ICSI stands for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection. It is an IVF or In Vitro Fertilization procedure in which a single sperm is injected directly into the cytoplasm of an egg cell or ovum. This technique is used to overcome male infertility. It was introduced in early 1990s and has been successfully applied for the treatment of many males with fertility problems.
Why is ICSI done?
• Male partners having a low sperm count.
• Males having less motile sperms or sperms with less movement which do not reach the eggs.
• Oddly shaped sperm, including round headed sperm.
• For pairs who have multiple unexplained fertilization failures.
• Absence of sperm in ejaculate due to obstructions
• Absence of sperm due to defective sperm production
• Ejaculatory dysfunctions
• Immunological factors or infections
ICSI SUCCESS RATE
The eggs and the sperm are collected on the same day on which the procedure is to be carried out. With the help of an ultrasound-guided needle, egg will be collected from the body of the female. On the same day, the male partner will provide a sperm sample. If no sperm is present in the sample, the doctors will extract the sperm from the testicle itself. The cells around the egg will be scraped and a needle will be inserted to inject the sperm. 5-10% of the eggs degenerate at this step, making the whole process a failure.
The process of ICSI has a very high success rate. The chances of fertilization are high. The process is conducted in controlled lab conditions and success rate is as high as 80%. Earlier, the sperm and egg were placed together, allowing the sperm to penetrate the egg by itself, without any human intervention. However, these techniques yielded no good results. The techniques that are being used now are highly advanced and promise positive results.
ICSI is extremely helpful in case of male infertility. When the sperm is of low quality, fertilization fails to occur. Similarly, ICSI also works when the sperm has low mobility. If the sperm has low mobility, it fails to reach the eggs and fertilise them. In some cases, there is an absence of sperms in the ejaculate. This condition is called azoospermia. In cases of both obstructive and non-obstructive azoospermia, the technique of ICSI works as a wonder. It is also quite helpful for people who have had their sperms frozen, prior to the treatment.
Although the success rate of ICSI lies in the bracket of 50 to 80 %, there is no guarantee that the embryos will be healthy. Sometimes, the age of the female plays a big role and might result in a failure. Also, it is extremely important the sperm is a healthy one. If the sperm is less healthy, no fertilization might occur. However, once the childbirth is successful, the chances of defects in the baby are very, very low; less than one percent.
At Apollo Fertility, a dedicated team of doctors and lab technicians strive toward giving the couple a successful pregnancy.
