Intracytoplasmic sperm injection in cases with history of in vitro fertilization failure

To evaluate the effect of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in the management of cases with a history of conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure.

Two groups of patients, 19 with normal semen parameters and a history of IVF failure (metaphase II oocytes: 0-30 %) and 28 with severe male factor infertility received ICSI technology during the same period. Ovarian stimulation was achieved by conventional procedure. Transvaginal ultrasound-guided oocyte collection was done 35-37 h after human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) injection. Only metaphase II oocytes were selected for microinjection.

Fertilization was achieved with ICSI in all the patients. The fertilization rate (75.6 % +/-21.1 % vs. 73.9 % +/-19.2 %), cleavage rate (85.1 % +/-19.3 % vs. 82.7 % +/-22.1 %), clinical pregnancy rate per embryo transfer cycle (31.6 % vs. 28.6 %) and implantation rate per embryo (15.3 % vs. 14.4 %) did not differ significantly between the two groups.

ICSI is a valuable method for couples with a history of IVF failure. These patients may have a similar ICSI result as in severe male infertility.