Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) – ETHOS HEALTH CARE.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) can be used as part of an in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment to help you and your partner to conceive a child. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection has helped overcome many of the various barriers to fertilization and has allowed couples to successfully have a child.
ICSI is only used in cases severe male infertility cases such as:
- Oligospermia – low semen volume or a low sperm count
- Teratozoospermia – abnormal looking sperm.
- Asthenozoospermia – sperm doesn’t have the capability to move about spontaneously and vigorously.
The ICSI Process
- The woman will be given drugs which will stimulate her ovaries to develop several mature eggs for fertilisation.
- The doctor will remove eggs using a fine, hollow needle, once her follicle (which holds immature eggs) is at a good size.
- The male will give a sperm sample. A very delicate, sharp, and hollow needle is used to immobilize and pick up a single sperm.
- The needle is then carefully inserted through the shell of the egg and into the cytoplasm of the egg.
- The sperm is injected into the cytoplasm, and the needle is carefully removed.
- The doctors will see if fertilization occurred and that the fertilized eggs (embryos) are healthy.
- Once fertilization is successful, the embryo transfer procedure is used to physically place the embryo in the woman’s uterus and through cervix using a thin catheter.
How long does ICSI treatment take?
One cycle of ICSI takes between four weeks and six weeks to complete. You and your partner can expect to spend a full day at the clinic for the egg and sperm retrieval procedures. You’ll go back anywhere between two days and six days later for the embryo transfer procedure. If all goes well, an embryo will attach to your uterus wall and continue to grow to become your baby. After about two weeks, you will be able to take a pregnancy test.
The success rates for ICSI
The success rates for ICSI are higher than if you use conventional IVF methods. A lot depends on your particular fertility problem and your age. The younger you are, the healthier your eggs usually are, and the higher your chances of success.