Another 10-15 years ago, in vitro fertilization was considered something of a science fiction. Today, tens of thousands of couples have gained the opportunity to experience the pleasures of motherhood and paternity through ECO technologies. One of the most effective modern methods of treating infertility is the artificial insemination of IVF by ICSI.
IKSI fertilization - to whom and why
ICSI means an intracytoplasmic injection of a sperm. Behind the unwieldy name lies a rather simple at first glance process: the sperm is injected directly into the egg with the help of special microinstruments. For the uninitiated, the ICSI procedure really looks like an injection. And this explains the high effectiveness of the method: only one qualitative sperm is needed, the entire work of which is actually performed by the embryologist. Sperm remains only to fertilize the egg, merging with her nuclei. Therefore, ICSI is used for fertilization in the presence of the most severe forms of male infertility, which are not amenable to treatment (for example, with congenital absence of spermatic flow or in the absence of mature spermatozoa in the ejaculate).
In addition, ICSI fertilization is prescribed in the following cases:
- poor indicators of the qualitative and quantitative composition of sperm;
- low quality of "thawed" spermatozoa;
- presence of antibodies to sperm.
How do ICSI?
We'll figure out how ICSI is going on. First of all, artificial insemination of ICSI is part of the IVF program, which means that all the preparatory stages - ovarian stimulation, puncture, collection and treatment of sperm - occur in exactly the same way as with standard in vitro fertilization. Differences begin at the stage of egg preparation for fertilization: the embryologist removes her protective layers with the help of a special reagent. Under the powerful microscope, the best sperm is also selected. Both cells are placed in special media in which the necessary temperature and sterility is maintained. Then the egg is fixed with a special micropipette, the spermatozoon is removed the tail and placed in the microneedle. Using manipulators, very carefully, controlling each movement and observing what is happening in the microscope, the embryologist introduces the spermatozoon into the egg. The IVF IVF procedure is completed. It remains to wait for fertilization and the first division of a new cell.
ECO Statistics ICSI
The result of ICSI fertilization is influenced by many factors, the main of which are qualitative spermatozoa and ovules. And female cells are not always obtained by hyperstimulation of the ovaries. In rare cases, resort to ICSI in a natural cycle - obtaining an egg without medication. However, this is a very complicated procedure, requiring high qualification of the doctor and not always ending successfully.
According to ICSI statistics, the probability of successful fertilization after the ICSI procedure does not exceed 60%. This is due to the fact that in the process of preparation and conduct of ICSI ovum
Nevertheless, ICSI fertilization is much less common than in standard IVF. There are several reasons: expensive equipment that is not available in all clinics, the complexity of the procedure itself and the high qualification of the embryologist who conducts it.