Understanding the Basics of Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)
If you are suffering from infertility problems and are looking for the right clinic for treatment, you know that Iran is one of the pioneering countries in infertility treatment. Scientific research and the use of up-to-date therapeutic methods have made Iran one of the most prestigious infertility treatment destinations in the world. A wide range of therapies such as IUI, IVF, ICSI, and … are offered at affordable costs in Iran. Still in doubt to start your treatment process like ICSI in Iran?
ICSI is one of the most complex methods of infertility treatment. Iranian Infertility Centers have been using ICSI since 1994 to treat infertile couples who are good candidates for this treatment. In addition to the high quality of treatment, the low cost of ICSI in Iran, compared to other countries, has led many infertile couples to seek ICSI treatment.
For more information about ICSI in Iran, you can contact us.
What is ICSI?
ICSI was first used in Belgium in 1992. The use of this method has made major progress in the treatment of male infertility.
In the ICSI method, several spermatozoa of high motility and quality are extracted from male semen using laboratory-specific methods. In vitro, a selected sperm is then injected into the egg through a very thin needle to fertilize it. Once the egg is fertilized, the embryo is transferred to the uterus to continue its normal growth.
When is ICSI recommended?
The ICSI method can be indicated in:
- Poor quality of male sperm in terms of number, motility, or abnormal shape of sperm (Learn more about increasing sperm quality: Ways to boost sperm quality and increase fertility in men)
- The low number of female oocytes (Learn more about egg donation: Egg donation in Iran)
- When sperm cannot reach the oocyte in the uterus, such as uterine closure, pelvic adhesions, and…..
- Failure of several cycles of IVF treatment (Learn more about reasons for the failure of IVF: Causes of IVF failure)
What are the stages of ICSI?
The ICSI treatment process is very similar to IVF treatment. The stages of ICSI treatment can be divided into five stages:
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Induction ovulation:
The greater the number of oocytes prepared during a treatment cycle, the greater the chance of a healthy fetus forming and subsequently the chance of pregnancy. A doctor prescribes ovulation induction drugs to stimulate the growth of several oocytes in a woman’s cycle.
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Oocytes collection:
During a minor surgery, the infertility doctor picks up the mature oocytes using a special needle. This is done under conditions of local or general anesthesia.
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Sperm collection and preparation:
In vitro fertilization of the oocyte with sperm requires the collection of semen. If the male is unable to produce semen, TESE or PESA methods are used to collect sperm. Learn more about zero sperm condition and azoospermia: Azoospermia (No Sperm Count)
The collected sperms are washed by a specific method and examined for motility and shape. Finally, high-quality sperms are selected to fertilize the oocytes.
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Fertilization :
In the ICSI method to fertilize an oocyte, one of the selected sperm is injected directly into the oocyte by a special needle. In order to increase the chance of fertility, several oocytes are usually fertilized at this stage. The formed embryos are examined 2 to 5 days after fertilization.
Healthy embryos are selected for transfer to the mother’s uterus. If the patient desire, a number of embryos can be frozen for subsequent pregnancies.
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Embryo transfer to the uterus
Finally, the selected embryos are prepared for transfer to the uterus. A specialist physician inserts the embryo into the mother’s uterus during a minor surgery without the need for anesthesia. For more information on the ICSI process, see IVF in Iran.
What is the difference between ICSI and IVF?
The difference between IVF and ICSI is in how the oocyte is fertilized. In IVF, the oocyte is exposed to sperm in an in-vitro container until the highly motile sperm enters the oocyte and fertilizes it. But in the ICSI technique, a selected sperm is injected directly into the oocyte through a special needle. In this method, high-quality and motile sperm are separated and ready for injection in a laboratory using a special method. The ICSI method is mostly used in cases where the quality of male sperm is low. Learn more about sperm problems and their effect on fertility: Sperm problems in infertility
Which IVF or ICSI is better? What is the highest success rate?
IVF and ICSI are two common and effective infertility treatments that are recommended depending on the couple’s condition. While IVF applies to a wide range of fertility disorders. ICSI is mainly recommended for couples who suffer from male-factor infertility. If male sperm quality is poor and low in number and motility, the use of ICSI for treatment is more likely. Learn more about Factors Causing Infertility in Men: Causes of Male infertility
Research shows that the success rate of IVF and ICSI is not significantly different. The success rate of IVF in women under 40 has been reported to be over 40%. In the ICSI method, sperm are injected directly into the oocyte, but the probability of fertility is between 50 and 80%. It should be noted, however, that fertilized oocytes with the same probability of about 40% can continue to grow in the uterus and lead to a successful pregnancy. As the female ages, the quality of the oocytes decreases. Therefore, the chances of fertility in ICSI and IVF are lower in women over 40 years. (Learn more about ways to improve your egg quality for ICSI and pregnancy: How To Improve Egg Quality For ICSI )
It should be noted that any treatment may have some risks. Before starting the ICSI treatment, you should be aware of the issues that may occur during the process. Because of the similarity between ICSI and IVF, these methods have the same risk. Learn about IVF and ICSI risks: Risks of IVF
Post-ICSI care
One to two hours after the embryo transfer to the uterus, the patient is discharged. This operation requires no hospitalization. To increase the success of the treatment process, it is recommended that the mother not have severe fatigue within 3 to 4 days after the operation. In addition, psychological well-being and avoidance of anxiety and tobacco and alcohol use may affect treatment success. learn more about the ways to boost your chances of fertility treatment success: ways to increase your infertility treatment success
ICSI Cost in Iran
ICSI treatment costs vary depending on which center or clinic you choose. The average price of an ICSI cycle in the best fertility clinics in Iran is between 2,500 to 3,500 us dollars. The reasonable price of ICSI treatment in Iran encourages many tourists to treat their infertility in Iran. In many fertility centers in Iran, the costs of ICSI and IVF are similar. For more information about the cost of IVF treatment in Iran read this post: The cost of IVF in Iran