Efficacy of Artificial Oocyte Activation in Improving the Reproductive Outcome in Poor Responders: A Single Centre Cohort Study

Balpreet Kaur; Sonia Malik; Ved Prakash; Vandana Bhatia; Deepu Gupta

doi:10.18502/jfrh.v17i1.11977

Balpreet Kaur Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Bathinda, Punjab, India
Sonia Malik Southend Fertility & IVF, New Delhi, India
Ved Prakash Southend Fertility & IVF, New Delhi, India
Vandana Bhatia Southend Fertility & IVF, New Delhi, India
Deepu Gupta Southend Fertility & IVF, New Delhi, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jfrh.v17i1.11977

Keywords: Calcium Ionophore; Poseidon Criteria; Bologna Classification; Intra cytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)

Abstract

Objective: Achieving pregnancy in poor ovarian response patients is a challenge. Failed fertilization after ICSI, despite normal semen parameters is due to defects in oocyte activation. In-vitro activation of oocytes using Ca⁺² agents can be useful in increasing the fertilization rates in these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of artificial oocyte activation by calcium ionophores in poor responders in improving fertilization, cleavage, implantation and clinical pregnancy rates.

Materials and methods: This is a prospective, cohort study conducted on 120 patients having poor ovarian response, (POSEIDON criteria) undergoing in-vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF/ICSI) treatment at Southend Fertility and IVF, New Delhi from 1^st August 2019 to 31^stMarch 2020. Exclusion criterion was patients with partners with abnormal semen parameters. After OPU patients were randomized into two groups, study group (n=50) underwent ICSI-AOA (ICSI followed by artificial oocyte activation) using calcium ionophore- GM508 Cult-Active Solution) while the controls (n=57) were subjected to ICSI only.

Results: Comparison of ICSI-AOA and ICSI groups showed: (i) number of fertilized oocytes - 2.42 vs. 2.16, p = 0.049 (ii) No. of cleavage stage embryos 2.32 vs. 1.96, p = 0.008 (iii) No. of grade A embryos 1.52 vs. 1.04, p = 0.009 (iv) fertilization rate - 89.00% vs. 83.04%, p = 0.093 (v) cleavage rate - 96.33% vs. 92.55%, p = 0.165 (vi) implantation rate - 27.14% vs. 11.74%, p = 0.098 (vii) clinical pregnancy rate - 34.3% vs. 20.5%, p = 0.167.

Conclusion: The number of fertilized oocytes, grade A embryos and cleavage stage embryos formed after ICSI-AOA were statistically significantly more than ICSI. ICSI-AOA has not shown improvement in fertilization, cleavage, implantation and clinical pregnancy rate. From the present study the conclusive evidence cannot be drawn due to small sample size hence further studies are needed on a larger population.