Fertility Outcomes and Embryo Development in Assisted Reproductive Technology: Conventional vs. Mechanical ICSI

Authors

  • Maitra Djiang Wen Bocah Indonesia Fertility Center, Tangerang, Indonesia Author
  • Ria Margiana Bocah Indonesia Fertility Center, Tangerang, Indonesia Author
  • Mira Krishtania Bocah Indonesia Fertility Center, Tangerang, Indonesia Author
  • Androniko Setiawan Bocah Indonesia Fertility Center, Tangerang, Indonesia Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56294/saludcyt20251419

Keywords:

Fertilization, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection, Embryo, Reproductive health

Abstract

Background: Assisted Reproductive Technology has transformed fertility treatment with new methods such as Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI), coming up with innovative ways to improve male fertility. The following paper compares the two ICSI techniques, which are mechanical and conventional, on matters of efficiency in terms of fertilization. To check for fertilization, an established morphological criterion was used. 
Methods: This study was conducted at a fertility clinic in Bocah, Indonesia, and utilizes a cross-sectional retrospective methodology. The study analyzes four hundred and fifty-eight oocytes from twenty-four patients while focusing on days one, three, and five of fertilization to check for their success. 
Results: Results reveal that mechanical ICSI does better than conventional ICSI in producing high-quality embryos after fertilization. Mechanical ICSI demonstrated higher precision, reduced oocyte trauma, and improved fertilization rates (68.8% vs. 59.3% on Day 1). The short span of this study means that the success of these methods in facilitating the carrying of long-term pregnancy is not evaluated. It is, however, valuable to note that the study found that despite the efficiency of mechanical ICSI, there are qualms about moving towards large-scale application in fertility clinics due to the high costs involved. 
Conclusions: This study examined conventional and mechanical ICSI in assisted reproduction including 30 individuals (mean age: 33.37 years). Mechanical ICSI yielded markedly superior-quality embryos on Days 1, 3, and 5. It enhanced embryo preservation and fertilization results, underscoring its potential as a superior strategy for improving embryo quality and fertility success.

References

1. Tesarik J, Mendoza-Tesarik R. Molecular clues to understanding causes of human-assisted reproduction treatment failures and possible treatment options. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2022 Sep 8;23(18):10357.

2. Bansal R, Majumdar G, Majumdar A, Lall PS. Impact of modified intracytoplasmic sperm injection technique on in vitro fertilization outcomes. Fertility Science and Research. 2021 Jul 1;8(2):134-8.

3. Xue Y, Cheng X, Xiong Y, Li K. Gene mutations associated with fertilization failure after in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 2022 Dec 16;13:1086883.

4. Wei Y, Wang J, Qu R, Zhang W, Tan Y, Sha Y, Li L, Yin T. Genetic mechanisms of fertilization failure and early embryonic arrest: a comprehensive review—Human Reproduction Update. 2024 Jan 1;30(1):48-80.

5. Bosch E, Espinós JJ, Fabregues F, Fontes J, García-Velasco J, Llácer J, Requena A, Checa MA, Bellver J, Spanish Infertility SWOT Group (SISG). ALWAYS ICSI? A SWOT analysis. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. 2020 Sep;37:2081-92.

6. Campos G, Sciorio R, Esteves SC. Total fertilization failure after ICSI: insights into pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management through artificial oocyte activation. Human reproduction update. 2023 Jul 1;29(4):369-94.

7. Khoo CL, Lim AY, Tan SH, Keith JM, Lee CL. P-193 Comparison of ICSI outcomes and euploidy rates between AI and non-AI sperm selection. Human Reproduction. 2023 Jun 1;38(Supplement_1):dead093-553.

8. Balli M, Cecchele A, Pisaturo V, Makieva S, Carullo G, Somigliana E, Paffoni A, Vigano’ P. Opportunities and limits of conventional IVF versus ICSI: it is time to come off the fence. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022 Sep 27;11(19):5722.

9. Caddy M, Popkiss S, Weston G, Vollenhoven B, Rombauts L, Green M, Zander-Fox D. PIEZO-ICSI increases fertilization rates compared with conventional ICSI in patients with poor prognosis. Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. 2023 Feb;40(2):389-98.

10. Zander-Fox D, Green M, Watson K, Turner R, Bakos HW, Foo J, Pacella-Ince L, Caddy M, McPherson NO, Rombauts L. Improved fertilization, degeneration, and embryo quality rates with PIEZO–intracytoplasmic sperm injection compared with conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a sibling oocyte split multicenter trial. Fertility and sterility. 2024 Jun 1;121(6):971-81.

11. Abdullah KA, Atazhanova T, Chavez-Badiola A, Shivhare SB. Automation in ART: paving the way for the future of infertility treatment. Reproductive Sciences. 2023 Apr;30(4):1006-16.

12. Palermo GD, Neri QV, Rosenwaks Z. To ICSI or not to ICSI. InSeminars in Reproductive Medicine 2015 Mar (Vol. 33, No. 02, pp. 092-102). Thieme Medical Publishers.

13. Bolton VN, Perez MJ, Hughes G, Moodley T, Dean M, Fernandez-Ponce A, Southall-Brown G, Kasraie J. The use of ICSI in ART: evidence for practice. Human Fertility. 2023 May 27;26(3):414-32.

14. Zaha I, Naghi P, Stefan L, Bunescu C, Radu M, Muresan ME, Sandor M, Sachelarie L, Huniadi A. Comparative study of sperm selection techniques for pregnancy rates in an unselected IVF–ICSI population. Journal of Personalized Medicine. 2023 Mar 31;13(4):619.

15. Alvarez G, Villanueva S, Breininger E, Geller M, Ruhlmann C, Dalvit G, Cetica P, Kuwayama M. Bovine oocyte activation with bull or human sperm by conventional ICSI and Piezo-ICSI: Its relationship with PLCɀ activity. Open Veterinary Journal. 2024 May 31;14(5):1191.

16. Williams A, Popkiss S, Horta F, McLachlan R, Zander-Fox D, Green MP. Hyaluronan Sperm Selection during ICSI (HA-ICSI) Increases Embryo Utilization in Couples with Male Factor Infertility. Fertility & Reproduction. 2024 Mar 7;6(01):28-36.

17. Rahimi R, Hasanpour S, Mirghafourvand M, Esmaeilpour K. Effect of Hope-oriented group counseling on the mental health of infertile women with failed IVF cycles: a randomized controlled trial. BMC psychiatry. 2021 Jun 2;21(1):286.

18. Isikoglu M, Ceviren AK, Cetin T, Avci A, Aydinuraz B, Akgul OK, Karaca M. Comparison of ICSI and conventional IVF in non-male factor patients with less than four oocytes. Archives of gynecology and obstetrics. 2022 Aug;306(2):493-9.

19. Abeyta M, Behr B. Morphological assessment of embryo viability. InSeminars in reproductive medicine 2014 Mar (Vol. 32, No. 02, pp. 114-126). Thieme Medical Publishers.

20. Khalife D, Abu-Musa A, Khalil A, Ghazeeri G. Towards selecting embryos with the greatest implantation potential. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2021 Oct 3;41(7):1010-5.

21. Maggiulli R, Cimadomo D, Fabozzi G, Papini L, Dovere L, Ubaldi FM, Rienzi L. The effect of ICSI-related procedural timings and operators on the outcome. Human Reproduction. 2020 Jan 1;35(1):32-43.

22. Kakatikar R, Bawaskar PA, Gajbe U, More A, Nair N. Mechanical Hatching as a Therapeutic Intervention for Improving Implantation Rate in a 32-Year-Old Female With Recurrent Implantation Failures: A Case Report. Cureus. 2024 Feb;16(2).

23. Biliangady R, Kinila P, Pandit R, Tudu NK, Sundhararaj UM, Gopal IS, Swamy AG. Are we justified in doing routine intracytoplasmic sperm injection in noumenon-male factor infertility? A retrospective study comparing reproductive outcomes between in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection in non-male factor infertility. Journal of human reproductive sciences. 2019 Jul 1;12(3):210-5.

24. Menéndez-Blanco I, Catala MG, Roura M, Soto-Heras S, Piras AR, Izquierdo D, Paramio MT. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of prepubertal goat oocytes using fresh and frozen-thawed semen. Small ruminant research. 2019 Jan 1;170:137-42.

25. Bichara C, Berby B, Rives A, Jumeau F, Letailleur M, Setif V, Sibert L, Rondanino C, Rives N. Sperm chromatin condensation defects, but neither DNA fragmentation nor aneuploidy, are an independent predictor of clinical pregnancy after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics. 2019 Jul 15;36:1387-99.

26. Jiang L, Qian Y, Chen X, Ji X, Ou S, Li R, Yang D, Li Y. Effect of early rescue ICSI and split IVF‐ICSI in preventing low fertilization rate during the first ART cycle: A real‐world retrospective cohort study: reproductive medicine and biology. 2022 Jan;21(1):e12420.

27. Sciorio R, Esteves SC. Contemporary use of ICSI and epigenetic risks to future generations. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2022 Apr 11;11(8):2135.

28. Speyer B, O’Neill H, Saab W, Seshadri S, Cawood S, Heath C, Gaunt M, Serhal P. In assisted reproduction by IVF or ICSI, the rate at which embryos develop to the blastocyst stage is influenced by the fertilization method used: a split IVF/ICSI study. Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics. 2019 Apr 15;36:647-54.

29. Tiegs AW, Scott RT. Evaluation of fertilization, usable blastocyst development and sustained implantation rates according to intracytoplasmic sperm injection operator experience. Reproductive BioMedicine Online. 2020 Jul 1;41(1):19-27.

Downloads

Published

2025-03-09

How to Cite

1.
Wen MD, Margiana R, Krishtania M, Setiawan A. Fertility Outcomes and Embryo Development in Assisted Reproductive Technology: Conventional vs. Mechanical ICSI. Salud, Ciencia y Tecnología [Internet]. 2025 Mar. 9 [cited 2025 Apr. 26];5:1419. Available from: https://sct.ageditor.ar/index.php/sct/article/view/1419