15.02.2011   Success at AVA-Peter after 3 failed IFV cycles in Oxford

I was amazed with the confidence we were told it would be successful, after our previous dreaded phone calls following IVF cycles in the UK...and the end result is my beautiful, blonde daughter who looks just like her father.

13.08.2010   Double blessing!

I never thought I would write this story ever. I still can't believe I am doing it, but here I am, telling you about of how my husband and I finally became parents of 2 beautiful baby girls the day before Christmas – 09, after almost eight years of dealin

ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) – is a specific kind of the in vitro fertilization used for serious male infertility. The low content of the active spermatozoa in the ejaculate - a serious form of the oligo- and/or astheno and/or teratozoospermia result in a very low fertilization rate. Thus the main objective of ICSI is to ensure the spermatozoon goes through the eg membrane – i.e. fertilization. For ICSI to be successful it's enough if there are even single alive spermatozzons in the ejaculate.

The primary objective of ICSI is to ensure that spermatozoon goes through the oocyte membrane – i.e. fertilization. For ICSI to be successful it is enough if there are even single alive spermatozoa in ejaculate.

The indication for ICSI is also an acute male immune infertility for the titer of antispermatozoal antibodies in the sperm equal to more than 50%. In this case the content of the active spermatozoons may be considerably reduced.

ICSI may be also used if fertilization during the previous IVF attempts was unefficient (less than 50% of oocytes fertilized), and for the small amount of the oocytes.

Using the inverted-stage microscope, the spermatozoon is retracted in a very slim glass needle and injected into the oocyte (Fig. 1).

Fig.1 ICSI procedure schematic.

1. Needle point
2. Pipette
3. Oocyte
4. Spermatozoon

This microinjection simulates the natural process of the spermatozoon gong through the oocyte membrane. In case of a successful fertilization and division, as for the traditional IVF procedure, the embryo is transferred into the uterus 2-5 days later.

Clinical pregnancy rates in 2006 - 2007

in ICSI cycle after transfer of 2 fresh embryos - 46,49%

Fig.2 ISCI and Embryo Development

After the ICSI fertilization the embryo quality and pregnancy rates are the same as for the standard in-vitro fertilization.

ICSI is a procedure which differs from a traditional extracorporeal fertilization only within the laboratory. All other stages and procedures, i.e. stimulation, puncture, embryo transfer and tratment after the transfer are the same as for the usual IVF.