Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI), a modification of ICSI procedure, evaluates motile sperm organellar morphology by magnifying the sample >6000 times with a high power microscope, enhanced by digital imaging. Several studies have demonstrated that IMSI, compared to ICSI, improves treatment outcomes, including the rate of implantation, pregnancy, and live birth. Now, a Brazilian research team reports similar outcomes, in terms of fertilization rate, embryo cleavage rate, and day 2 embryo quality, with both the conventional and modified ICSI procedures. However, the scientists did not rule out the possibility of IMSI positively influencing the late paternal effects. The study results have been published online in the European Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology. Continue Reading

Sperm banking has been recognized as an effective strategy to circumvent iatrogenic infertility and also retain the reproductive potential of adolescent and young adult males undergoing cancer therapy. However, the effect of long-term cryopreservation on the fertilization potential of sperm has been contentious. Now, a study performed by a group of Israeli researchers rules out any negative influence of prolonged storage in liquid nitrogen on the progressive motility concentration (PMC) of sperm. The results are published in the online issue of the journal Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

Any therapeutic intervention in reproductive biology must ensure complete protection of biological materials against a wide range of microorganisms. Liquid nitrogen (LN) used for cryostorage collects particulate contaminants from the atmosphere or container surface over a period of time, which could be a potential source of pathogenic microbes, including herpes, papova, hepatitis, and vesicular stomatitis virus. A new study suggests that storage of vitrified oocytes using the vapor-phase nitrogen systems serve as a safer alternative to the traditional LN storage tank, as it avoids the risk of cross-contamination, apart from retaining the developmental potential of these oocytes. The findings of the prospective randomized trial have been published in the latest issue of Fertility and Sterility. Continue Reading

A new study reports that SpermCheck® Fertility (ContraVac), a simple, inexpensive, quick, and accurate immunochromatographic diagnostic test may enable men to assess their sperm count in the privacy of their homes. The device, touted to be the first home sperm test device, may aid couples planning for conception to check if the male partner requires subsequent comprehensive fertility status evaluation. The findings have been published in the online issue of the journal, Human Reproduction. Continue Reading

Written by Professor Semra Kahraman

Higher rate of multiple pregnancies is still a major problem in IVF conceptions. Therefore, a primary goal of current assisted reproductive technology is to improve embryo implantation and pregnancy rates while avoiding the risk of higher order pregnancies. The solution is definitely based on the ability to identify the best and most viable embryos using a highly efficient selection procedure. New, non-invasive analytic spectrophotometric tests, including Raman and near-infrared (NIR) techniques, have been introduced to choose viable embryos, as an alternative to the current approach of subjective microscopy-based morphological assessment. Continue Reading

The correlation of antral follicle count (AFC), one of the sonographic parameters considered in ovarian reserve tests (ORTs), with the ovarian response to stimulation is quite well established. However, there is lack of consensus on the size as well as the minimum number of antral follicles required to reflect the optimal ovarian response with regard to successful ART outcome. But in a new, prospective study published online in Human Reproduction, it has been reported that assessing antral follicles using the sono-automatic volume calculation (SonoAVC™) algorithm may offer substantial independent predictive value for pregnancy after IVF. Continue Reading