Efficiency of hyaluronic acid (HA) sperm selection.

Purpose: Hyaluronic Acid (HA) has a role as "physiologic selector" for spermatozoa prior to intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The objective of this study is to analyze the results achievable by the introduction of a routine HA-ICSI programme.

Methods: We retrospectively observed 293 couples treated with HA-ICSI versus 86 couples treated with conventional PVP-ICSI (historical control group).

Long-term cryostorage does not adversely affect the outcome of oocyte thawing cycles.

This multi-centre study evaluated systematically the influence of the duration of cryostorage on the outcome of thawing cycles when using slow-frozen oocytes. The thawing cycles were retrospectively divided into three main groups based on cryostorage duration: group A, 1-3 months; group B, 4-6 months; and group C, 7-48 months. Group C was subsequently divided into three subgroups: group C1, 7-9 months; group C2, 10-12 months; and group C3, 13-48 months.

Sterilization of liquid nitrogen with ultraviolet irradiation for safe vitrification of human oocytes or embryos.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation for rapid microbial decontamination of liquid nitrogen (LN2).

Design: Basic research.

Setting: Private assisted reproduction center.

Birth of a baby conceived from frozen oocytes of a 40-year-old woman.

The potential, limits and safety of oocyte freezing are still being explored. Female age may play a relevant role in treatment outcome. The present study is the first report of the birth and normal development of a baby conceived from frozen oocytes of a 40-year-old woman.

"Physiologic ICSI": hyaluronic acid (HA) favors selection of spermatozoa without DNA fragmentation and with normal nucleus, resulting in improvement of embryo quality.

Objective: To evaluate the role of hyaluronic acid (HA) for sperm selection before intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Design: Three prospective studies.

Setting: Private assisted reproduction center in Italy.

Freezing within 2 h from oocyte retrieval increases the efficiency of human oocyte cryopreservation when using a slow freezing/rapid thawing protocol with high sucrose concentration.

Background: A number of factors influence the success of oocyte cryopreservation and subsequent ICSI. The aim of the present study is to establish the ideal time, after oocyte retrieval, for human oocyte cryopreservation via slow freezing/rapid thawing protocol with 0.3 M sucrose concentration in cryoprotectant solution (SF/RT 0.

Blastocyst formation, pregnancy, and birth derived from human oocytes cryopreserved for 5 years.

Objective: To report a live birth after the transfer of a single blastocyst derived from a human oocyte cryopreserved for 5 years.

Design: Case report.

Setting: Private assisted reproduction center.