ICSI
Assisted Reproduction:
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What is ICSI?
ICSI is a complex assisted reproduction technique that allows direct fertilisation of the egg by injecting a single sperm into its cytoplasm through a microneedle. This technique is performed in an embryology laboratory by a highly qualified specialist with experience in micromanipulation.
In which cases is ICSI recommended?
ICSI is recommended in a number of situations, such as:
- Severe male factor: When the analysis of the man's semen reveals significant alterations in the quantity, motility or morphology of the spermatozoa, making fertilisation difficult either naturally or through conventional IVF.
- Failed fertilisation in conventional IVF: If in previous IVF cycles with classical in vitro fertilisation, fertilisation of the eggs has not been achieved or the fertilisation rate has been very low.
- Eggs with hardened zona pellucida: In cases where the outer layer of the egg (zona pellucida) is thickened or shows alterations, making it difficult for the sperm to penetrate by natural means or in conventional IVF.
- Fertility preservation: To preserve male fertility in patients with diseases such as cancer that require treatments that may affect sperm production.
How is ICSI performed?
The ICSI process is carried out in several stages:
- Ovarian stimulation and egg retrieval: The woman undergoes ovarian stimulation treatment to produce multiple ovarian follicles, which contain the eggs. The mature eggs are retrieved by follicular puncture guided by transvaginal ultrasound.
- Semen preparation: A semen sample is obtained from the man and processed in the laboratory to select the sperm with the best motility and morphology.
- Microinjection: Under a high-powered microscope and using micromanipulators, a specialist injects a single sperm directly into the cytoplasm of each mature egg.
- Embryo culture: The injected eggs are incubated in a controlled environment within an embryo culture for several days to allow them to develop.
- Selección y transferencia embrionaria: Se evalúa el desarrollo de los embriones y se seleccionan aquellos con mayor potencial para el embarazo. Los embriones de mejor calidad se transfieren al útero de la mujer para intentar lograr la implantación y el desarrollo gestacional.
What are the advantages of ICSI?
ICSI has several advantages:
- Increases the chances of fertilisation: It allows fertilisation even when the sperm have significant alterations, which increases the chances of achieving a viable embryo.
- Useful in cases of severe male factor: It is an effective technique for couples with severe male fertility problems, when other assisted reproductive techniques have failed.
- Higher fertilisation rate: Compared to conventional IVF, ICSI usually has a higher fertilisation rate, especially in cases with severe semen alterations.
- Enables fertilisation with frozen sperm: It can be performed with fresh or frozen sperm, making it an option for patients who have preserved their fertility or who have difficulty obtaining fresh sperm at the time of follicular puncture.
At the Malavé Institute, we have a team of specialists in assisted reproduction and a state-of-the-art laboratory to offer our patients the ICSI technique with maximum guarantees of success.
