The impact of examining the meiotic spindle by polarization microscopy on assisted reproduction outcomes.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of submitting oocytes to polarization microscopy (PM) before intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).


METHODS
Retrospective observational study.


METHODS
University hospital in Brazil.


METHODS
Couples undergoing ICSI.


METHODS
PM before ICSI (PM group) compared with no PM before ICSI (No-PM group)


METHODS
Fertilization and cleavage rates, formation of top-quality embryos (TQEs), and implantation, clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, and live-birth rates.


RESULTS
The PM group consisted of 1,000 consecutive oocytes from 201 couples submitted to PM during the year of 2008. The No-PM group consisted of 1,400 oocytes from 249 couples: 700 consecutive oocytes were retrieved before we started using PM and 700 consecutive oocytes were retrieved after we stopped using PM. In the PM group, we observed an increased fertilization rate (79.7% vs. 72.5%, PM group vs. No-PM group, respectively) but reduced cleavage rate (86.2% vs. 92.5%) and TQE formation (33.1% vs. 49.9%). Implantation (18.7% vs. 20.6%), clinical pregnancy (31.8% vs. 33.3%), miscarriage (21.9% vs. 15.7%), and live-birth (24.9% vs. 28.1%) rates were not significantly different between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Use of PM was associated with increased fertilization rate but reduced cleavage rate and TQE formation; no significant difference was observed for implantation, clinical pregnancy, or live-birth rates.
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Maria C
MC
Picinato
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development, Hormones and Women's Health, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; School of Ultrasonography and Medical Recycling of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Wellington P
WP
Martins
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Roberta C
RC
Giorgenon
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Camila K B
CK
Santos
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development, Hormones and Women's Health, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Rui A
RA
Ferriani
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development, Hormones and Women's Health, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.
Paula A A S
PA
Navarro
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; National Institute of Science and Technology, National Counsel of Technological and Scientific Development, Hormones and Women's Health, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: anasars@fmrp.usp.br.
Ana C J
AC
de Sá Rosa-e-Silva
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008859:Microscopy, Polarization / Q000379:methods; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate / Q000639:trends; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000502:physiology*
Oocytes; assisted reproductive techniques; comparative study; polarization microscopy