Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
Unlocking IVF success with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI).
What is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)?
ICSI is a method used for fertilization of an egg during IVF. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was first developed as a fertility treatment for couples in which the male had low sperm counts or low sperm motility. Without ICSI, these couples had a high rate of fertilization failure using standard IVF. Since its introduction, ICSI revolutionized the treatment of male infertility. ICSI has been so successful, that it is used as the fertilization method of choice for most couples.
How does ICSI work and who needs it?
The ICSI procedure is a refinement of IVF that allows for the direct injection of a single sperm into an egg, overcoming many obstacles of fertilization. Unlike standard insemination where thousands of sperm are placed near an egg in a petri dish, ICSI requires only one sperm per egg, thus bypassing the need for sperm to penetrate the egg on their own. This is particularly advantageous for situations where sperm count is too low or sperm motility is impaired, making natural fertilization challenging.
ICSI enhances fertilization rates and is an invaluable option for couples where male infertility is a concern, or in cases where fertilization attempts via conventional IVF have been unsuccessful.
How Does ICSI Compare to standard Insemination?
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a specialized technique used in conjunction with IVF to tackle certain infertility issues. During ICSI, a single sperm is meticulously injected directly into an egg to facilitate fertilization. It's also used when previous IVF attempts have resulted in poor fertilization rates or for couples with unexplained infertility.
By directly inserting the sperm into the egg, ICSI can dramatically increase the chances of fertilization, offering a viable path to parenthood for many who might otherwise face significant challenges in conceiving.
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Breaking Down the ICSI Procedure
All methods of fertilization, including ICSI, take place in a special laboratory where all conditions are sterile. The temperature and air quality in the laboratory are carefully controlled. The basic steps of the ICSI procedure are as follows:
- Egg Retrieval: Just like in standard IVF, eggs are retrieved from the ovaries using a fine needle guided by ultrasound.
- Sperm Collection: Sperm is obtained either through ejaculation or, in cases where this isn’t possible, directly from the testicles via surgical extraction.
- Selection of Sperm: A single healthy sperm is selected by the embryologist under a microscope for its shape and motility.
- Injection of Sperm: The chosen sperm is carefully injected into the inner part of the egg (cytoplasm) using a fine glass needle.
- Confirmation of Fertilization: After injection, the eggs are monitored to confirm that normal fertilization has occurred and that the embryos are developing.
- Embryo Transfer: One or more embryos are then transferred into the uterus with the hope that they will implant and lead to a successful pregnancy.
ICSI bypasses the natural fertilization process where sperm must penetrate the egg on their own, which can be a significant barrier for many couples with certain types of infertility. Even with ICSI, sometimes fertilization does not occur or occurs abnormally. This usually happens when there are very few eggs available to inject with sperm or when the eggs are of poor quality. Ordinarily, using ICSI, about 70% of the mature, healthy eggs should fertilize normally.
At IVF1, patients are contacted the day after their retrieval to let them know how many of the eggs fertilized normally.
