A prospective study on oocyte survival rate after ICSI: influence of injection technique and morphological features.

PurposeTo determine the influence of technical pitfalls and oocyte morphology on survival rate and cleavage behavior after ICSI.MethodsA total of 2210 injection procedures was examined for morphological and technical deviations. Survival rate and cleavage behavior were evaluated.ResultsIn 77.8% of all cases ICSI was unsuspicous. Out of 491 deviations from optimal injection deep penetration of the oocyte and abundant presence of cumulus cells showed significant correlation with degeneration rate (p < 0.001). Morphological anomalies associated with the periphery of the oocyte were rather related to degeneration than cytoplasmic anomalies (p < 0.001). Early embryonic development was not impaired by technical or morphological parameters.ConclusionsTo conclude, these prospective data may be of prognostic value in regard of the number of embryos available for transfer and may help to improve treatment outcome.