As couples plan to take a step toward expanding their family, many of them face challenges in the form of infertility. This can make the dream of having children impossible. However, with the advancement in medical science and technology, many effective fertility treatments have surfaced. Among these, ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is also a popular one. This modern technique has proved to be an excellent chance for couples to fulfill their fertility dreams.
When a doctor suggests this option, it is important that you know everything about ICSI treatment and how it is performed. You must also know the benefits and the risks associated with this procedure. By having all the information, you will be a step closer to making the right decisions and being prepared for what ICSI entails.
The sections below walk you through everything important there is to know about the ICSI treatment. Whether you want to know the stepwise process, the success rates, how much does ICSI treatment cost, or what is the difference between IVF and ICSI treatment, you will find all the answers here.
The intracytoplasmic sperm injection technique is a unique and specialized mode of assisted reproductive technology that has significantly improved the chances of pregnancy. It involves the use of a modern and highly specific technique called micromanipulation. A live sperm is injected into the egg with the help of very fine surgical tools in this process.
ICSI treatment is usually recommended by doctors when the patients are finding it difficult to conceive because of male factor infertility. As the name suggests, the sperm is placed inside the cytoplasm of the egg. The cytoplasm is composed of water, salt, and other molecules, and it is a gel-like substance. Sometimes, an IMSI IVF may also be recommended by the doctors.
There are many reasons why an ICSI fertility treatment may be recommended by your healthcare practitioner. These include:
The importance of ICSI in IVF treatment is highly significant. This can be attributed to the fact that this technique helps overcome male infertility issues and increases the chances of a successful pregnancy. Of course, before moving to this process, people try to get more knowledge about First Time Intercourse and see if it works.
How exactly is ICSI treatment carried out? Let us find out:
The first step of IVF and ICSI treatment is the same. The female will be required to take the prescribed medication as per your doctor’s instructions. This will stimulate the production of eggs in your ovary. Follicular monitoring is done to check the development of the egg. After 10 to 14 days of medication, the egg is ready to be retrieved.
The second step in ICSI treatment involves the careful retrieval of the sperm and the eggs. For Sperm Retrieval, the male partner is required to ejaculate in a cup and provide this sample to the doctor. Sometimes, the doctor may also recommend the collection of the sample earlier, after which the semen is frozen.
When it comes to the female partner, the retrieval of numerous eggs is done from the ovary with the help of a very fine needle and a probe under USG guidance and anesthesia. This step is done under ultrasound guidance. You will experience no pain during this process. However, minor soreness and discomfort are possible. Some couples may also have to seek the help of Egg Donation.
Once the retrieval of the egg and sperm is done for ICSI treatment, the washing of the semen sample is done. Then, a single sperm cell is then isolated from the sample. Now, an experienced and skilled embryologist will use a hollow and very thin needle to inject this sperm into the cytoplasm of the egg. A Spindle Check may be suggested before the injection.
It is ensured that the sperm that is to be injected is of the highest quality. This process of joining the egg with the sperm is called fertilization. If fertilization is done after Egg Oocyte Freezing, they are thawed before use.
After the injection, it takes a maximum of 24 hours for the sperm to fertilize the egg. This fertilized embryo is then kept under simulated conditions in the laboratory. The experts will keep a close eye on the embryo to check for signs of growth and development. Among the set of available embryos, the most viable one is selected for transfer.
Once the best embryo is selected and it has reached the optimum developmental stage, an ultrasound-guided catheter is used to place it into the uterus of the woman. The doctor will decide when the embryo transfer step of the ICSI fertility treatment will be done between 2 to 5 days from fertilization. Sometimes, a Pipelle Biopsy may also be recommended before transfer.
These days, a Single Embryo Transfer is done.
About 2 weeks from the day of embryo transfer, a pregnancy test will be conducted to confirm if the process was successful.
As with any other technique, there are both benefits and risks of this fertility treatment as well. These include:
The benefits of this treatment option include:
The common risks of ICSI treatment include:
The risks of Intracytoplasmic sperm injection to the baby include:
The ICSI treatment success rates range from 70 to 85%. Of course, there are many factors that will decide the success rate for a particular case. These factors include:
The primary difference between IVF and ICSI treatment is the way in which fertilization occurs. ICSI is practically a type of IVF treatment itself. In IVF, thousands of sperm are added to a laboratory dish containing the egg. Then, one of the sperm will swim to the egg and fertilize it itself.
Now, in IVF ICSI treatment, the doctors try to improve the chance of fertilization by directly injecting the sperm cell into the cytoplasmic matter of the egg. Even after this, there is no 100% guarantee that fertilization will take place.
As a part of ICSI in IVF treatment, the best embryo is then transferred to the uterus of the female, where it may implant, grow, and develop. Both IVF and ICSI make use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) to help people with fertility issues fulfill their dream of becoming parents.
When it comes to advanced fertility treatments like ICSI and IVF, Bloom IVF stands tall as one of the most reputed clinics in the country. We have the most excellent and state-of-the-art facilities and a highly skilled team. What’s more? You will find the most affordable ICSI treatment cost in India at our centers.
Other than reliable ICSI fertility treatment, Bloom IVF is also known to provide a range of other clinical and technical services to solve fertility-related problems. So, whether you are looking for a center that specializes in Microfluidics or Hysteroscopy, you must get in touch with the team at Bloom IVF.
If you could not find an answer to your query, please contact us.