Obstetric and neonatal outcome following ICSI with assisted oocyte activation by calcium ionophore treatment

PURPOSE: Calcium ionophore treatment is being used in assisted reproductive technology (ART) for cases with previous low fertilization rate or total absence of fertilization after insemination by intracytoplasmic sperm injection or when a specific indication such as globozoospermia is present. As this technique is more invasive and differs from the physiological process of fertilization, a thorough investigation of the health of the children born following this procedure is required. We intent to report the medical outcome of all children conceived following calcium ionophore treatment in our IVF center.

METHODS: One-armed descriptive study is performed to report the obstetrical and neonatal outcome of children born after using calcium ionophore treatment during the intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure in our center.

RESULTS: A number of 237 cycles were included in this study, with 74 pregnancies reported, from which 47 children (31 singletons and 16 twin children) were born. No major malformations were detected in singletons. In twins, three children were diagnosed with major malformations. Minor malformations were present in seven singletons and in one twin.

CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our results regarding birth characteristics and congenital malformations are within the expected range but, although reassuring, should be interpreted with caution due to the small number of children included.