Clin Exp Reprod Med.  2011 Sep;38(3):148-152. 10.5653/cerm.2011.38.3.148.

Efficiency of laser-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection in a human assisted reproductive techniques program

• Choi KH
• Lee JH
• Yang YH
• Yoon TK
• Lee DR
• Lee WS

• KMID: 1973531
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2011.38.3.148

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Laser-assisted intracytoplasmic sperm injection (LA-ICSI), also known as micro-opening or thinning of the zona pellucida (ZP) prior to ICSI, may help to reduce mechanical damage to the oocyte during the procedure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate and analyze the efficacy of our institutional LA-ICSI program, which features laser-assisted ZP thinning prior to ICSI, in comparison with conventional ICSI (C-ICSI), performed on patients with different clinical characteristics.
METHODS
Patients undergoing a total of 212 ICSI cycles were randomly divided into an LA-ICSI group (106 cycles) and a conventional ICSI group (106 cycles). To reduce tissue damage, we thinned the ZP by approximately 70%, using a laser, before ICSI. Patients thus treated formed the LA-ICSI group. Comparisons included the morphological quality of transferred embryos, blastocyst development of the remaining embryos, and clinical pregnancy, in terms of ICSI method and patient characteristics.
RESULTS
Fertilization, development of remaining embryos, and pregnancy rate were significantly higher in the LA-ICSI group compared with the C-ICSI group. Fertilization, embryonic development, and the pregnancy rate were all improved in younger patients (<38 years of age) and in those who underwent a low number of IVF-ET attempts (<3 trials). In addition, the pregnancy rate was increased in older patients.
CONCLUSION
LA-ICSI may be useful in improving the chance of pregnancy in all ICSI patients.

Keyword

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection; Laser-assisted Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection; In Vitro Fertilization-embryo Transfer; Zona Pellucida Thinning; Clinical Outcome; Human

MeSH Terms

Blastocyst
Embryonic Development
Embryonic Structures
Female
Fertilization
Humans
Oocytes
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Rate
Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic
Zona Pellucida