Efficient modification of intracytoplasmic sperm injection technique for cases with total lack of sperm movement

A rapid, simple and efficient method for selecting living spermatozoa forintracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in cases with total lack of spermmovement is described. The selection is based on a characteristicdeformation of living spermatozoa exposed to hypo-osmotic conditions duringshort sequential exposures to modified culture medium andpolyvinylpyrrolidone solution; the osmolarity of both of these solutions isreduced by one half by diluting them with an equal amount of water. Theapplication of the sperm viability selection step in six ICSI treatmentcycles with total absence of sperm movement resulted in a fertilizationrate of 41.9% and the establishment of two ongoing clinical pregnancies.The method described for the selection of living spermatozoa makes itpossible to reach acceptable fertilization rates and to obtain ongoingpregnancies by ICSI in cases with total lack of sperm movement. Because ofits simplicity, this method can easily be improvised when the total lack ofsperm movement is an unexpected finding made on the day of the plannedICSI.