title: Artificial oocyte activation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review different methods for artificial oocyte activation and its impact on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review.
  
  
  METHODS
  University-based and university-affiliated medical centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ICSI procedure improves fertilization rates in cases of male factor infertility; however, fertilization failure still occurs in 2% to 3% of ICSI cycles. The main cause of failed fertilization is failure to complete oocyte activation. The investigators do not use a variety of mechanical, electrical, and chemical methods to mimic the calcium rise necessary to activate oocytes after ICSI. Chemical activation is the most commonly used method for artificial oocyte activation, resulting in high fertilization rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Artificial oocyte activation (AOA) may be useful in selected patients who have low fertilization potential. Further studies are required to establish the biosafety of AOA, and clinical tests are needed to evaluate the activation potential of semen samples for proper patient selection.
authors.affiliation: Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center, Isfahan, Iran. mh_nasr@med.mui.ac.ir
authors.forename: Mohammad Hossein
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nasr-Esfahani
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Deemeh
authors.forename: Marziyeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tavalaee
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions