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Is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Necessary for Couples Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization–Embryo Transfer with Normal Semen Analyses but Failing Hamster Egg Penetration Assays?

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Abstract

Purpose: Our purpose was to assess whether in vitro fertilization (IVF)–embryo transfer (ET) candidate couples with basically normal semen analyses but failing zona-free hamster egg penetration assay (HEPA) scares benefit from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).

Methods: Twenty consecutive IVF candidate couples with normal–borderline semen analyses and failing HEPA scores were recruited. Mature oocytes obtained from each woman were randomly divided between ICSI (group I; n = 126 oocytes) and standard insemination techniques (group II; 138 oocytes). Fertilization (two pronuclei) and cleavage (2–4 cells) rates were assessed for both groups.

Results: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups with respect to (mean ± standard error of the mean) fertilization (group I, 63.1 ± 7.75; group II, 77.8 ± 4.7%) or cleavage (group I, 87.3 ± 2.4%; group II, 91.2 ± 3.5%) rates.

Conclusions: ICSI is not beneficial for IVF-ET when sperm samples demonstrate a failing HEPA score but have normal or minimally compromised semen analysis parameters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reproductive Medicine and Surgery Associates, Beverly Hills, California

    Eric S. Surrey & Mark W. Surrey

  2. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Century City Hospital, Los Angeles, California

    Grace S. Lee & David Hill

  3. Department of Obstetrics–Gynecology, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California

    Mark W. Surrey

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  1. Eric S. Surrey
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  2. Grace S. Lee
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  3. Mark W. Surrey
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  4. David Hill
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Surrey, E.S., Lee, G.S., Surrey, M.W. et al. Is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Necessary for Couples Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization–Embryo Transfer with Normal Semen Analyses but Failing Hamster Egg Penetration Assays?. J Assist Reprod Genet 16, 69–72 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022512705515

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