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Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection

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Practical Manual of In Vitro Fertilization

Abstract

Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI) is now a reality in ART practice but still with a lot of questions regarding (1) the terminology of vacuoles, their classification, their location on the sperm head, and their origin and meaning; (2) the application of IMSI instead of in vitro fertilization in cases of unexplained infertility; (3) the age of the woman; and (4) the technical aspects. We have to be aware that this technique is demanding and has to be performed in the best working conditions so as not to impair the oocyte quality. The introduction of IMSI has the advantage that embryologists realize that more attention has to be paid during sperm selection even in case of classical intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). The application of IMSI leads to more and better quality blastocysts and, as consequence, it increases the chances of selecting the proper embryo for transfer with high implantation potential. Even though there is no real proof in the human species on the abnormal outcome generated by spermatozoa carrying vacuoles, a higher and better-resolution technique has to be added as an additional tool for ICSI knowing the possible consequence of sperm DNA damage for offsprings.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IVF Laboratory, IVF Centers Prof. H. Zech, Bregenz, Austria

    P. Vanderzwalmen MSc, Magnus Bach Dip-Biol, Batsuren Baramsai MD, A. Neyer MSc, Delf Schwerda MSc, Astrid Stecher MSc, Barbara Wirleitner PhD, Martin Zintz PhD, Mathias Zech MD & Nicolas H. Zech MD, PhD

  2. IVF Laboratory, Centre Hospitalier Inter Régional Cavell (CHIREC), Bruxelles, Belgium

    Bernard Lejeune MD, PhD & S. Vanderzwalmen BSc

  3. ART Unit, Drouot Laboratory, Paris, France

    Nino Guy Cassuto MD

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  1. P. Vanderzwalmen MSc
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  2. Magnus Bach Dip-Biol
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  12. Mathias Zech MD
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  13. Nicolas H. Zech MD, PhD
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Correspondence to P. Vanderzwalmen MSc .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Scientific and Laboratory Director, Reproductive Biology Associates, Atlanta, 30342, Georgia, USA

    Zsolt Peter Nagy

  2. , Sr. Embryologist, Montreal Reproductive Centre, Montreal, H4A 3J3, Québec, Canada

    Alex C. Varghese

  3. Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Urology, Cleveland Clinic, Euclid Avenue 9500, Cleveland, 44195, Ohio, USA

    Ashok Agarwal

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Vanderzwalmen, P. et al. (2012). Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection. In: Nagy, Z., Varghese, A., Agarwal, A. (eds) Practical Manual of In Vitro Fertilization. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1780-5_26

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-1780-5_26

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