title: Oocyte activation by calcium ionophore and congenital birth defects: a retrospective cohort study.
abstract: To evaluate the safety of oocyte activation by calcium ionophore in cases of failed fertilization after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedure with respect to birth defects.
  
  
  
  A retrospective cohort of pregnancies achieved by oocyte activation with calcium ionophore after ICSI (ICSI-Ca) and routine ICSI between the years 2006 and 2014.
  
  
  
  Not applicable.
  
  
  
  The cohort included a total of 793 pregnancies: 66 (8%) were lost to follow up and 49 (6%) were ongoing pregnancies at the time of data collection. Out of the 678 available cases for analysis, 595 treatments were ICSI alone (88%) and 83 were ICSI-Ca (12%).
  
  
  
  None.
  
  
  
  Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes including birth defects were compared.
  
  
  
  On the basis of a cohort of 595 ICSI pregnancies and 83 ICSI-Ca pregnancies, we found no difference in birth defects rate for singletons or for twins. Additionally, no significant difference was found between defect type (chromosomal aberration or structural malformations) and malformation type (heart, urogenital, and limb), between the ICSI and ICSI-Ca groups. Moreover, no significant differences were found regarding birth weight, gestational week at time of delivery, and fetal gender for singleton or twin pregnancies.
  
  
  
  Ca ionophore oocyte activation should be considered as a legitimate option for cases of failed or low fertilization by ICSI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel. Electronic address: millerne@me.com.
authors.forename: Netanella
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel; Sakler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Tal
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Biron-Shental
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel; Sakler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Genetic Institute, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel.
authors.forename: Rivka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sukenik-Halevy
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel; Sakler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Anat Hershko
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Klement
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel; Sakler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Reuven
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharony
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar-Saba, Israel; Sakler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Assuta Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: Arie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berkovitz
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D000328:Adult; D061207:Calcium Ionophores / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007246:Infertility / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D059285:Pregnancy, Twin; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020554:Sperm Injections, Intracytoplasmic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D061207:Calcium Ionophores
keywords: AOA; ICSI; Intracytoplasmic sperm injection; artificial oocyte activation; congenital defects