Double exposure to calcium ionophore may improve blastocyst development and clinical pregnancy in some patients.

In a retrospective study, 79 patients who had previously exhibited poor blastocyst development and/or low (<30%) fertilisation with ICSI were subject to double-ionophore treatment. These patients previously had a treatment cycle with no ionophore application and a single application of ionophore with no success.

The study, published in the journal Reproductive Biomedicine Online, showed that embryo utilisation and blastocyst formation was significantly increased in the study group as well as in clinical pregnancy. Patients with previously low fertilisation even after one application of calcium ionophore, showed significant improvement in fertilisation rate in the study group.

These findings contribute to the growing evidence, that calcium ionophore treatment (single and double application) may be beneficial in improving treatment outcomes in some patients.

Reference: 1. Shebl O, Reiter E, Enengl S, Allerstorfer C, Schappacher-Tilp G, Trautner PS, Rechberger T, Oppelt P, Ebner T. Double ionophore application in cases with previous failed/low fertilization or poor embryo development. Reprod Biomed Online. 2022 May;44(5):829-837.