New procedure yields promising results.

For the 10-15% of couples who suffer the pain of infertility, there is a new option, a procedure that is proving effective even for those who are unsuccessful with in-vitro fertilization. The technique, known as micromanipulation, is designed primarily to treat problems associated with male infertility, explains Eli Reshef, clinical director of the Assisted Reproductive Technology Program, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

"Micromanipulation is performed under the microscope and involves using tiny, sharpened glass tubes to puncture a small hole in the woman's egg, thus allowing the sperm to enter. In addition, special tubes can be used to capture individual sperm and inject, them into the egg. It is an effective solution for couples in whom the male has a very low sperm count or weak-to-immobile sperm.

"There also are cases in which a woman produces eggs that have an abnormally strong coating, known as the zona pellucida, which is too tough for even normal sperm to penetrate. In these cases, we can use micromanipulation to allow regular fertilization to take place."

Moreover, the technique is an alternative for men who...