July 14th, 2016
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (also known as ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technology (ART). In ICSI, a mature and healthy egg is fertilized with a single sperm to optimize the chances of successful conception. Once fertilization takes place in a controlled environment (such as laboratory), the developing embryo is transferred inside the uterine cavity for growth and nourishment.
The indications for ICSI are:
You can resume your daily activities in about a day after the procedure, but it is recommended to take extra caution. Some side effects commonly experienced after the procedure are:
However some side effects can be very serious and if any is experienced, immediately refer to your doctor. Symptoms include:
The fertility medicines given during the treatment have certain side effects including:
These medications can rarely cause ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS), which may present with symptoms like pain and feeling of being bloated. In some cases, severe symptoms may occur, such as:
Speak to your doctor immediately if you are experiencing unpleasant symptoms after the procedure.
The rate of success depends upon various factors including, age of mother, cause of infertility, lifestyle of couple and their reproductive history. One must understand that the rate of pregnancy and rate of live birth are not the same.
In such cases there are options to obtain donor eggs, sperms and embryos. But before choosing this option, the couple must know the legal rules regarding the donation of gamete.
It depends upon how many eggs are obtained and the age of mother. As mother ages, multiple eggs may get implanted to increase the success rate. However, transferring multiple eggs also increases the risk of multiple pregnancies.
References:
1. https://americanpregnancy.org/infertility/intracytoplasmic-sperm-injection/
2. Klement, A. H., Koren-Morag, N., Itsykson, P., & Berkovitz, A. (2013). Intracytoplasmic morphologically selected sperm injection versus intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a step toward a clinical algorithm. Fertility and sterility, 99(5), 1290-1293.
3. Johnson, L. N., Sasson, I. E., Sammel, M. D., & Dokras, A. (2013). Does intracytoplasmic sperm injection improve the fertilization rate and decrease the total fertilization failure rate in couples with well-defined unexplained infertility? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Fertility and sterility, 100(3), 704-711.
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