Performing ICSI using an injection pipette with the smallest possible inner diameter and a long taper increases normal fertilization rate, decreases incidence of degeneration and tripronuclear zygotes, and enhances embryo development.

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy of two types of injection pipette used for ICSI, one with a larger (5-7 microns) inner diameter and a shorter taper with that inner diameter, and another with the smallest (3-5 microns) possible inner diameter and a longer taper with that inner diameter.

METHODS

Retrieved oocytes at metaphase II stage were injected using one of two types of injection pipette, in 33 and 94 cycles, respectively, in a total of 127 cycles in 108 patients.

RESULTS

In comparison to the injection pipette with a larger (5-7 microns) inner diameter and a shorter taper with that inner diameter, the injection pipette with the smallest (3-5 microns) possible inner diameter and a longer taper with that inner diameter increased normal fertilization rate ((70 +/- 3.6)% vs. (86 +/- 2.2)%; P = .001; mean +/- SEM); decreased the incidence of degeneration ((14 +/- 2.4)% vs. (5 +/- 1.4)%; P = .001) and tripronuclear zygotes ((1.0 +/- 0.35)% vs. (0.1 +/- 0.21)%; P = .03); increased Day-2 diploid embryos ((69 +/- 3.7)% vs. (85 +/- 2.2)%; P = .001) and good-quality Day-2 diploid embryos ((67 +/- 4.0)% vs. (79 +/- 2.4)%; P = .03), all per injected oocyte; and increased the number of blastomeres per good-quality Day-2 diploid embryo ((3.0 +/- 0.21 vs. 3.8 +/- 0.12; P = .0003).

CONCLUSIONS

Performing ICSI using an injection pipette with the smallest (3-5 microns) possible inner diameter and a longer taper with that inner diameter maximizes normal fertilization rate, minimizes the incidence of postinjection degeneration and tripronuclear zygotes, and enhances embryo development.