Live birth after SrCl2 oocyte activation in previous repeated failed or low fertilization rates after ICSI of frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa: case report

To report a live birth resulting after strontium chloride (SrCl2) oocyte activation in a couple with complete fertilization failure or low fertilization rates following intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) of frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa. The couple underwent ICSI of frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa. After ICSI, the oocytes were artificially activated by SrCl2 because the results of fertilization were not satisfactory in the previous cycles. The main outcome measures were fertilization, pregnancy, and birth. In the first and second cycles performed previously at another clinic, fertilization rates were 9.1 % and 0.0 %, respectively. In the third cycle, 31 metaphase II oocytes were retrieved. After sperm injection, all of the oocytes were stimulated using SrCl2 for activation. Sixteen oocytes were fertilized (51.6 %), and a single embryo was transferred into the uterus on Day 3. A healthy girl weighing 2750 g was born at 40 weeks of gestation by caesarean section. This result suggests that SrCl2 could be useful for oocyte fertilization in case of repeated complete fertilization failure or low fertilization rates following ICSI of frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa.