OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of autoantibodies against spermatozoa present in the semen on the outcome of in vitro fertilization with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratorial data from a six year-period ICSI cycles. Screening for the presence of ASA in the semen, by using t...

BACKGROUND Factors influencing a pregnant woman's decision to accept prenatal testing are largely undefined. Our study aimed to compare the acceptance rate of prenatal diagnosis in women who conceived through IVF or ICSI (cases) with that of women who conceived spontaneously (controls). METHODS Retrospective chart review in Lebanon of all primiparas carrying singletons who were offered prenat...

BACKGROUND The need for effective parameters for selecting the best embryos is paramount when a large number of them are available for transfer. Other studies have reported that transfer of pre-selected embryos, based on cleavage to the 2-cell stage at 25 h and 27 h post-insemination/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), increases implantation and pregnancy rates. We investigated whether ext...

BACKGROUND A low risk of HCV vertical transmission has been reported especially in those born to women with viraemia. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) being an assisted reproduction technique includes procedures that may increase risk of transmission. OBJECTIVE To determine the rate of vertical transmission of HCV to newborns born to HCV positive mothers in ICSI cycles. METHODS In a ...

Background We sought to determine the association between factors that affected clinical pregnancy and live birth rates in patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF) and received intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and/or laser assisted hatching (LAH), or neither. MaterialsAndMethods In this retrospective cohort study, the records of women who underwent IVF with or without ICSI and...

BACKGROUND There have been increasing indications about an epigenetically-based elevated predisposition of assisted reproductive technology (ART) offspring to insulin resistance, which can lead to an unfavorable cardio-metabolic profile in adult life. However, the relevant long-term systematic molecular studies are limited, especially for the IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) method, intr...

BACKGROUND The latest studies reported that local endometrial injury is a useful method to improve the success of IVF-ICSI outcome. OBJECTIVE To assess whether local endometrial injury occurred by Pipelle in the spontaneous cycle could improve implantation rate, cleavage rate, and pregnancy outcome in the subsequent IVF-ICSI cycle in patients who had recurrent IVF failure. MATERIALS AND MET...

Embryos have evolved a remarkable capacity to find implantation site. The impressive navigation ability of natural blastocysts may rely on highly sensitive signals arising from embryos and specialized signal processing strategies in the endometrium. Navigation capabilities may be compromised in ICSI embryos because of altered biochemical signaling. The design and delivery of artificial blastocy...

Micro-assisted fertilization in the form of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has truly revolutionised the treatment options for couples with impaired semen quality, and those with both obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia. In general, the major issues which relate to the success of ICSI are those related to the success of conventional IVF, and the high multiple pregnancy rate rema...

OBJECTIVE To compare prelabour caesarean section (CS) rates in older nulliparous women with a term singleton baby in cephalic presentation conceiving spontaneously and through IVF/ICSI. When the latter women would ask for CS, how willing are gynaecologists to comply with that request? METHODS A population-based retrospective (1995-2009) cohort study, conducted in Northern Belgium. A compariso...