First birth following assisted sperm fusion insemination using sperm bound to zona pellucida

To report a live birth after transfer of a vitrified-warmed blastocyst produced by assisted sperm fusion insemination (ASFI).

Oocyte retrieval and in vitro fertilization (IVF) were performed on a 37-year-old woman. Six hours after IVF, an oocyte exhibited a single polar body and so was defined as an unfertilized oocyte. A motile sperm was collected from the zona pellucida of the unfertilized oocyte by an injection needle. The motile sperm was pressed onto the membrane of the unfertilized oocyte.

Two oocytes were matured and subjected to IVF. One of the 2 oocytes exhibited only one polar body and was defined as an unfertilized oocyte at 6 h after IVF; this oocyte then was subjected to ASFI. Two pronuclei were observed on the next day and cultured to the blastocyst stage. This embryo achieved blastocyst status and was vitrified on day 5. The resulting vitrified-warmed blastocyst was transferred, resulting in pregnancy and subsequent delivery of a healthy boy.

This report describes the first case of a successful birth following transfer of a vitrified-warmed blastocyst produced by ASFI.