ICSI is a method of in vitro fertilization that consists of injecting sperm into the egg intracytoplasmically (from the English ICSI, which means IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection).
Sperm can fertilize when 1 ml contains more than 20 million spermatozoa. Over a third of them should be sufficiently mobile and have a standard structure. If there are moderate deviations from the standards, in vitro fertilization is used, and in case of severe disorders, the icsi treatment pakistan is used.
Indications
Indications for the procedure are:
- low sperm count;
- low sperm motility;
- presence of anti-sperm antibodies (MAR test value over 50%);
- if male germ cells are obtained through percutaneous surgery;
- if less than four eggs are retrieved;
- if the previous IVF cycle had a low percentage of oocyte fertilization.
ICSI procedure
An embryologist performs all manipulations during the procedure. To do this, special micromanipulation equipment with high-precision manipulators is required. Special disposable instruments are also used. Before fertilization, the oocyte is placed in drops of a previously prepared medium, and the spermatozoon is placed in a drop of a viscous reagent. This allows all manipulations to be performed exceptionally safely. Drops with cells are covered with an oil solution to maintain sterility and a certain temperature level. The egg is fixed using a microscopic pipette, and the spermatozoon is immobilized and moved into the drop with the egg using a microneedle. Then, it is introduced into the egg’s cytoplasm, after which the micropipette is removed.
The essence of the method
The spermatozoon is directly introduced into the egg’s cytoplasm during this procedure. While other ART methods require a large number of good-quality spermatozoa, ICSI only needs one. That is why the procedure’s success does not depend on the quality of the sperm.
The intracytoplasmic injection method is one of the most effective assisted reproductive technologies used in reproductive medicine. This method is used in severe forms of male infertility. It allows for ivf treatment pakistan even in cases of congenital absence of the vas deferens in a man or after a vasectomy. In such cases, sperm has a deficient fertilization capacity, and this procedure ensures a successful result.
Preparation and implementation
Intracytoplasmic injection is a stage of the in vitro fertilization program. Such phases as stimulation of superovulation, sperm processing, and puncture are performed in the same way as in standard IVF. The process of preparing oocytes for fertilization is significantly different. In IVF, the sperm fertilizes the egg on its own. Using micromanipulation techniques, the embryologist injects the male germ cell directly into the egg’s cytoplasm during the procedure.
When fertilizing eggs, a reagent containing an enzyme called hyaluronidase is used. During natural fertilization, this substance is produced by the sperm. It is necessary for the protective layers of the egg to dissolve and for the male reproductive cell to penetrate inside. During the procedure, the embryologist frees the egg from these layers, which must be completely mature. The accuracy of sperm selection plays an important role. This process is carried out at a four-hundred-fold increase.