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Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection
(ICSI)
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was a major advance in the treatment of male infertility. We now know that up to 50% of all couples will have some degree of male factor infertility.
Using ICSI during the IVF procedure, the embryologist injects a single sperm directly into the egg using a microscopic needle. Dr. David Wininger, PhD is the Laboratory Director at Premier Fertility Clinic, NC and he has extensive experience in all micromanipulation techniques.
This sperm used for ICSI can come from an ejaculate, or it can be retrieved directly from the male reproductive tract by a urologist, as in testicular sperm extraction (TESA) and microsurgical epididymal sperm aspiration (MESA).
This ability to fertilize an egg with a single sperm (ICSI) means that men with severe sperm deficiencies can still father children. Many men who underwent a vasectomy for birth control wish to have the procedure reversed because of changes in “life situations”. It is sometimes possible to surgically reverse a vasectomy depending upon many factors including how, and where the tubes were severed. Success rates for vasectomy reversal vary widely because of these and other factors.
ICSI is chosen by many men with vasectomies , using sperm obtained from the MESA or TESA procedures. Dependent upon factors, such as female age, per cycle success rates are often higher with ICSI than with vasectomy reversal.
If you are a candidate for ICSI, Dr. Deaton will discuss the procedure with you in detail.
Assisted hatching (AH) is often used to help an embryo implant in the endometrium. AH may be used in women of advanced age, some cases of unexplained infertility, in women where implantation is not successful, and other conditions.
Assisted hatching involves making a small hole in the membrane surrounding the embryo (zona pellucida) prior to placing it in the uterus. This hole is made chemically, using Acid Tyrode’s solution, mechanically using a microscopic needle, or with a laser. The opening in the zona pellucida may help the embryo “hatch out” and attach to the endometrial lining.
The assisted hatching procedure most likely does not cause damage to the embryo and studies suggest assisted hatching may facilitate implantation.
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