ICSI

I just wanted to make a post about what we'll be doing different this IVF Cycle, We'll be doing everything we did last time and then a procedure called ICSI. I pulled the info right from the Patient booklet at Wilford Hall:


ICSI - INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION
This technique was developed in Brussels, Belgium at the Center for Reproductive Medicine in 1991. ICSI involves the injection of a single sperm directly into the cytoplasm of the oocyte (egg) using a technique called micromanipulation. This technique has revolutionized the treatment of male infertility. It is useful to couples where the male has a low sperm count, low sperm motility, high levels of anti-sperm antibodies or abnormal sperm morphology. In the case of testicular obstruction (ie: vasectomy), the sperm are aspirated from the epididymis or testes by the urologist and then the ICSI procedure is performed by the embryologist to fertilize the oocytes.
Careful follow up of all pregnancies are done and to date the rate of birth defects appears to be no higher than in naturally conceived children. It has been noted that men that have extremely low sperm counts may have a condition known as micro-deletion of the y-chromosome. This is a genetic condition that can account for why these men have a very low sperm count. This condition (micro-deletion of the y-chromosome) may be genetically passed down to the male offspring of this specific group of men. It has been shown that men with a condition called congenital absence of the vas deferens have a higher incidence of carrying the gene for cystic fibrosis and should have genetic testing done for cystic fibrosis.

Candidates for ICSI:
ICSI is useful for patients suffering from male factor infertility, which includes low count, low motility, abnormal sperm, high anti-sperm antibodies, or poor fertilization by conventional insemination in past cycles. ICSI requires very few total motile sperm, so even males with severe male factor infertility have a chance at producing a genetically related child.
http://www.sammc.amedd.army.mil/patient/departments/ob_gyn/sammc_south/in_vitro/docs/IVFPatientBooklet.pdf