Treatment procedures for infertility problem - Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) (Part 2)

What does it involve?

To start, you will have to take fertility medications to induce ovulation during your cycle before the ICSI because this procedure requires multiple eggs to ensure the success of the treatment.

 

Similar to standard IVF procedures, the mature eggs are collected from your ovaries and you may receive general anaesthesia during the procedure. Meanwhile, your partner will be asked to provide a semen sample. The sperms are then evaluated and the healthiest sperm are selected for the ICSI procedure.

 

After the eggs and sperms are collected, the ICSI process will take place in the laboratory in which the “healthiest” sperm is injected directly into the centre of the egg by an embryologist.

 

Eggs are observed for the following day or so and those that are fertilised and developed properly will then be transferred into your uterine cavity.

 

If the procedure has been successful, your doctor will discuss with you and your partner about the number of embryos to be transferred to your uterine cavity. Your doctor will place a speculum inside your vagina, insert a small catheter through your cervix into your uterine cavity, and transfer the embryos through the catheter. The transfer causes minimal discomfort.

 

You will be asked to do a pregnancy blood test at the clinic about 2 weeks after the embryo transfer. It is not recommended to do a home pregnancy test before that time because some of the fertility medications may lead to false results if the test is performed too early.

 

 

 

 

Advantages of ICSI

ICSI is the most commonly used method to overcome male infertility problems. By selecting one single “healthiest” sperm and directly injecting into the egg, it bypasses the problem of penetration, which may not be easily done by less healthy sperm in a natural environment, thus enhancing the chance of pregnancy. Other benefits include:

l   Most effective procedure for male infertility

l   Overcoming sperm quality problems

 

 

Disadvantages of ICSI

l   Possibility of transmitting infertility to offspring;

l   Technically demanding; and

l   More expensive than IVF.

 

 

 

 

Reference: fertility.com.hk

The information aims to provide educational purpose only. Anyone reading it should consult obstetricians and gynecologists before considering treatment and should not rely on the information above.