Artificial Oocyte Activation: Methods and Clinical Efficiency after Intra-Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection

Abstract

Background: Failed fertilization is a rare event occurring after intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Failure of oocyte activation considered as main reason for failed fertilization. For overcome of failed fertilization, Artificial Oocyte Activation (AOA) techniques after ICSI are applied and improved. This review article is a brief introduction to oocyte activation, followed by description of the methods for AOA and related concern regarding AOA. Also, the clinical effect of using AOA in different type of infertile individual was considered. Methods: Literature search in Entrez PubMed as well as other data sources from1930 to 2012 was done. Findings: Mechanical, electrical and chemical methods mainly used for AOA and chemical activation methods as the most commonly were performed. Also, using AOA after ICSI, fertilization rate was increased and possibly achieved pregnancy in some infertile individuals. Conclusion: AOA in some type of infertile individual increased fertilization rate and achieving pregnancy. Although, some techniques may be useful for predict and assessment of semen fertilization potential, but further studies are required for establishing method of this purpose.

Keywords

• Intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
• Failed fertilization
• Oocyte activation