Facing Troubles to Conceive? Know How ICSI Could Help

Infertility and sub-fertility are global public health issues today, affecting a sizeable portion of the population, according to the World Health Organization. The good news is that couples who desire a child, but are unable to achieve conception, can resort to In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF). The average global success rate stands at 40%. Intracytoplasmic Injection (ICSI) further improves the chances of fertilization. However, before you consider this treatment, you should know how it can benefit the assisted reproductive process.

ICSI: A Safe and Less Invasive Technique

For ICSI pregnancy, the best fertility specialists in Hyderabad harvest the most active and healthy sperm from the male partner and ova from the female. The sperm is then directly injected into the egg by an embryologist in the laboratory. In most IVF cases, ICSI is recommended. It is one of the best ways to circumvent conception issues arising out of male infertility problems like low sperm count, poor motility and abnormal morphology.

ICSI eliminates the need for the sperm to penetrate the egg naturally. However, it is important to remember that no treatment can guarantee 100% success. The success rate can vary from couple to couple.

The usual biological fertilization is still required, once the sperm has been inserted into the cytoplasm. It is important to ensure that the eggs have developed and matured well before retrieval. Also, transferring them back into the uterus needs to be performed very carefully for best results.

When is it the Right Option?

ICSI must be performed only after recommendation of the doctors. It can prove beneficial under the following circumstances:

• If frozen sperms are being used, ICSI can improve the chances of pregnancy.
• In cases of unexplained lack of fertilization, even if the eggs and sperms are healthy.
• Failure of previous IVF attempts due to donor or personal complications.
• If you wish to have a child after vasectomy.
• Hardened egg membrane, due to freezing or thawing.
• Any risks of physical blockage, which could prevent the sperms from entering.

If the male partner has erection/ejaculation difficulties or if he is unable to produce enough sperms, ICSI can help in the fertilization process.

Advantages of ICSI

ICSI pregnancy is a viable option, suggested by gynecologists, based on the specific case. Take a look at the benefits of using this technology.

• Helps minimize the possibility of failure of in-vitro fertilization. In IVF, the sperms and eggs are kept together in a petri dish to allow the eggs to get fertilized naturally. To boost the chances of pregnancy, the sperms are directly injected into the eggs in ICSI.
• When the eggs are not retrieved in good enough numbers, there is fear of failure. ICSI can be used to introduce the sperm to the best egg and improve the chances of pregnancy.
• Couples might be using frozen sperms from their previous cycle or from sperm banks. In case they are too active, the IVF technique might fail. On the other hand, sperms could lack the capability to penetrate the outer shell of the egg, due to weak functionality. ICSI can be of great help in the process.

Risks of ICSI

Like every medical treatment, ICSI does come with some risks. These include the possibility of multiple pregnancies and damage to a few eggs. However, a 50%-80% success rate and tons of benefits definitely make the risks worth taking. The best fertility specialists in Hyderabad assure that informed decisions and analysis of parents’ medical history can help mitigate much of the risks.

Opt for ICSI only if it an absolute requirement for pregnancy. This is because it does not assure fertilization, only elevates the chances. If you have underlying medical conditions or harmful environmental exposure that might interfere with the process, consult your fertility doctor beforehand.