OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and clinical application value of selecting viable spermatozoa by noncontact diode laser. METHODS: We obtained immotile spermatozoa from 2 infertile men with obstructive azoospermia or severe asthenospermia and selected viable spermatozoa using a single laser shot at the sperm tail. Those that responded to the laser shot by a curling reaction of the tail were regarded as presumably viable and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). RESULTS: The mean fertilization rate was 88.89% after ICSI with the laser-selected viable spermatozoa. Both of the embryo transfers resulted in a single pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Noncontact diode laser is a useful alternative for the assessment of sperm viability, which may help to achieve successful pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the feasibility and clinical application value of selecting viable spermatozoa by noncontact diode laser. METHODS: We obtained immotile spermatozoa from 2 infertilemen with obstructive azoospermia or severe asthenospermia and selected viable spermatozoa using a single laser shot at the sperm tail. Those that responded to the laser shot by a curling reaction of the tail were regarded as presumably viable and used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). RESULTS: The mean fertilization rate was 88.89% after ICSI with the laser-selected viable spermatozoa. Both of the embryo transfers resulted in a single pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Noncontact diode laser is a useful alternative for the assessment of sperm viability, which may help to achieve successful pregnancy.