ICSI for Male Infertility
Written by Ben Bunting: BA(Hons), PGCert.
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Before undergoing ICSI, you should get some basic information about the procedure.
This article shall cover the following points:
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- ICSI procedure
- ICSI success rate
- Risks
- Preparation of sperm
- Fertilization rates
- Conclusion
Read on to learn about ICSI's success rates, risks, and recovery time. Also, learn about the benefits of this procedure. The success rate of ICSI is about 90%.
The treatment can be considered a success if there are no other medical complications.
It has been a successful treatment for numerous couples, including people who were unable to conceive using other methods.
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a procedure that involves injecting sperm from a donor oocyte into an egg.
During ICSI, a biologist uses a high-powered microscope to select the sperm with the most stable morphology and lowest fragmentation.
Unlike masturbation, the procedure can be performed in a laboratory setting.
During IVF, embryologists use specialized micromanipulation tools and inverted microscopes to select individual sperm.
After selecting the sperm, a needle with an ICSI tip is used to inject them directly into the cytoplasm of an egg.
A high percentage of eggs fertilized with ICSI will undergo fertilization. In addition to the ICSI procedure, women must be stimulated with medications and undergo an egg retrieval procedure. Egg retrieval requires several eggs.
ICSI procedure
The Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) procedure is used to fertilize an egg.
It works by injecting one sperm into the egg. After that, the embryologist monitors its growth and transfers the healthy ones to the uterus.
If it fails to implant, the embryo can be frozen for later use. It is important that the eggs are mature. This procedure requires several days for a successful outcome.
The ICSI procedure is typically performed on a woman with a persistent infertility problem or on a man with limited sperm supply.
During the procedure, the embryologist will inject one sperm cell into a healthy egg. The egg will then grow and divide for four days.
In some cases, the embryo may be grown from frozen semen. The successful implantation rate varies greatly depending on the characteristics of the oocyte.
ICSI success rates
Although the success rate of ICSI is similar to that of conventional IVF, it is different for older women.
Their ovarian reserves and egg quality decline significantly with age. Using standard IVF techniques, older women can achieve higher success rates, and the embryos they create may have lower chromosomal abnormalities.
However, a general overview of ICSI results shows that the risk of genetic disease is similar to that of naturally-conceived children.
Although ICSI success rates are lower than those of other IVF methods, a study found that the sperm of men born with ICSI was of lower quality.
These results could be due to genetic factors, which can be hereditary or acquired. The first generation of children born after ICSI reached adulthood in 2010.
Risks of ICSI
The rapid adoption of ICSI methods has generated additional concerns. One of the biggest concerns is the lack of well-designed trials to determine the risks of ICSI procedures.
However, new directions in research may be required to improve sperm-tozoal selection and preparation methods.
As such, new ICSI indications may be explored and the potential genetic risks reduced.
In addition, patients undergoing ICSI may be at higher risk of transmission of male genetic factors.
Despite these concerns, researchers continue to study the risks of ICSI and the risks involved in this procedure.
In addition, a new study published in Hum Reprod on the 17th anniversary of the original study has demonstrated that the procedure is associated with a greater risk of HIV-1 infection.
This study showed that chromosomal aberrations were induced more frequently than expected. In addition, a faulty male gamete's nuclear decondensation can result in an abnormally large number of sperm cells.
➡️READ: Natural treatments for male infertility
Preparation of sperm for ICSI
The preparation of sperm for intracytoplasmic sex is the first step in this procedure.
The preparation of the sperm depends on the characteristics of the sample. In general, the better the quality of the semen, the better the chance of fertilization is.
The technique used to prepare the OAT ejaculate varies. Some methods rely on washing and other treatments, while others depend on a simple, minimum-loss technique.
The sperm samples of both groups were prepared by swimming them in water. The sperm suspensions were kept at 37 degC for 20-30 min.
The samples were analyzed under phase-contrast microscopes and ten ml of the sperm suspension was obtained.
Sperm motility and count were assessed. This technique is safe and less expensive than swim-up preparation.
Fertilization rates after ICSI
There are different factors that affect the fertilization rate after intracytoplasmic sperm injection, including the source of the sperm.
Some patients are at risk of not fertilizing the egg, but repeated treatments can improve the chances of normal pregnancy.
ICSI results in normal implantation and fertilization rates in most patients. It has also been used in patients with tail genetic disorders.
Several studies have demonstrated that the fertility rates after ICSI are comparable to those of traditional IVF methods.
This may be because ICSI results in a higher number of embryos that survive the IVF process. Fertilization rates after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) may also increase the yield of embryos.
This method has contributed to an increase in ICSI procedures, but it is still controversial.
Summary
ICSI is a procedure whereby a sperm that has been analyzed to have the optimum morphology, moltility and overall health is then injected into an egg.
This is an ideal procedue if a man is suffering from a low sperm count or has generally poor sperm health.
ICSI has aslightly lower succes rate than IVF procedures, yet there is a low or a similar risk of passing on genetic issues as with a traditional conception.
