Dealing with male factor infertility? Then ask your doctor about the latest ICSI success rates. ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is a procedure that’s used as part of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
First introduced in 1992, ICSI is probably the greatest advancement in treating infertility since IVF-ET.
ICSI offers couples the chance to have their own children when it would be impossible by other means. Because of this, ICSI success rates are high as the procedure bypasses many forms of male infertility.
Bypassing male factor infertility
If your partner has been diagnosed with male factor infertility, this procedure boosts the likelihood of you being an ICSI success story.
If your partner has a problem with low sperm counts or sperm motility, ICSI can bypass that problem. Also, if your partner has a blockage that prevents sperm from coming out or has had an irreversible vasectomy, ICSI is the answer you need to conceive and have a baby.
If your partner’s sperm has trouble attaching its head to the egg, ICSI may allow you to get pregnant as the sperm is injected directly into the egg.
In addition, even if there are no issues with your partner’s sperm, your doctor may recommend ICSI with IVF because it virtually guarantees that the sperm gets into the egg.
ICSI only needs one sperm
ICSI improves the odds of fertilization occurring in difficult cases because the sperm does not have to travel to get to the egg or to penetrate it. In fact, the sperm doesn’t have to do any work because ICSI gets the sperm to the egg.
In cases where your partner produces sperm, his semen sample will be obtained by ejaculation. However, if there is an obstruction or if he doesn’t produce sperm, the doctor will get the sperm by needle aspiration. Sometimes the doctor performs a biopsy of the testicular tissue, which usually contains sperm.
Furthermore, only a single sperm is needed to fertilize your egg, get pregnant, and have another potential ICSI success story.
What’s the ICSI success rate?
The ICSI success rate is fairly high; approximately 50 to 80 percent of eggs are fertilized with this procedure. However, the ICSI success rate is based only on fertilization taking place.
The ICSI success rate does not account for the number of actual babies that are delivered as a result of this procedure. Many times, even after fertilization occurs, the egg may fail to grow into an embryo. The embryo may also stop growing.
The live birth ICSI success rate is about 30 percent. This gives couples a higher chance of pregnancy than some couples would otherwise be given.
If you’re dealing with male factor infertility or other fertility problem, talk to your doctor. Ask if ICSI may be a successful procedure to help you bypass male factor infertility and finally get pregnant.
Sources: American Society of Reproductive Medicine: Patient Fact Sheet: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) American Pregnancy Association: Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). IntegraMed: ICSI (Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection) fertility treatment. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Report: National Summary.
