Intracytoplasmic Sperm
Injection - ICSI
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One of the most important advances in IVF
treatment is Intracytoplasmic Sperm
Injection (ICSI). ICSI is a micromanipulation
technique developed in the early '90s that
uses a small needle to inject a single sperm
directly into the egg to achieve fertilization.
This technique is used when couples have
been unable to successfully fertilize in a
previous IVF cycle, and in cases of severe
male factor infertility.
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How ICSI COntributes to Greater Success |
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One of the greatest chellenges in egg fertilization is the ability of sperm
to travel up the fallopian tubes in enough quantity, quality and speed to contact the egg
during ovulation. The process of In Vitro Fertilization increases the success rate of fertilization
by bringing sperm directly to the egg, and then the embryo is transferred into the uterus where it
attempts to implant and grow.
There are times when for one reason or another the sperm has trouble fertilizing an egg.
The problem may have to do with motility, or the inertia the sperm has to travel and meet the egg.
Or there may be too many abnormal cells in the sample, or still yet there may be a low sperm count.
These factors are actually more common these days in even otherwise healthy men.
Sometimes it's due to environmental pollutants. Stress is also a major factor.
And believe it or not fashion plays a role in lowered fertility.
Tight, overly warm underwear or slacks such as jeans often contribute greatly
to lower sperm count, quality and motility. The success rate of In Vitro Fertilization
can be increased through ICSI.
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ICSI is especially useful for treating severe male factor infertility,
such as low sperm motility, abnormal sperm morphology, or little
or no living sperm in the semen.
ICSI enables doctors to use sperm collected directly from the
testicles, using techniques such as Testicular Sperm Aspiration
(TESA). Fertilization rates using IVF and ICSI in cases of severe
male factor infertility are similar to those of couples using IVF
with normal sperm.
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The sperm cell is aspirated, or collected for injection directly into the egg. |
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In the ICSI process, sperm is collected, washed and placed in a centrifuge to separate
the most healthy cells. Then our world-renowned embryologist, who was one of the ealry developers of ICSI
at the National Institute of Health in Washington, selects the most viable specimens and painstakingly injects
a single delicate sperm cell directly into each egg that has been retrieved. The embryologist nurtures each egg in the hopes
of their becoming embryos. At this point the embryologist and the doctor together select the most healthy and
well-developed embryo(s) for transfer.
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ICSI Procedure
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ICSI consists of the following steps:
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Eggs are retrieved as in the standard IVF procedure. |
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Semen collected from ejaculation is processed in the
laboratory to separate the living sperm from
the seminal fluid and nonliving sperm.
Sperm can also be collected directly from the testicles using
Testicular Sperm Aspiration (TESA). |
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Using micromanipulation techniques,
a single sperm is collected in a glass
needle, and injected directly into the
egg to fertilize it.
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Fertilized embryos are transferred
to the uterus using standard Embryo Transfer procedures.
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The single sperm is injected directly into the healthy egg for fertilization.
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All stages of this treatment take place in
our facility. You will see the same familiar
faces throughout the entire cycle. For more
information about this procedure, or to
set up an appointment with our doctors,
please contact us at (310) 278-7590.
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