ICSI Introduction
to ICSI: In 1994 the Cooper Center for IVF was credited with the first ICSI pregnancy in the Delaware Valley and they were triplets! Currently, approximately 40% of all egg retrievals performed at the Cooper Center for IVF utilize the ICSI technique. 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 for men that have extremely low sperm counts they 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) can 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. Prior to therapy, the couple should have genetic testing done for cystic fibrosis. Candidates
for ICSI: |
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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 treat sperm that
has: low count, low motility, high anti-sperm antibodies or abnormal
morphology. In the case of testicular obstruction (ie: vasectomy),
the fragile sperm are aspirated from the testes by the urologist
(in our office) and then the ICSI procedure is performed by the
embryologist to fertilize the oocytes.
