ICSI: patient reviews, preparation procedure, procedure features, results

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Statistics have shown that in our country, many couples face difficulties when trying to conceive a child naturally. Some solve the problem with the help of correct treatment, others turn to different reproductive technologies. To date, one of the most popular techniques is intracytoplasmic sperm injection. It is part of IVF. In this article, we will look at what ICSI is, we will also study the reviews, and also touch on the topic of preparation for the procedure and the consequences.

What is this?

This technique is a component of in vitro conception. It involves the introduction of high-quality sperm directly into the egg. This allows you to overcome the most common factors of infertility on the part of a woman or a man. This method began to be put into practice in 1992 in Belgium. Today it is very effective, because even after the first attempt at conception, the probability of a positive result is from 32 to 50%. During the second ICSI, the chance becomes even greater.

Indications for ICSI

Before we begin to study the features of ICSI, reviews of which you will find in this article, you should consider the indications for the procedure. So, it is assigned if:

• The patient has severe oligozoospermia.
• After the examination, the doctor discovered asthenozoospermia, which is combined with oligozoospermia of varying degrees.
• Doctor found that after defrosting, the quality of cryopreserved spermatozoa is low.
• A man is diagnosed with azoospermia, as a result of which there are no mature spermatozoa in his ejaculate. At the same time, active spermatozoa were detected after puncture of the testicle or its epididymis.
• There was a need for a genetic pre-implantation study.
• The couple had several failed IVF attempts.

Besides this, it is necessary to mention relative readings. These include sperm morphology below 4%, as well as the presence of sperm-rejecting antibodies.

Benefits of the procedure

According to reviews, ICSI has the following advantages:

• Only one sperm cell is used to fertilize an egg, which allows successful conception even if the quality of the partner's seminal fluid is not very good.
• The described method is effective even if the patient has defects in the vas deferens.
• This technology is ideal for couples diagnosed with unexplained infertility.
• Whenusing the described method, fertilization of the egg occurs in 60% of cases. At the same time, the probability of developing a he althy embryo is 95%.
• Children conceived this way are no different from those conceived naturally.
• During ICSI, donor biomaterial can be used.

Preparing a woman

Studying the reviews, ICSI can be called an effective procedure. However, a woman cannot do without appropriate training. It is necessary to prepare for the procedure in almost the same way as for IVF. At the first stage, a woman is sent for a detailed examination, which includes consultations with various doctors, ultrasound, hormone tests, smears, and so on. The main task of doctors is to exclude possible foci of infection.

Preparation for the procedure for women over 38 begins with an assessment of the ovarian reserve. That is, the specialist must evaluate how many eggs are capable of fertilization. This is necessary so that the doctor can choose the right hormonal drugs. Also, based on the data obtained, a conclusion is made about the possibility of conception in general. If the doctor thinks that conception is impossible, he will offer the patient to use donor material.

In addition, you need to drink no more than 2.5 liters of water per day and minimize the consumption of protein foods. This is done in order to reduce the risk of developing hyperstimulation syndrome. Also, a woman is advised to stop drinking alcohol and smoking and normalize hormonal levels even before sheenter the protocol. In addition, strong physical activity should be excluded.

If the patient has no problems in the genital area, the measures described above are quite enough. If endometriosis, fibroids or cysts have been diagnosed, then these diseases will need to be eliminated before the procedure. According to reviews, IVF ICSI may become unsuccessful if a woman has the described diseases.

Preparation for ICSI for a man

If a man has low sperm quality, then this is the main indication for the use of the ICSI technique. So, it is necessary to undergo the procedure if a man has the following diseases:

• reduced sperm motility;
• asthenozoospermia or oligozoospermia;
• decrease in sperm count;
• large number of sperm that are not viable;
• necrozoospermia.

In all the cases described, it will not be possible to radically improve the quality of seminal fluid, however, it is still recommended to take the following actions:

• carry out a full examination and pass a spermogram;
• get tested for infection;
• treat infection and inflammation if found.

It should be remembered that high temperature adversely affects the quality characteristics of sperm. Therefore, about two months before the start of treatment, it is necessary to refuse to visit the bath and sauna. Viral diseases also have a negative impact.

The ICSI procedure is performed only when the patient is completelyhe althy, but not earlier than a month after recovery. Also, a man should stop smoking, drinking alcohol, as beer and wine increase estrogen levels, which reduces the chances of successful conception. It is necessary to include vegetables and fruits in the diet, which contain ascorbic and folic acids. Studies have shown that sperm quality can be improved by taking vitamin C daily. For a better diagnosis, it is recommended to abstain from sexual intercourse 3 or 5 days before taking a spermogram.

Process flow

Many couples ask themselves the question: “ICSI - what is it and how is it done?”. Reviews say that the procedure includes several stages.

First of all, doctors prepare a woman for the necessary manipulations. She is prescribed drugs that stimulate the growth of the egg. The doctor controls the maturation of the follicles using an ultrasound machine. It is very important here not to miss the moment when the egg is ready to be released. It is during this period that the doctor makes an ovarian puncture to collect the egg, which will be involved in subsequent fertilization.

As for men, after preparation they donate sperm samples. Specialists place them in a special viscous medium. The embryologist then uses special instruments to immobilize the spermatozoon. After that, it is placed in a very small needle to be injected into the cytoplasm of the female cell.

The whole procedure is done using special automatic manipulators under a microscope. At the end, the needle is removed. From thismoment, the whole process of fertilization is similar to conventional IVF.

The egg, fertilized by the sperm, moves into a test tube in which cell division occurs. After a few more days, the embryo is placed in the uterus. Its further development depends on the quality of the material and the woman's body.

As the reviews say, ICSI does not help everyone the first time. After all, the process is influenced by many factors. Some women have to do several procedures. And the lady who decided on IVF ICSI should study the reviews about the procedure in order to be ready for anything.

Chance of First Time Conception

Every woman plans to get a positive result from the first IVF ICSI. Reviews say that this is possible. Moreover, the probability of a successful pregnancy is quite high. Especially if the woman's reproductive system is intact. It is very important that there are no inflammatory processes, and the menstrual cycle is regular.

So the success of ICSI the first time is real. Reviews have shown it. But many women who become pregnant after such a procedure fear that a sudden interruption will occur. But this is not supported by statistics. Those who did ICSI leave positive reviews and say that they managed to bear a he althy baby.

Most reviews indicate that with early pregnancy support, as well as observation by a doctor, pregnancy after the procedure ends with a successful delivery.

ICSI in natural cycle

Reviews about this procedure indicate that this method of fertilization in the IVF protocol does not include hormone therapy. This procedure is suitable only for those women who have fully preserved reproductive function. As a rule, ICSI in the natural cycle is performed when the presence of antisperm antibodies in a woman has been detected or when infertility is caused by a male factor.

It should be said that if the procedure is performed without hormonal ovarian stimulation, the chances of success are reduced. Indeed, in this case, only one egg is fertilized, and not several.

Benefits of non-hormone therapy

Not to mention the benefits of ICSI without hormone therapy:

• this procedure is cheaper;
• the patient will not have to purchase hormonal drugs for stimulation;
• puncture with this procedure is performed without anesthesia;
• no risk of complications (hyperstimulation).

In addition, thanks to this method of fertilization, even those women who have contraindications for hormonal ovarian stimulation can become pregnant.

Are he althy babies born after the procedure?

Women who have undergone ICSI leave positive feedback about their children. The crumbs are no different from their peers in both physical and mental development.

It should also be said that infertility treatment inmen with the help of the described method differs in features. Here one should not miss the factor that a man can pass on some genetic defects to his child. To exclude such a possibility, it is necessary to do a genetic screening before the procedure to determine if there is a pathology.

But the procedure itself does not affect the he alth of children and does not entail any genetic failures. It all depends on the he alth of the future parents. Thanks to special pre-implantation diagnostics, it is possible to analyze a specific embryo for the presence of various abnormalities of chromosomal or gene genesis.

ECO ICSI, PIKSI - reviews and differences

The main difference is that with conventional ICSI, the doctor selects the appropriate sperm subjectively. He pays attention to appearance, mobility, as well as other morphological characteristics.

If we talk about the PICSI method, then it is based on molecular analysis, thanks to which it is possible to assess not only how correct the structure of the spermatozoon is, but also how much it is able to overcome the natural barrier. Only a mature spermatozoon can pass through the shell of the egg. The level of maturity is confirmed by laboratory testing. The embryologist assesses the ability of sperm to interact with hyaluronic acid.

What do women say?

On the thematic forums about IVF ICSI, the reviews of the ladies are mostly positive. They note that they got pregnant the first time exactly when they did IVF together with ICSI. Conventional IVF of this resultdoes not.

The method also helps with ovarian failure. The expectant mother will have to take progesterone and microfollin. But the transfer of embryos in many cases is successful.

Cost of procedure

The described method of conceiving a child is complex and painstaking. Therefore, the price of the procedure is high. Depending on the medical institution, the need for concomitant treatment and procedures carried out at the preparation stage, the cost of a service without IVF varies between 15-17 thousand rubles. The entire complex often costs about 200,000 rubles. In addition, freezing of biomaterial is additionally paid.