Infertility is an unfortunate challenge that couples confront in their married lives. It is the inability to conceive regardless of scheduled and unprotected intercourse. Science has brought up numerous ways for couples to conceive and bless their lives with children.
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) has made marriages happy and satisfied. Among the most popular ART techniques are intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), in-vitro fertilisation (IVF), and intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection (IMSI).
Meaning of the ICSI Treatment
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is injecting a single sperm cell directly into the cytoplasm of an egg. It is a method of in-vitro fertilization (IVF).
But, how does ICSI differs from IVF? Typically, traditional IVF involves collecting eggs in a lab and surrounding them with sperm cells to allow natural fertilisation. However, ICSI involves manually injecting a single sperm cell into the cytoplasm of an egg for fertilisation.
The ICSI Procedure Step-by-Step
ICSI is a methodological medical process. It involves several processes that you should know. Let’s look at the processes! An ICSI treatment is similar to conventional IVF.
- It begins by examining the husband’s sperm quality. Also, the wife is administered specific hormonal treatment after a thorough consultation. Such a treatment stimulates the ovaries to mature the ovarian follicles, preventing premature ovulation.
- Your doctor will analyse the maturity of the egg cells at regular check-ups over the next two weeks to determine whether it is ready to trigger ovulation. The doctor will take the egg cells from the ovaries if they are ready. It is a simple process, and the lady is discharged from the clinic on the same day without complications. Also, the doctors collect sperm samples from the man on the same day. Healthy and motile sperm are collected through specific procedures like physiological sperm selection.
- Now, it’s time for the primary process. Doctors keep an eye on the fertilised egg cells as they develop into embryos during three-five days. The next stage is intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), which involves transferring the sperm cell straight into the egg cell’s cell fluid.
- The doctor will then conduct implantation into the woman’s body with either or both embryos. You can ask the doctors to store the extra embryo in laboratories for cases when an existing treatment fails. They will save the implant in liquid nitrogen for a prolonged period.
- Different methods of treatment, such as physiological ICSI, in which the optimum sperm show themselves, IMSI (in-depth analysis of the sperm under a special microscope), or co-treatment with calcium ionophore, are employed in place of the standard ICSI treatment under exceptional circumstances.
Who should opt for it?
Male infertility, female infertility, or both can create difficulties when the couple wishes to embrace parenthood. However, specialised treatments like ICSI IVF can help couples cope with such cases. Doctors can suggest a few techniques to combat infertility and make the couple happy for life. But, when should you choose ICSI specifically? You can opt for it in the following cases:
- The sperm count is really low.
- Slow sperm make up a large part of the population.
- A high percentage of sperm with unusual shapes
- When sperm is extracted from the epididymis or testes using MESA/PESA retrieval procedures, this is frequently done in cases of obstructive or non-obstructive azoospermia.
- Antibodies at a high level in the sperm
- Erection or ejaculation problems are caused by various circumstances such as sickness or traumas.
- The results can be disastrous when low-quality frozen sperm is used for fertilisation.
- When genetic defects in embryos necessitate embryo screening
- There has been a history of traditional IVF failure in the past.
Success Rates of ICSI
Before you decide whether or not to do ICSI, your attending doctor will tell you about your prospects of having children. The health experts will conduct various tests during the diagnostic phase, which allow for a rather precise assessment of your unique condition. The success rate of the ICSI will depend on specific body parameters.
Based on these results, your doctor can give you a personal and accurate conclusion about your odds of achieving your desire to have children.
Also, the likelihood of ICSI success is determined by the woman’s age and ovarian reserve. The chances of success begin to dwindle at the age of 35, and by the age of 40, they have been half.
Conclusion
Are you facing issues in conceiving? Have you been trying for over a year but getting unhappy results? Don’t worry! ICSI can help you. Get in touch with an experienced doctor and understand the prospects of ICSI and conceiving now!
FAQs
1. What is ICSI?
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technology (ART). It is the medical process of injecting a single sperm cell, taken from the husband, directly into the cytoplasm of the wife’s egg.
2. Is ICSI safe?
Yes, ICSI is a safe method. With an experienced doctor’s presence, the ICSI process will yield successful and happy outcomes in a short span.
3. When should I opt for ICSI?
You can choose ICSI if the husband has low-quality sperms or if you have a history of failed IVF. Besides, more reasons can make your doctor suggest ICSI if you are having complications getting pregnant.
4. What is the success rate of ICSI?
ICSI has a high success rate before the age of 35. However, depending on the wife’s age and other factors, the chances of ICSI might decrease slightly.
