Evidence that Intracytoplasmk Sperm Injection (ICSI) May Produce Embryos Less Likely to Implant

摘要

The advent of ICSI has revolutionized the field of infertility allowing sperm that previously were incapable of fertilizing the egg to now make that possible. The policy of some in vitro fertilization centers is to extend the use of this procedure even with sperm that would normally seem likely to fertilize because of the uncommon but possible circumstance of failure to fertilize. The present study evaluated whether ICSI may lead to lower pregnancy and implantation rates because possibly the zona pellucida can select the proper sperm better than the embryologist. The retrospective study did in fact show a higher pregnancy and implantation rate with conventional oocyte insemination vs. ICSI. This adverse event was not compensated by a much superior fertilization rate or lower failed fertilization rate with ICSI.