Understanding Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
An apple a day surely keeps the doctor away, but for the apple of your eye, you need to go the doctor’s way! Let us understand what Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection is.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a ray of hope for many couples struggling with fertility issues. This technique has revolutionized fertility treatment options, offering solutions to complex infertility cases. Let us examine what ICSI encompasses and its significance in the field of infertility treatment(s).
Overview of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
ICSI is an advanced procedure in fertility treatments like IVF. In this, a single sperm is carefully injected into an egg to ensure successful fertilization.
The procedure is principally useful for couples in which the male is having very low sperm count, quite poor motility of sperms, or even abnormal morphology of sperms. ICSI can also be an important alternative for those who have failed to conceive earlier using traditional IVF ways.
Difference between ICSI & Traditional IVF
In traditional IVF, eggs & sperm are mixed in a lab dish so that fertilisation happens naturally. ICSI, on the other hand, takes a more hands-on approach. An experienced embryologist injects a single sperm directly into the egg, rather than relying on the sperm to penetrate the egg by its own. Such a difference is crucial when sperm quality or sperm quantity happens to be the issue. It also ensures that fertilisation can still occur even when sperm is minimal or compromised.
Stepwise ICSI Process
- Ovarian stimulation: The female undergoes hormone therapy to enhance egg production.
- Egg retrieval: After the eggs mature, they are retrieved from the ovaries using a minor surgical procedure.
- Sperm retrieval: Sperm is collected by ejaculation or, in severe male infertility cases, by surgical extraction.
- Sperm injection: A single healthy sperm is selected. It is then injected directly into each mature egg using a thin glass needle under a microscope.
- Fertilization & embryo culture: The development of the fertilized eggs (embryos) is monitored over the next few days.
- Embryo transfer: One or more healthy embryos are transferred into the female’s uterus for conception.
- Pregnancy test: A blood test is done about 2 weeks after the embryo transfer to determine pregnancy.
Possible Benefits of ICSI
- Overcoming severe male infertility: This offers a viable method for couples grappling with severe male infertility problems, such as low sperm count and/or poor sperm quality.
- Higher fertility rates: This can radically augment fertilisation chances.
- Hope for previous IVF failures: Couples who have not had success with traditional IVF methods are likely to find success here.
Dr. Meera B – A Devoted Fertility Specialist
Dr. Meera B is a committed & compassionate fertility specialist. Her clinic in Kollam, Kerala also provides tailored pre-pregnancy consultations to prepare couples for treatments like ICSI. This makes her a spark of hope for many childless couples. Dr. Meera B‘s strong commitment to her patients and great expertise in the said domain have helped many couples achieve their dreams of raising children. This has made her clinic a trusted resource for those seeking fertility solutions.
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