What is ICSI treatment in infertility?

There was no specific moment when the need for the development of advanced reproductive techniques became necessary by society. Still, they were required to treat tubal factor infertility in the 1970s. 

The first conception outside the human body was a tremendous achievement, and it opened the door for the use of reproductive techniques around the world.

In the 1980s, there was a focus on the need to broaden the indications for treatment by ART. The significant achievements by the in vitro technologies brought about attention on the actual origin of the conceptus and the gametes. 

As male reproductive cells were initially taken as a continuous, consistent, and abundant supply, this changed the inability of fertilization.  

When focus on the treatment of male fertility increased, it caused the development of ICSI.

In 1992, Intracytoplasmic sperm injection ICSI was introduced to improve fertilization in males undergoing in vitro fertilization. 

Under ICSI, pre‐selected spermatozoon is injected into a mature oocyte after ovarian superovulation and oocyte retrieval.

In simple terms, a single sperm is extracted and directly injected into a single egg to fertilize them. This maximizes the chances of fertilization.

What is the process of ICSI treatment? 

ICSI is a laboratory procedure. A single sperm is picked up with a fine glass needle, called a micropipette and is injected directly into the center of the mature egg. The process is carried out in the laboratory by experienced embryologists. 

Very few sperm or a single sperm is required. ICSI does not guarantee that fertilization will occur as the regular cellular events of fertilization still need to occur once the sperm has been placed into the mature egg.  

After fertilization takes place, an embryo or two will be transferred into the uterus for two to five days after the retrieval. 

ICSI fertilizes 50% to 80% of eggs, and after the completion of fertilization, the couple’s chance of giving birth to a single baby, twins, or triplets is the same if they go for an IVF  treatment with or without ICSI.

What are the risks of ICSI for women?

The occurrences of short‐term medical complications of inducing ovulation or retrieving oocytes for IVF are rare, but it leaves an emotional impact. If the treatment fails, couples, especially women, may face depression. 

What are the risks of ICSI for men?

The minor cause symptoms are associated with ICSI treatment like pain, bleeding, bruising, and scarring are the most common. There may also be a risk during treatment, as a decrease in serum testosterone levels after testicular sperm extraction.

Needle procedure under ICSI treatment is simple, performed under sedation with minimal discomfort. Still, there are some side effects like pain and swelling. 

These risks are not permanently attached to ICSI treatment. This technique was developed recently in 1992, and because of the absence of proper statistical data, it isn't very easy to evaluate the long term effects on human health. 

However, ICSI is one of the best treatments for men who are suffering from infertility. It is used in as many as 50% of the IVF treatments undertaken and in 2000. In European countries, the clinical pregnancy rate was 28.4% for IVF and 28.7% for ICSI.

When is ICSI Fertility Treatment Recommended?

The ICSI fertility treatment is recommended in cases where the male has a very low or no sperm count.

When there is a high percentage of abnormal sperm, poor quality, or when sperm cannot move properly or low motility and low fertility, this procedure increases the likelihood of fertilization.  

When there is a blockage in the male reproductive tract, it causes the sperm to get out of the tract.

When there are high levels of antibodies in the semen, it kills sperm and reduces fertility.

ICSI is also recommended when an earlier IVF cycle has failed.

Comparison between IVF and ICSI

ICSI is a special form of IVF. In conventional IVF, the egg and considerable amount of sperm are left in a petri dish to fertilize on their own, whereas in ICSI, a fewer number or a single sperm is directly injected into the egg.

Under IVF treatment, both male and female infertility can be treated where ICSI is the only option to treat male infertility.

In short, both ICSI and IVF are two techniques of science used to treat infertility in humans. Additionally, it is right to say that both methods are the blessings for the couples for whom it is difficult to conceive naturally.

Couples facing fertility issues are invited to visit Zeeva Clinic which is the best IVF clinic in Noida. Call on +91 8377855100 to book an appointment.