Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is not associated with poor outcome in couples with normal semen parameters and previous idiopathic fertilization failure in conventional in vitro fertilization

In this study, we compared the results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients with normal semen parameters and a history of failed fer tilization with conventional IVF (study group) and in patients with male fa ctor infertility (control group). Patient and cycle characteristics were si milar in both groups. The mean number of retrieved and metaphase II oocytes , fertilized oocytes, embryos developed, embryos transferred and the number of cycles with fertilization failure also did not differ between groups. A lthough differences were not statistically significant, pregnancy rate (56. 3% vs. 31.5%), implantation rate (14.2% vs. 12%) and ongoing pregnancy rate (37.5% vs. 17.7%) per embryo transfer were higher in the study group than the ones in the control group. We concluded that previous idiopathic fertil ization failure with conventional IVF is not associated with poor outcome i n subsequent ICSI treatment. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rig hts reserved.