Successful pregnancy and childbirth after intracytoplasmic sperm injection with calcium ionophore oocyte activation in a globozoospermic patient.
OBJECTIVE
To check the effectiveness of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) combined with assisted oocyte activation (AOA) in a globozoospermic patient.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad, Valencia, Spain.


METHODS
A patient with globozoospermia.


METHODS
ICSI was administered in 14 oocytes. ICSI combined with AOA, in which a small amount of calcium was injected followed by calcium ionophore exposure, was done in 9 oocytes.


METHODS
Fertilization rate and embryo quality was assessed in both groups.


RESULTS
Chemical activation increased fertilization rate (55.6% vs. 35.7%) and the number of embryos with less multinucleation on day 2 (0 vs. 60%). Two embryos generated from AOA were transferred into the uterus (on day 3), resulting in a pregnancy and a healthy newborn.


CONCLUSIONS
The AOA with calcium ionophore treatment improved fertilization rate and quality of the embryos, and was found to be an effective method for AOA in this patient with a low fertilization rate after previous ICSI treatment.
Tejera
Alberto
A
Instituto Valenciano de Infertilidad Bilbao, In Vitro Fertilization Laboratory, Vizcaya, Spain. atejera@ivi.es
Mollá
Marta
M
Muriel
Lourdes
L
Remohí
Jose
J
Pellicer
Antonio
A
De Pablo
Jose Luis
JL
D000328:Adult; D053713:Azoospermia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D002118:Calcium / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005303:Fertility Agents, Male / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007476:Ionophores / Q000008:administration & dosage; D050498:Live Birth; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D005303:Fertility Agents, Male; D007476:Ionophores; D002118:Calcium