Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Procedures

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection is a form of infertility treatment that is used mainly for fertility problems in men. The type of male infertility issue it is normally used to treat is when there is severe sperm abnormalities. This procedure is followed by the fertilized sperm being implanted into the female. This method has been able to help couples have a child when other in vitro fertilization procedures have failed.

ICSI involves accurate maneuvers to successfully pick up one single live sperm and then insert it directly into a human egg. For this procedure to work, the female must take fertility drugs to stimulate the ovaries in order to produce several mature eggs. The eggs are extracted through the vagina.

The procedure uses equipment such as inverted microscopes and ultrasound equipment to choose and pick-up sperm one at a time into a specially made tiny hollow needle. The needle is then accurately and very carefully inserted into the egg's outer shell and membrane. The sperm is then inserted into the egg's inner part. Normally, about 70 to 85 percent of eggs that are injected with sperm using this procedure result in fertilization.

As with a large amount of medical procedures, there are some risks involved with intracytoplasmic sperm injection. During the procedure itself, a minute amount of eggs can be damaged when the ICSI needle is inserted. There is also a 4 percent higher risk of the baby having a chromosomal abnormality than with spontaneous conception.

There are no answers at this time as to why there is an increased risk with ICSI. However, abnormalities with sex chromosomes carry their own set of risks. Sex chromosome abnormalities are associated with the risk of increased miscarriage, heart problems in infants, an increased chance of infertility in the child once they reach adulthood and also the increased chance of learning disabilities and behavioral problems in the children. However, there is no conclusive evidence that children born using the ICSI technique will experience environmental delays.

Procedures such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection have been called miraculous procedures and most certainly feel like miracles to those that are trying to conceive. Many couples have been able to conceive a child using this method of infertility treatment. While most couples who want to start a family don't always think of the probability of having an infertility problem, between 10% and 15% of couples attempting to have a child in the U.S. must deal with fertility issues. With ICSI, the likelihood of a couple who are trying to conceive a baby after one month of unprotected intercourse is around 25%. This number increases to 85% to 90% after the couple has attempted for over a year.