Intracytoplasmic means that the sperm injection will take place inside the cytoplasm of the female egg. This is a gel-like substance present in the center of the female egg and is made up of salt, water, and other molecules.
ICSI is a specialized type of IVF (in-vitro fertilization) used to treat severe cases of male-factor infertility.
ICSI is generally recommended in the following male infertility cases:
The ICSI procedure is performed when the female egg is ready for retrieval. The ICSI treatment is performed in the following steps:
1. Retrieval:
The male partner will have to produce a sperm sample by ejaculating into a cup, or the male sperm may have to be retrieved surgically. Sometimes, the procedure may be performed earlier and the male sperm may be frozen for later use.
Multiple eggs are harvested from the ovaries of the female using a fine needle and an ultrasound probe under a mild anesthetic. Although this procedure is not painful, it may lead to slight bruising and soreness.
2. Injecting the sperm into the egg:
After retrieval, the semen sample from the man is washed and a single sperm will be isolated.
This sperm sample is then injected into a female egg using a very fine hollow needle.
Since the sperm is injected directly into the egg, it does not need to swim through the cervical fluid of the female.
The sperm may take up to 24 hours to fertilize the egg and create an embryo.
3. Monitoring the embryo:
The fertilized embryos may be kept in the lab for up to six days.
During this period, the embryos will be monitored for signs of growth and development.
Not all fertilized embryos are transferred to the uterus of the woman. Only the healthiest and most viable embryos will be transferred.
4. Transfer of the embryos:
After the embryo has reached a particular stage of development, one or two embryos will be selected and transferred to the womb of a woman using an ultrasound-guided catheter.
This could happen when the embryo is three days old and has eight cells, or on day five and is known as a blastocyst transfer.
If only one embryo is being transferred, known as elective single embryo transfer, having a blastocyst transfer can improve the possibility of having a successful, single, and healthy baby.
If the treatment goes as per plan, an embryo will attach to the uterus wall of the woman and continue to grow to become a baby.
The following complications may be associated with ICSI in women:
The following home remedy tips can help in quicker recovery after ICSI treatment:
ICSI may be associated with the following advantages:
The cost of ICSI treatment in Mumbai is between INR 1,75,000 to INR 3,00,000.
The cost of ICSI treatment in Delhi is between INR 1,50,000 to INR 2,75,000.
The cost of ICSI treatment in Bangalore is between INR 1,50,000 to INR 2,75,000.
The cost of ICSI treatment in Chennai is between INR 1,25,000 to INR 2,50,000.
MBBS, MS (Obstetrics and Gynaecology) - Gynecologist