

Methods: A total of 185 ICSI cycles with a history of no or low fertilization was included in this retrospective study. The outcomes of AOA after ICSI were compared with ejaculated-normal, ejaculated-oligo-astheno-terato or extracted-testicular spermatozoa.

Results: There were significant differences between the previous standard ICSI cycles and AOA cycles in the rate of fertilization and clinical outcomes among cases with different sperm origins. Thirty-eight healthy babies (20 singles and 18 twins, 29 cycles) were successfully delivered, and no congenital birth defects were observed.

Conclusions: Most patients with a no or low fertilization history obtained an increased fertilization rate and a positive clinical outcome with AOA regardless of the origin of spermatozoa.