Efficacy of artificial oocyte activation in patients with embryo developmental problems: a sibling oocyte control study

Purpose To explore whether artificial oocyte activation (AOA) can improve embryo developmental potentiality and pregnancy outcomes for patients with a history of embryo developmental problem. Methods This was a retrospective study and candidate patients with embryo development problems were collected. A total of 1422 MII eggs from the enrolled 140 patients were randomized divided equally into 2 groups, half for the AOA group (AOA), and the rest of sibling mature eggs for the control group (non-AOA). The patients were further divided into two subgroups: (1) the rate of good-quality day 3 embryos was 0% (group 1, n = 66); (2) the rate of good-quality day 3 embryos ranged from 1 to 30% (group 2, n = 74). Results In the early embryonic growth, there were no significant differences in the outcomes of AOA and non-AOA groups in terms of normal fertilization rates, cleavage rates, day 3 good-quality embryo rates and available blastocyst rates (72.7% vs. 79.3%, 97.4% vs. 98.0%, 20.1% vs. 19.7%, 6.6% vs. 8.4% in group 1, respectively; 77.7% vs. 81.9%, 98.1% vs. 97.0%, 25.8% vs. 22.1%, 9.6% vs. 9.3% in group 2, respectively). In the late embryonic growth, no significant differences were found in biochemical and clinical pregnancy rates, implantation rates, miscarriage rates, and live-birth rates (50.0% vs. 45.2%, 45.2% vs. 40.5%, 37.3% vs. 31.3%, 10.5% vs. 11.8%, 40.5% vs. 35.7%, respectively) between two groups. In addition, neonatal outcomes were similar in both the groups as well. Conclusion Our study demonstrated that the AOA using ionomycin 1 h after ICSI did not bring benefits to the early or late development of embryos derived from patients with a history of embryo developmental problems.