Artificial oocyte activation with calcium ionophore A23187 in intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles using surgically retrieved spermatozoa.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of artificial oocyte activation (AOA) on intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles using surgically retrieved sperm.

Methods: Laboratory study. Methods: Fertility/assisted fertilization center. Methods: Couples undergoing surgical sperm retrieval for ICSI (n = 204). Methods: Application of calcium ionophore A23187 for AOA. Methods: Cycles were divided into experimental groups according to the origin of the sperm used for injection and the type of azoospermia: [1] testicular sperm aspiration in nonobstructive-azoospermic patients (TESA-NOA group, n = 58), [2] TESA in obstructive-azoospermic patients (TESA-OA group, n = 48), [3] and percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration in obstructive-azoospermic patients (PESA-OA, n = 98). For each experimental group, cycles where AOA was applied (subgroup: activation) were compared with cycles in which AOA was not applied (subgroup: control). The fertilization, high-quality embryo, implantation, and pregnancy rates were compared among the subgroups.

Results: For patients undergoing TESA, AOA did not improve ICSI outcomes for either type of azoospermia. However, for cases in which the injected sperm were retrieved from the epididymis, a statistically significantly increased rate of high-quality embryos was observed with AOA.

Conclusions: Artificial oocyte activation may improve ICSI outcomes in azoospermic patients when epididymal, but not testicular spermatozoa, are injected.