ICSI-IVF is a type of in vitro fertilization that is preferred most in cases of male infertility, after several failed fertilization efforts with traditional IVF, or after egg freezing (oocyte preservation).
In Chennai, ICSI-IVF is generally used in cases of severe male infertility, as well as for:
- Very low sperm count (popularly known as oligospermia)
- Poor sperm movement (also known as asthenozoospermia)
- Abnormally shaped sperm (also known as teratozoospermia)
If semen analysis shows no sperm present in a man’s ejaculation, despite sperm being produced in the body, the sperms may be retrieved through testicular sperm extraction, also known as TESE. Sperm recovered through TESE requires the use of ICSI and related procedures. This method is also used in cases of retrograde ejaculation if the sperm is salvaged from the man’s urine.
Severe male infertility is not the sole reason why ICSI is preferred. Other evidence-based reasons for ICSI include:
- Earlier IVF cycles having few or no fertilized eggs: Often, a good number of eggs are salvaged, and sperm counts look substantial, but no eggs get fertilized. In this scenario, during the next IVF cycle, ICSI may be suggested.
- Frozen sperm is being used: If the thawed sperm don’t appear particularly active, ICSI-IVF may be advised.
- Frozen oocytes are being used: Vitrification of eggs can sometimes cause the egg’s shell to harden. This may complicate fertilization, and IVF with ICSI may help in this kind of scenario.
- PGD is being done: PGD (preimplantation genetic diagnosis) is an IVF technology that lets you do a genetic screening of embryos. There is apprehension that regular fertilization methods may cause sperm cells (sperm cells have not fertilized the egg) to “hang around” the embryo, and that this may inhibit precise PGD results.
- IVM (in vitro maturation) is being used: IVM is an IVF technology where eggs are retrieved from the ovaries before they are fully mature. The eggs progress through the final stages of maturation in the laboratory. Some research has found that IVM eggs may not be fertilized by sperm cells at the rates that are observed in conventional IVF. More research is required, but it is suggested that IVM with ICSI is an optimal option.
Risks
Some types of birth defect may happen with ICSI-IVF, particularly Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, hypospadias, Angelman syndrome, and sex chromosome abnormalities. They happen in less than 1 percent of babies conceived using ICSI-IVF.
There is also a somewhat bigger risk of a male baby having fertility issues in the future. This is because male infertility may be passed over to the child genetically.
Success Rate
The ICSI procedure fertilizes 50-80 percent of eggs. You might think all eggs get fertilized with ICSI-IVF technique, but they do not. Fertilization is not certain even when a sperm is injected into the egg for conceiving.
Keep in mind that fertilization rates don’t indicate clinical pregnancy or live birth rates. Once fertilization occurs, the success rate for a couple or individual using ICSI with IVF is similar to a couple using conventional IVF treatment.
To have a better chance at pregnancy, you can try ICSI in Chennai. Make sure you check all the services and facilities before checking in for the treatment.