title: Use of a modified intracytoplasmic sperm injection technique to overcome sperm-borne and oocyte-borne oocyte activation failures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine whether sperm-borne and oocyte-borne oocyte activation failures can be overcome by mechanical means that entail modifying the ICSI technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case report series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Private clinics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six infertile couples undergoing ICSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard ICSI and modified ICSI based on mechanical manipulation that facilitated entry of calcium into the oocyte.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fertilization rate and pregnancy outcome.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In three cases of sperm-borne and three cases of oocyte-borne oocyte activation deficiencies, the modified ICSI technique enabled normal fertilization and development of embryos with good morphology. In terms of fertilization, the efficacy of modified ICSI was similar to use of a calcium ionophore, without producing extensive embryo fragmentation during postfertilization development. Term pregnancies resulting in the birth of normal children were achieved with the modified ICSI technique in five cases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sperm-borne and oocyte-borne oocyte activation failures can be overcome by modifying the ICSI technique. The modification obviates the need to use insufficiently tested and potentially harmful drugs.
authors.affiliation: MAR&Gen Molecular Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, Granada, Spain.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tesarik
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rienzi
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ubaldi
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mendoza
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greco
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods*; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome