There is a common belief among many infertility specialists that ICSI may have increased the embryo yield from a given number of recovered eggs; as such this belief has greatly contributed to the popularity of the ICSI procedures among the masses.
These are the common FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) about the ICSI and Split ICSI in IVF.
The full form ICSI is ‘Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection’.
ICSI is an effective treatment for men with infertility.
ICSI is performed as a part of IVF (in vitro fertilisation).
The term ‘ICSI’ refers to the technique by which a sperm is directly injected into an egg. However for this process, some men may need their sperm to be surgically extracted first.
The ICSI process is considered absolutely necessary in two clear-cut instances. It may be a single f actor or a combination of both the factors.
These are as follows: First, there can be a case of male infertility; and second, the patient’s semen analysis may indicate some abnormality.
Yes, there can be a number of issues for which a male can opt for the ICSI analysis and treatment. According to a medical research, around 75 per cent of the majority of IVF cases in Bay Area of the USA (United States of America) falls in the ICSI category.
More often than not, the reasons why a male chooses to go for the ICSI process are listed below: Of course, these are besides the prime factor of male infertility. Nevertheless, the other reasons are:
- No fertilization via the IVF process earlier on
- Infertility reasons not properly determined
- The sperm count varies
Above all, lots of patients opt for the ICSI analysis and treatment so they can have the optimum chance of being successful in the consequent IVF treatment. This is even though the procedure may not be specifically indicated.
The single most significant or particularly serious reason for one to choose the ICSI process is when the medical analysis shows abnormalities in the results of any sperm test.
Yes, medical experts recommend the ICSI process to any male patient who might have gone through a vasectomy reversal. It is worth mentioning that this step is recommended irrespective of the quality of sperm. This is primarily so as the sperm antibodies can also affect fertilization.
The decision to go for the ICSI process is quite difficult when the patient does not possess earlier medical record of male (factor) infertility.
Such instances may occur when the couples find that the male’s sperm parameters are normal. Then, both the persons ought to understand that even without the use of ICSI, optimum fertilization can be possible (just with the standard system of insemination during the IVF process).
This aspect is significant as, of late, a few couples opt for or insist on the ICSI process as a part of their ardent wish and hope to maximize the chance of fertilization.
Yes, medical experts can also recommend ‘Split ICSI’.
‘Split ICSI’ is recommended when the couples or the patient(s) shows interest about their capability for fertilization.
In cases when the ‘Split ICSI’ is carried out, ICSI is done in a two-way process but simultaneously.
While one hand, it is done on the maximum section of all the mature eggs; on the other hand, ‘Split ICSI’ is also carried out by incubating the remaining mature eggs with a mature and healthy sperm.
Well, there is a definite advantage. ‘Split ICSI’ gives the couples or the patients a sort of security against failed fertilization that is usually done via the standard way of insemination.
We generally offer ‘Split ICSI’ only for such couples who are interested in or want to know about their own (personal) capability to fertilize or fertilization capability.
In most of the cases, the fee structure is similar or same as the one charged for the general ICSI.
Yes, an important parameter is that there is a mandatory requirement of at least a minimum of eight mature. This is a must on the day of egg retrieval day.
If this mandatory retrieval of eight mature eggs is not possible, the usual process is to inject all the mature eggs of the person (patient) concerned.
Medical records indicate that a considerable number of couples having case history of infertility issues — particularly of the male factor – have become successful parents. There are also many instances of the modern ICSI technologies achieving fertilization of up to 80 per cent of all the injected eggs.
This is equal to fertilization with even the normal sperm. Moreover, pregnancy rates through the ICSI process is as good as with couples achieving pregnancy or motherhood via the IVF process particularly when there is no case history of any infertility in the male factor.
The most important indicator of ICSI success appears to be the fertilization rate achieved with the ICSI procedure. The fertilization rate in the UCSF IVF laboratory is exceptional – currently 80 to 85 percent. That is to say, on average, eight out of every 10 eggs will fertilize normally.
There are a number of risks involved for the patients opting for the ICSI procedure. The risks are enumerated below:
- While carrying out the ICSI procedure, generally less than 5 per cent of the eggs can get damaged. This happens owing to the insertion of the needle.
- On the average, there is an overall risk probability of four times of giving birth to a baby with a chromosomal abnormality. In statistics, this abnormality can be indicated as 0.8% (eight per 1000) in the X or Y chromosomes. This abnormality happens with spontaneous conception. Research is on to know the exact reason for this abnormality.
There are four issues associated with abnormalities of sex chromosomes:
- Rising risk of learning or behavior disabilities;
- Increased infertility risk in your offspring in their adulthood;
- Growing risk of miscarriage; and
- Problems of the heart for the affected infants that may call for surgery.
No. Though “Down’s syndrome” is a form of chromosomal abnormality yet there is no growing risk of this syndrome with patients undergoing ICSI. In fact, such a risk of suffering a chromosomal abnormality like the “Down’s syndrome” increases with the maternal age. It is to be noted that many researchers have addressed such issues of delays in development among some children born via the ICSI process; but there has not been any pinpoint of evidence(s) for this issue.
Yes all the mature eggs are injected in the ICSI process. This is done because the effort is to inject the maximum number of the mature eggs. Remember only the mature eggs cane be injected with sperms.
The analysis done in the IVF laboratory can easily identify any mature egg.
There is a very little likelihood of fertilization even though the immature eggs are also incubated with sperm.
On the average, around 80 per cent of the recovered eggs are injected.
No, there is no such difference in the general pregnancy rates and also the embryo quality achieved with the non-ICSI embryos as compared to the ICSI embryos.
