Deciding to have fertility treatment is a difficult decision. Several fertility treatment types are available, and many factors are related to each one.
Before you rush into undergoing any fertility treatment, you must know enough about the different types of this treatment.
Furthermore, it would be best to deal with a trusted clinic to ensure you are qualified for fertility treatment and the most appropriate procedure according to your condition.
Studies indicate that 80-90% of couples will get pregnant within one year without the need for assisted reproduction.
However, specialist doctors recommend fertility treatment such as In Vitro Fertilisation(IVF) or Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) if you have been trying to get pregnant for over two years. We at HayatMed will help you determine whether you need fertility treatment and, if so, which is most appropriate.
What is Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI)?
In about half of the couples with reproductive problems, the cause of their problem is sperm-related. Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) is the most commonly used treatment for infertile males.
ICSI procedure needs only one Sperm injected directly into the egg. Then, the embryo is transferred to the uterus.
What is the difference between IVF and ICSI?
In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) are the most commonly used fertility treatments. The main difference between them is how the Sperm fertilizes the egg.
Fertilization using the IVF process is done by putting the egg and Sperm in a dish to fertilize independently. Then, while using the Intracytoplasmic Sperm injection, one Sperm is directly injected into the egg.
When is the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection recommended?
This method of treatment can help couples when the partner’s Sperm:
- I can’t get to the egg at all
- can reach the egg but can’t fertilize it.
The doctor will likely recommend the ICSI process in the following circumstances:
- First, the sperm count is meager.
- A high percentage of Sperm are abnormally shaped or slow.
- The Sperm can not be shown in the semen sample but can be collected from the duct or the testicles where Sperm are usually stored.
- Your partner has problems getting an erection and ejaculating caused by diabetes or other reasons.
- There is a need to use frozen Sperm that are not the best quality.
- The embryos need to be tested to avoid passing on genetic problems.
- If you have tried IVF before, you may move on to ICSI if the eggs retrieved were not fertilized or if insufficient eggs could be retrieved.
This technique can improve the chances of fertilization compared with IVF. However, it doesn’t guarantee that fertilization will happen.
What are the success rates of ICSI?
Fertilization success rates using Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection are often higher than IVF fertilization success rates. However, pregnancy success rates are likely the same using both methods.
ICSI success rates are classified as follows:
- 47 % if you are between 18 and 34
- 40 % if you are between 35 and 37
- 33 % if you are between 38 and 39
- 24 % if you are between 40 and 42
- 14% if you are between 43 and 44
- 5 % if you’re 45 or more
Remember that the younger you are, the more likely you will get a healthy pregnancy. Contact us for information about our complete inclusive fee package for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) treatment.
Read Also: Average cost of IVF.
Our surgeon is a Professor with a book on Fertility Treatmeants and 25 years of experience.
Our hospital is rated A- by the Turkish Ministry of Health and accredited by JCI, representing gold standards in hygiene and quality.
We provide dedicated aftercare while in Turkey and after returning to the home country.
What are the risks associated with the ICSI procedure?
Here are some of the risks associated with this procedure:
Risk of multiple pregnancies
Transferring more than an embryo to the uterus is associated with a 30 % to 35 % chance of becoming pregnant with twins and a 5 % to 10% chance of getting pregnant with triplets or more.
Pregnancy with multiple embryos increases the chances of complications during pregnancy and delivery, like gestational diabetes, preterm birth, preeclampsia, Cesarean delivery, and prematurity complications. Increased risk of miscarriage
Many fertility treatment patients would risk miscarriage if low-quality sperm were used to fertilize the eggs.
Medication reactions
You may experience problems caused by fertility medications, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, and other complications like headaches and restlessness, hot flashes, and irritability.
Risk of congenital disabilities and health problems at birth
Studies indicate that pregnancy assisted by fertility treatments and natural pregnancy leads to the same rate of congenital disabilities in babies.
The Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection risk of having a child with abnormalities is so low(less than 1%)
Risk of embryo damage
During egg fertilization, not all eggs will develop into embryos. Some of the eggs may be damaged. Fertilization success rates using ICSI range from 50 % to 80 %.
How is the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection procedure done?
The doctor will start the Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection treatment by prescribing fertility drugs that help ovaries stimulate the development of several mature eggs for fertilization.
They will use ultrasound and blood tests to determine when your eggs are ready for collection. Then, you and your partner will undergo separate processes.
Your partner will be requested to produce a semen sample by ejaculating on the same day your eggs are collected.
If there is no sperm shown in the semen, or the partner is unable to ejaculate,
then your doctor will use a needle to extract sperm from the following:
- The partner’s epididymis, in a process called percutaneous epididymal sperm aspiration (PESA)
- The partner’s testicle, in a process, is called testicular sperm aspiration (TESA).
This step will usually be performed under local anesthesia so your partner will not feel pain.
If the doctor does not get enough sperm using these techniques, they will take a testicular tissue biopsy with sperm attached.
This procedure is called testicular sperm extraction (TESE). It is also performed under general anesthesia. Surgical sperm extraction is often done before the treatment cycle begins. The retrieved sperm will be frozen.
The doctor will remove your eggs during egg retrieval using a needle attached to an ultrasound probe. Then, the doctor will give you progesterone to prepare the womb lining for transferring the eggs.
You’re likely to be sedated so that you will feel comfortable. At the same time, the specialist will isolate individual sperm in the laboratory and inject them into individual eggs.
The fertilized eggs (embryos) need one to five days in a laboratory to grow. Once the embryos are ready, the doctor will transfer one or two of them to your uterus using an ultrasound-guided catheter.
If all goes well, one embryo or two will attach to the wall of your uterus, and you will become pregnant. Then, after about two weeks, you will take a pregnancy test.
Contact us for information about our complete inclusive fee package for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) treatment.
When can you get the treatment result?
After two weeks of embryo transfer, your doctor will test a blood sample to detect whether you’re pregnant. After that, your doctor will pass you to a pregnancy specialist for prenatal care if you are pregnant.
If you’re not pregnant, you’ll stop using medications and probably get your period within a week. However, you should contact your doctor if you don’t get your period.
After a failed cycle, how long can you do another Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection cycle?
After the failed treatment attempt, the doctor will determine a suitable time for a new cycle.
Sometimes, the patient may begin another cycle immediately, while in other cases, the doctor may recommend rest before starting the next cycle.
If you’re interested in trying another cycle of ICSI, your doctor will discuss your next step and explain how to improve your successful treatment chances.
Fertility treatment in Turkey
Recently, Turkey has become one of the destinations for Fertility treatment abroad.
There are about 150 clinics that offer different types of fertility treatments at the hands of experienced doctors at moderate costs.
It is noteworthy that the laws in Turkey prevent egg, sperm, or embryo donation. Accordingly, only using the couple’s eggs and sperm is allowed.
When you consider this type of treatment and start to find out more details, especially about the price, you will be surprised that the cost of fertility treatments in Turkey can be half that in other countries like the USA, the UK, and the UAE. Therefore, this issue is one reason Turkey is a destination to consider.
HayatMed Medical Group, located in Istanbul, Turkey, is an approved clinic by the Ministry of Health. We deal with the most experienced doctors in Turkey’s infertility treatment field.
Contact us for information about our complete inclusive fee package for Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) treatment.
About the author
Zeyna Aslan
Zeyna Aslan brings over 13 years of expertise to the HayatMed Clinic Blog. With a passion for healthcare communication, Zeyna has crafted insightful articles that demystify complex medical topics, empowering readers to make informed decisions about their well-being.
Her wealth of experience ensures that each blog post is a reliable source of knowledge, fostering a deeper understanding of health and medical advancements.
Share The article
Related Articles
un ultimate guide for IVF Cost
What does the average IVF cost? That might be the first thing new patients want to discover after learning about fertility issues and how IVF
IVF due date calculator
When an IVF or in vitro fertilization pregnancy is confirmed, a patient is eager to know when the baby will arrive. While IVF’s due date
