ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) was first introduced in 1992. Since then, more than 95% of men became able to father a child thanks to this advanced technique.
Male infertility contributes to around 30% of infertility cases. ICSI has enabled pregnancy to be achieved successfully in couples affected by severe male factor infertility. The male partner provides a semen sample or undergoes a testicular biopsy in order to collect and select the best sperm cells for fertilization.
It is often overlooked how much ICSI in Cyprus has helped with female infertility too. ICSI has proven to be very successful in cases of unexplained infertility, poor egg quality, low egg production, advanced maternal age, fertilization failure, fertilization of cryopreserved eggs, etc. ICSI is a critical aspect of every IVF process.
Let’s take a look at how ICSI changed everything about IVF.
What is ICSI in Cyprus
ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) is a laboratory procedure in which single sperm cells are picked up with a micropipette and are injected directly into each egg. ICSI in Cyprus takes place in our euroCARE IVF specialized lab and is carried out by our experienced embryologists. The biggest advantage of ICSI is that very few sperms are required for fertilization to occur.
When is ICSI in Cyprus Used in IVF
ICSI in Cyprus facilitates fertilization when:
- There is a small number of sperm cells (low sperm count)
- Sperm cells cannot move properly (poor motility)
- Sperm has an abnormal shape (abnormal sperm morphology)
- Sperm has been collected surgically using Micro TESE
- Fertilization has failed to occur naturally
ICSI for Male Infertility
IVF with ICSI effectively treats a wide range of infertility issues in men. In most cases, male infertility is caused by low sperm counts, poor motility, poor sperm quality, or azoospermia.
Azoospermia occurs when there is no sperm in the semen. There are two types of azoospermia: obstructive and non-obstructive. Obstructive azoospermia can be caused by vasectomy, congenital absence of the vas deferens (reservoir of sperm), or scarring from prior surgery or infections. Non-obstructive azoospermia, on the other hand, is the inability to produce sperm due to an intrinsic testicular impairment or hormonal imbalance.
ICSI in Cyprus involves injecting sperm cells directly into each collected egg. In some cases, the sperm has to be surgically extracted using Micro TESE. A semen analysis can help assess the key parameters of the sperm such as count, motility, and morphology. Based on the test results, an appropriate method of sperm collection will be advised. ICSI can be extremely helpful if for example sperm concentration is below 15 million/ml, or sperm morphology is less than 4%.
ICSI for Non-Male Factor Infertility
ICSI is performed routinely for every IVF treatment at euroCARE IVF. The rationale is to increase the chances of fertilization and the number of embryos. Women who produce only a small number of eggs during IVF, or who have had multiple failed IVF cycles due to poor fertilization, may benefit from ICSI.
ICSI helps select the best sperm for fertilization. Pregnancy rates of IVF with ICSI are much better than other fertilization techniques. The micro-manipulation techniques and equipment used during ICSI have significantly improved over the past few years. When combined with expertise, ICSI can make IVF success easily attainable.
ICSI Treatment Timeline
The IVF treatment using ICSI involves the following steps:
- Ovarian stimulation
Ovarian stimulation is the first stage of the IVF process. It involves taking hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce more than one egg. The goal of this step is to produce as many eggs as possible so that there is a greater choice of embryos at a later stage. During the ovarian stimulation phase, you will be monitored through blood tests and ultrasound scans to evaluate the response of your ovaries to the hormone injections. Ovarian stimulation takes about 10-12 days to get ready for the egg retrieval.
- Egg retrieval
When your eggs become large enough, an hCG injection, also known as a trigger shot, is administered to the patient. This injection will encourage the ovaries to release mature eggs (ovulation). 36 to 38 hours after the hCG injection (trigger shot), your eggs will be collected at our IVF clinic in North Cyprus. This procedure is quite simple and does not take more than 20 minutes. Mature eggs are first visualized through ultrasound and are then collected using a fine needle. Patients are under a light sedative during the egg retrieval procedure.
- Fertilization
The collected eggs are first assessed for maturity and are fertilized in our euroCARE IVF laboratory using an ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) method. Fertilized eggs are allowed to grow in the lab for three to five days. During this time, they will be graded for quality. Only the best-looking embryos will be selected for transfer.
- Embryo transfer
Before embryo transfer, you will start taking medication containing progesterone to prepare the lining of your uterus for implantation of the embryo(s). The embryo transfer involves placing embryos into the uterus using a catheter. This procedure is painless, simple, and relatively short, lasting only 15 minutes. Embryos are transferred on day 3 or day 5 depending on their quality and your age. Twelve days after the embryo transfer, a beta hCG blood test is carried out to measure the hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). Higher hCG levels may mean that pregnancy was achieved.
How Does ICSI in Cyprus Work
ICSI is an integral part of all IVF treatments at euroCARE IVF. It is performed under a microscope using micromanipulation devices such as micromanipulator, microinjectors, and micropipettes. Sperm is selected based on its morphology (shape) and motility (movement) characteristics. Once selected, healthy sperm cells are immobilized and injected directly into the mature egg using a micromanipulator.
After fertilization occurs, fertilized eggs (now embryos) are incubated and cultured for three to five days in our lab. When ready, the best embryo(s) will be transferred to the woman’s uterus. The embryo transfer usually takes place on day 3 (cleavage-stage transfer) or day 5 (blastocyst transfer) after fertilization. Pregnancy is confirmed twelve days after the transfer through a beta hCG blood test that measures the levels of the pregnancy hormone hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin).
ICSI Fertilization Rate
Fertilization with ICSI happens in around 90% of cases. However, there are other factors that influence conception, including a woman’s age, type of infertility and cause(s) of infertility. The success rates for IVF with ICSI in 2018 at euroCARE IVF were as follows:
As fertility declines with age, women over 40 are usually recommended using donor eggs. Alternatively, some women can try Tandem IVF if they are still producing good-quality eggs. Tandem IVF uses two sets of eggs – a patient’s own eggs along with the donor’s eggs (used as a back-up plan). This treatment offers the opportunity to try for the last time to conceive with your own eggs before proceeding with IVF using donor eggs.
What Happens If ICSI Fails
IVF success depends on many factors. ICSI itself is extremely successful, but if there are other fertility issues, then quantifying the benefits of ICSI in Cyprus is a bit tricky. If the problem lies with the male partner, ICSI is very likely to succeed. The female partner also contributes to the success of IVF.
Factors that affect the likelihood of IVF success are:
- Maternal age
- Cause(s) of infertility
- Infertility history
- Lifestyle
- Egg & embryo quality
- Uterine factors
- Using donor eggs
In case your IVF cycle fails. it is generally recommended that you wait for a few more months before starting a new IVF cycle. This will make sure that your body gets stronger and well prepared for the next IVF treatment. You can try IVF with ICSI again if there are positive prospects of a successful pregnancy. Alternatively, you can discuss alternative options for having a family, such as using donated eggs, embryos or sperm.
Is ICSI in Cyprus Safe
ICSI in Cyprus is a safe procedure that is used to maximize fertilization and pregnancy success. This technique ensures that individuals and couples will have a wider choice of embryos for implantation. ICSI is not associated with preterm delivery or low birth weight among babies conceived through IVF.
A recent study found that the risk of preterm delivery and low birth weight in babies who were conceived using ICSI was similar to the risk associated with standard insemination techniques.
How Much Does ICSI in Cyprus Cost
Here at euroCARE IVF, we perform ICSI in Cyprus as part of our IVF treatment package at no extra cost. IVF price at our clinic starts at 2500€. All tests and procedures of IVF are included in the total price.
Benefits of ICSI in Cyprus
- ICSI in Cyprus successfully treats cases of severe male factor infertility.
- ICSI is performed as part of all fertility treatments at our IVF clinic in Cyprus at no extra cost.
- It reduces the need to use donor sperm or donor eggs.
- It improves fertilization and IVF success rates.
- ICSI in Cyprus can be used in cases of male and female factor infertility.
ICSI at euroCARE IVF in North Cyprus
ICSI is the most successful method for fertilizing mature eggs with viable sperm. By selecting only the best sperm, ICSI improves fertilization and pregnancy rates and addresses many egg-related problems. Talk to our euroCARE IVF fertility specialist to gain more information about IVF with ICSI.Resources:
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI): How is it Performed?