Performing ICSI with commercial microinjection pipettes enhanced pregnancy rates.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Many technical factors can affect intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) outcomes. The role of the injection micropipette could be of vital importance in ICSI programs. The main goal was to compare ICSI pregnancy outcomes between commercial and home-made injection micropipettes in a large population with male factor infertility.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five-hundred and eleven ICSI cycles with severe male factor were included in this retrospective study. ICSI cycles were divided into two groups: A (home-made micropipettes, n = 267) and B (commercial micropipettes, n = 244). Rates of fertilization, embryo formation, and chemical and clinical pregnancies were compared between the groups. The independent samples t-test, chi-square test, and Fisher's exact test were used, whenever appropriate, for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: A total of 3621 MII oocytes were retrieved, of which 2003 were fertilized. The rate of normal fertilization was significantly higher in group A (57.9%) compared to group B (52.5%). However, the rate of embryo formation showed an increase in group B compared to group A (90.4% and 85.9%, respectively, P = 0.002). In addition, the clinical pregnancy outcomes improved in group B.

CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that clinical pregnancy improves when commercial injection micropipettes are used in ICSI programs.