Intracytoplasmic sperm injection or ICSI is a form of IVF Procedure that requires only one sperm, which is injected directly into the egg. It is the most successful form of treatment for men who are infertile and is used in nearly half of all IVF procedures.
How does ICSI Procedure work?
Its main use is for significant male infertility. IVF with ICSI involves the use of special micromanipulation tools and equipment that enable embryologists to select and pick up individual sperm in a specially designed Intracytoplasmic sperm injection needle. The embryologist inserts needle carefully through the outer shell of the egg and the egg membrane – and injects the sperm into the inner part of the egg. Then the fertilized egg grows in a laboratory for one to five days. Then it is transferred to the women’s uterus (womb). However, first, the doctor gives woman ovulation-stimulating medicines and have an egg retrieval procedure so we can obtain several eggs for In Vitro Fertilization and Intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
How can ICSI help?
The Intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure can help couples where the man’s sperm
- Is not proficient in reaching the egg at all.
- Can get to the egg, but not fertilize it.
Success Rate of ICSI
In vitro fertilization is more successful with ICSI as compared to without ICSI. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) success is same as like IVF because this is part of it. ICSI success also depends on fertility problem, and their types like Low sperm count, Poor sperm motility (movement) and morphology (shape), Blockage or irreversible vasectomy, Sperm unable to penetrate the egg, previous IVF do not perform well.
If you are younger under age of 30 or 40 ICSI is an excellent option for you.
1. 40 percent for women age 34 and under
2. 31 percent for females age 35 to 37
3. 21 percent for females age 38 to 40
4. 11 percent for women age 41 to 42
5. 5 percent for women age 43 and over
Cost
The cost of treatment for one cycle varies from $2500 to $7000 depending on other factors and one geographic area to another.
What is the length of an ICSI Treatment?
One cycle takes between four weeks to six weeks to get complete. The couple undergoing treatment might need to spend half a day at the clinic for the egg and sperm retrieval processes. Then come back two to six days later for the embryo transfer procedure.
You need treatment when the male partner has one of the following:
- Had a vasectomy
- No sperm in your semen
- A very low or zero sperm count.
- The sperm may have trouble attaching to the egg
- Tried IVF but there were problems during the fertilization process.
- A blockage in reproductive tract was preventing sperm from getting out.
- A high percentage of adversely shaped sperm. It can turn out in a bad motility.
- Damaged or missing vas deferens (the tube that carries semen from the testes to the penis).
ICSI treatment can also help when the use of traditional IVF has no positive results, regardless of the condition of the sperm.