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. 2000 Nov;17(10):557–560. doi: 10.1023/A:1026481729632

Zona Thinning with Noncontact Diode Laser in Patients Aged ≤37 Years with No Previous Failure of Implantation: A Prospective Randomized Study

Ricardo L R Baruffi 1, Ana L Mauri 1, Claudia G Petersen 1, Rita C Ferreira 1, Joaquim Coelho 1, Joseé G Franco Jr 1,2
PMCID: PMC3455458  PMID: 11212860

Abstract

Purpose: Zona thinning (ZT) is a technique used to improve pregnancy rates among patients ≥38 years old and/or patients presenting previous implantation failure. The objective of the study was to determine whether ZT has a beneficial effect on patients younger than 37 years who are undergoing the first ICSI attempt.

Methods: A total of 103 patients submitted to ICSI for the first time and those aged ≤37 years were divided in a prospective and randomized manner into two groups: group I, patients submitted to ZT (n = 51) (a laser diode with 1.48-μm wavelength (Fertilaser) was used for the procedure); group II, patients with no ZT (n = 52). In both groups, embryo transfer was performed on the second day.

Results: The age of group I patients (31.8 ± 3.6) did not differ (P = 0.53) from that of group II patients (31.4 ± 3.6). The number of metaphase II oocytes was similar(P = 0.76) for the two groups (group I = 9.12 ± 5.27; group II = 8.67 ± 5.02). The average number of embryos available per transfer of group I (6.14 ± 4.02) did not differ (P = 0.69) from that of group II (5.75 ± 3.83). The number of embryos transferred was similar (P = 0.61) for the two groups (group I = 2.76 ± 0.9; group II = 2.87 ± 0.79). The thickness of the zona pellucida of group I embryos (16.6 ± 2.2 μm) did not differ (P = 0.08) from that of group II embryos (17.1 ± 1.7 μm). The rate of embryo implantation (20.8%) and the rate of clinical pregnancy per embryo transfer (40.3%) were higher for group II than for group I (17.7% and 33.3%, respectively), but the difference was not significant (P = 0.55 and P = 0.54).

Conclusions: These results suggest that ZT in the population aged ≤37 years and with no previous failure of implantation may have no impact on intracytoplasmic sperm injection success rates.

Keywords: assisted hatching, laser, zona thinning, intracytoplasmic sperm injection, implantation, pregnancy

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