ICSI is the short form for Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Injection, a form of IVF treament in which, a live sperm is injected into a woman’s harvested egg to create an embryo. This ensures the fertilization of more eggs than would be possible by a typical IVF process and therefore increases the chances of the IVF treatment leading to success. At Yash IVF, the best IVF center nearby for patients from central Pune, ICSI is a welldocumented provedure and all IVF patients undergo ICSI as a form of IVF treatment.
By now, we know that to make a baby, we require sperm which are healthy and can swim well. The baby is the fusion of male sperm& female egg.
Sperm needs to penetrate through the outer coverof the egg to fertilize it. Egg has a thick outer surface and the head of thesperm needs to get attached to this site. If the sperm’s head can’t get attached to the outer surface, fertilization does not happen.
In either of the cases, the direct insertion of sperm in the egg will increase the chances of pregnancy. This is exactly what ICSI treatment is. ICSI often proves to be more effective in ensuring pregnancy.
Simply, the aim of ICSI in this context is to increase IVF fertilization rates.
How does ICSI work?
Fertilization can be achieved by traditional as well as ICSI. In traditional IVF procedure, around 50,000 or more healthy sperm are placed in a petri plate containing egg. Fertilization occurs when such lucky sperm enters into the cytoplasm of the egg.
In the ICSI process, a tiny needle that is micropipette, is used to inject a single sperm into the center of theegg. Once fertilization occurs, the fertilized egg /an embryo) grows in a laboratory for 1 to 5 days before it is transferred to the woman’s womb.
ICSI :Who are the right candidates?
Well at Yash IVF, we do ont discriminate and recommend it for all infertility patients who are candidates for IVF.
ICSI is specifically required for certain conditions like:
The male partner has low sperm count.
The sperm may not move/swim properly
The sperm may have difficulty towards egg attachment.
A blockage in the male reproductive tract which holds sperm from getting out.
Fertilization failure of egg with routine IVF. .
When previously frozen eggs are being used for fertilization.
Following vasectomy or trauma Erectile dysfunction ,or a history of prior poor fertilization
How successful is ICSI?
Many couples with male infertility have achieved the pregnancy through ICSI. Fertilization rates of 70 to 80 % of all eggs injected which is equivalent to fertilization with normal sperm.
The most important indicator of ICSI success is in line with the fertilization rate achieved with the ICSI procedure. That’s why, for male infertility cases seeking IVF,ICSI offers many advantages and can increase the success of IVF procedure.
What are the advantages of ICSI?
A major advantage of doing ICSI is that it allows the embryologist to remove the cell debris that enclose the egg and monitor the maturity. This is not possible with conventional IVF in a petri dish.
Additionally, ICSI is often practiced in cases ofpre implantation genetic screening/diagnosis (PGT). In such cases, ICSI prevents DNA contamination due to additional sperm, which increases the numberof embryos, thus allowing more embryos to be available for genetic testing and transfer.
How is ICSI different from IVF?
The difference between ICSI and IVF is the waysperm fertilizes the egg. IVF procedure was developed and ICSI is the improvement of the technique.
The only difference is what takes place in the IVF lab.
By the procedure of IVF, the sperms are left in a petri-dish containing the egg to fertilize the egg naturally.
In ICSI, the embryologist uses a very fine ICSI needle, and under the microscope, picks & injects one sperm into one egg. ICSI essentially requires more skill and expertise.
Do you know how ICSI has transformed the process of fertilization?
1 Sharp reduction in donor sperm.
Since the first ICSI (Intra cytoplasmic sperm injection) procedure carried out in 1992, the use of donor sperm has dropped drastically. More than 95% of men can now father a child.
2. ICSI is very economical to do.
ICSI only takes a few minutes to do by a skilled embryologist and which has improved the fertility success.
3. ICSI are not just for men infertility issues.
Back in the 90s, ICSI was thought to help couples with a male-infertility issue. ICSI definitely helps isolate the best sperm pick up & offer higher pregnancy rates. ICSI has improved a lot in two decades now, Micro-manipulation techniques and equipment have improved. Being the routinely done procedures, more refinement is seen.
Patients who produce fewer eggs or quality eggs & who have a history of poor fertilisation, may also need ICSI. So male-factor issue or not, it’s worth considering ICSI as part of your IVF cycle.
We, at Yash IVF are proud to announce the best practices we follow, adhere to regarding the ICSI procedures. The selection of the best sperm, placing it in a manner to offer fertilization, improving the pregnancy rates and addressing the egg related problems to offer live birth is our forte.
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