Artificial Egg Activation Using Calcium Ionophore

Abstract

Artificial oocyte activation, most commonly using calcium ionophore, is a treatment add-on utilized to avoid recurrence of abnormally low or total failed fertilization following in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection. It aims to modify defective physiological processes, specifically calcium-mediated cell signaling that are critical to events required for fertilization. Routine application of artificial oocyte activation is neither required nor recommended; however, it represents an invaluable intervention for a subgroup of patients affected by sperm-related oocyte activation deficiency.