Influence of Follicular Volume and Oocyte Maturity on the Fertilization Rate of Human Oocytes

Abstract

Recent research on human in vitro fertilization has attracted a considerable amount of interest since the clinical application of extracorporal fertilization for the treatment of infertility’ seems to be feasible (Edwards and Steptoe 1979; Lopata et al. 1980; Trounson et al. 1981). In the Federal Republic of Germany there are three teams working on in vitro fertilization (Trotnow et al. 1982; Mettler and Semm 1981; Diedrich et al. 1982), and in 1982 the first live birth was reported by Trotnow. The team working in Lübeck studied the major techniques involved in extracorporeal fertilization (such as oocyte collection, fertilization, embryo culture, and embryo transfer) in the rabbit before performing human in vitro fertilization. In our clinic in vitro fertilization has been used for the treatment of infertile patients since 1981. In this report we present data on our in vitro fertilization attempts, placing particular emphasis on the relationship of the fertilization rate to the follicular volume and morphological characteristics of the oocyte. Furthermore some preliminary results on the influence of sperm quality on the fertilization rate are presented.