Fertility Decoded

Artificial oocyte activation (calcium ionophore)

Chemically triggering the egg to activate after ICSI.

Written by Fertility Decoded. Reviewed by D R, MS (OBG), FRM. Review date: 31 August 2026.

The verdict

Only for specific fertilisation-failure cases, not routine.

Who are these bodies?

HFEA
— UK fertility regulator; rates add-ons by evidence (traffic-light).
ESHRE
— European fertility society; evidence-based practice guidance.
NICE
— UK health-guidance body; what the NHS will and won't fund.
ISAR
— Indian Society for Assisted Reproduction; Indian expert consensus.
Cochrane
— Independent global reviewers of the underlying studies.

  • HFEA

    UK regulator

    Not on HFEA's rated list — chance of a baby
    Source

  • ESHRE

    European society

    Recommended (fertilisation-failure group)

    Recommended for the relevant patient group (fertilisation failure, <30% fertilisation, or some severe male infertility).

    Source

  • NICE

    UK NHS guidance

    Not addressed

    Not addressed in NG257.

  • ISAR

    Indian society

    Fertilisation-failure cases only

    For oocyte-activation deficiency / previous fertilisation failure only; explicitly not beneficial for all; safety (cytotoxic/teratogenic/epigenetic) not fully established.

    Source

  • Cochrane

    Evidence base

    No Cochrane review identified specifically for this add-on.

Typical cost in India

Charged as a lab add-on; varies.

Sources

Take this further

Sources last reviewed .