ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) Mexico

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is the procedure in which one sperm is injected directly in the cytoplasm of the egg. This technique is used when the sperm analysis male infertility reports: astenozoospermia when the motility is altered by low sperm movement (less than 50% according to WHO parameters); teratozoospermia, with altered morphology and abnormal sperm forms (less than 4% according to Kruger’s strict criteria); oligozoospermia, when concentration per sample is lower than 15 million/mL. When is lower than this figure, is considered criptozoospermia. Egg fertilization is performed mechanically at our labs immobilizing one sperm through aspiration in order to micro inject the sperm in the center of each egg.

For whom is this technique indicated?

Mainly when the following conditions preexist:

— Men with previous vasectomy.

— Men with low motility or low morphology sperm samples.

— Cryopreserved sperm samples.

— Difficulties for normal ejaculation.

— After several unsuccessful IVF results.

— In cases of female factor infertility and ovulation issues.

ICSI Process:

The steps to follow through intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are basically the same that we perform for conventional IVF, with the particularity that egg fertilization is performed through the artificial introduction (micro injection) of the sperm to each retrieved egg.

Our Fertility Process

The step by step guide of our IVF Mexico procedure

1. Ovarian stimulation.

It consists on inducing multiple ovulation using hormone replacement therapy. This method allows us to anticipate the exact moment of ovulation as well the correct maturation of the eggs that will be fertilized.

2. Punction, retrieval and aspiration.

Egg retrieval, oocyte pick, ovarian punction or follicle aspiration — up the procedure through which mature eggs (sizes around 15 and 18 mm) are retrieved from the female patient for their fertilization at the IVF laboratory.

3. Fertilization through ICSI.

Through this process the egg is fertilized to create a new being (embryo), in this process we inject a single sperm inside each retrieved egg.

4. Embryo culture.

Once the egg is fertilized, we observe its development at our laboratory until it reaches the optimal conditions for transference to the woman’s uterus.

5. Embryo transfer.

When the embryo is at its best moment to implant on the woman’s uterus, is places inside the uterus on its distal locus (near the Fallopian tubes) to start its development and furthermore, to carry a pregnancy. This is performed by charging the embryos on a cannula that is conducted transvaginally until it reaches the uterus. An embryo or two may be transferred, according to each particular case.

6. Embryo vitrification.

Embryo freezing is recommended to the best quality embryos for future attempts, in case of not achieving a pregnancy on the first try as this depends in a high grade, to women’s age. Embryo vitrification or fast freezing, has proven to be the best method for freezing and thawing yielding better posterior results.