Application of the Fertilase-laser system versus the conventional mechanical method to immobilize spermatozoa for intracytoplasmic sperm injection. A randomized controlled trial.
A randomized controlled trial was set up to test the hypothesis that the fertilization rate of oocytes after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is higher after immobilization of the spermatozoa with the Fertilase-laser system technology than after immobilization of the spermatozoa with the conventional mechanical method. Metaphase II oocytes were injected with spermatozoa that were immobilized with the conventional mechanical method (group A, n=177) or with spermatozoa that were immobilized with the Fertilase-laser system technology (group B, n=179). The fertilization rate per successfully injected oocyte was comparable in group A (62.6%; 92/147) and in group B (56.3%; 89/158)(p=0.3). No difference could be observed in fertilization rates of oocytes injected with spermatozoa that were immobilized with the Fertilase-laser system technology compared to spermatozoa immobilized with the conventional mechanical method.