Intracytoplasmic sperm injection completely negates the implantation problem associated with conventional fertilization with sperm with low hypo-osmotic swelling test scores as evidenced by evaluating donor-recipient pairs.
OBJECTIVE
To corroborate or refute the claim that intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can overcome the problem found after conventional insemination of oocytes with sperm with low hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) tests of forming embryos with low implantation potential.


METHODS
Matched couple pairs sharing one pool of oocytes were identified where one of the male partners had a low HOS test score and the other one with a normal one. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was always used in those with low HOS test scores (i.e., < 50%) vs ICSI only used for semen abnormalities in the normal HOS group.


RESULTS
There were no differences found in either fertilization rates or clinical or live delivered pregnancy rates or implantation rates between these groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection can completely negate the adverse effect that fertilization with sperm with subnormal HOS scores has on embryo implantation potential.
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, NJ, USA. laurie@ccivf.com
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D010064:Embryo Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055101:Semen Analysis; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic; D013084:Sperm-Ovum Interactions