Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is an advanced treatment that helps patients bypass fertility challenges
The team at our Connecticut fertility center uses intracytoplasmic sperm injection, or ICSI, to help patients with a variety of issues. This effective procedure involves an embryologist injecting a single sperm into the center of a mature egg. Doing so helps bypass fertility challenges like low sperm quality or quantity. Patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) can utilize this leading-edge technology.
ICSI offers a variety of benefits
Our team has found that intracytoplasmic sperm injection can be an incredibly beneficial option for patients in several situations.
Sperm disorders. Male patients who have a low sperm count, sperm motility (movement) defects or sperm of abnormal shape and appearance can be good candidates for ICSI.
Sperm antibodies. If sperm antibodies are present in the body of the male or female partner, they could attack and weaken sperm. With intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the sperm doesn’t have to interact with these antibodies.
Inability of the sperm to undergo necessary changes. As sperm move through the fallopian tubes, they must undergo various changes to gain the ability to fertilize the egg. If sperm cannot make these changes, it can be difficult to conceive. When a patient utilizes ICSI, it is no longer an issue if most sperm cannot make these changes.
Impenetrable eggs. In some situations, sperm antibodies or abnormalities in the outer layers of the egg make it challenging for the sperm to penetrate the egg. With ICSI, an embryologist can bypass these issues.
At our Connecticut fertility center, we are highly skilled at helping patients achieve their dream of parenthood with help from ICSI.
What happens during an ICSI procedure?
Before an embryologist performs IVF with intracytoplasmic sperm injection, the doctor collects eggs from the female patient or the egg donor. The male patient also provides a semen sample.
The woman who is providing the eggs will take ovulation medications to cause multiple eggs to mature. The doctor then retrieves the eggs during an outpatient procedure. Next, the eggs and sperm are sent to our lab. There, an embryologist uses a tiny needle, also called a micropipette, to inject one sperm into the egg. The resulting embryo grows in the lab for about five to six days before freezing it or transferring it to the uterus, depending on whether it is a fresh or a frozen transfer.
Patients who have difficulty producing or ejaculating sperm may need ICSI in conjunction with micro surgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA) or testicular epididymal sperm extraction (TESE). MESA consists of the collection of sperm from the coiled tube lying behind and above each testicle. During a TESE procedure, a doctor removes tissue from the testicle and immediately examines it for the presence of sperm.
With the support of the expert team at our Connecticut fertility center, patients can discover whether ICSI has been the missing piece on their journey to parenthood. Contact us for more information about this fertility treatment option.