1.How is ICSI done? 2.How successful is ICSI? 3.Possible risks 4.Cost of Treatment

How is ICSI done?
Before ICSI can be done, mature eggs must be retrieved from the female partner during a standard IVF cycle. The male partner's semen sample is prepared in the lab to isolate as many healthy moving sperm as possible. After allowing the eggs to rest for 4-6 hours following their removal, the tight outer coating of cells (cumulus) is removed from each egg. Only then can we be sure the egg is mature enough to undergo ICSI.

Immature eggs cannot be injected. However, they can be incubated for a further 4-18 hours and reassessed. If they mature during that time and sperm is still available, they can undergo delayed injection. Fertilization rates with delayed injection are not as good as with usual ICSI techniques.

A special instrument is used to hold the egg in place. It is so small you can barely see the tip with the naked eye. A thinner, sharp, needle-like instrument is used to pick up a single normal appearing sperm. With great precision, the needle is inserted through the egg's outer coating (the zona pellucida) and into the egg itself. The sperm is slowly injected into the egg, and the needle is removed, leaving the sperm behind.

The injected eggs are placed in an incubator overnight and checked the next morning for signs of fertilization. After an additional 24 hours, we can determine how many have divided and gone on to form embryos. Not all eggs fertilize, and not all fertilized eggs become embryos. As with standard IVF, the number of embryos replaced into the uterus depends on the woman's age. Provided they appear healthy, additional embryos can be frozen if desired.

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How successful is ICSI?
Many IVF programs around the world now have experience with ICSI. The average fertilization rate with ICSI at Genesis is between 75-80%. Some eggs may be damaged by the injection process (typically less than 5%), whereas others may fertilize abnormally. More than 90% of couples undergoing ICSI will have at least one embryo to replace. Even with ICSI, there is a small chance that none of the eggs will fertilize. The success rates are similar to those of standard IVF and will vary with the age of the woman. After the age of 40, pregnancy rates drop significantly with both ICSI and standard IVF.

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Possible risks
Thousands of children have been born around the world as a result of ICSI. To date, there is no convincing evidence that the incidence of birth defects is any different with ICSI or IVF as compared to those children born to other parents of similar age and health. The mother's age at delivery, family history and the presence of pregnancy complications are the most important predictors of newborn health. However, it is possible that a male child born as a result of ICSI might have a fertility problem, similar to his father or slightly different.

Some men have an acquired cause of their sperm problem that we know will not be hereditary (i.e. vasectomy, spinal cord injury, etc.). However, other men have sperm problems that may have been present since birth. These may be passed on to the male children due to a small chromosomal rearrangement, a deletion of a small portion of the Y chromosome, etc. As well, men with very low sperm counts or an obstruction in their sperm ducts (vas or epididymis) may carry one of the cystic fibrosis genes (CF). In addition to passing on their sperm problem, they also have a higher chance of producing a child who actually has cystic fibrosis, especially if their partner also carries one of the cystic fibrosis genes.

Just as the mother's age influences the risk of birth defects, men with very low sperm counts also have an increased risk (about 1%) of producing a son with an abnormal number of sex chromosomes (i.e. XXY or XYY instead of the usual XY). These children have a normal physical appearance and are likely to have normal IQ scores, but they may develop learning difficulties, behavior problems or infertility.

Blood tests can be done to screen one or both partners for many (but not all) of these problems, including chromosomal rearrangements, cystic fibrosis carrier status, etc. Genetic testing is also available during the pregnancy (i.e. amniocentesis or CVS) to look for many of these abnormalities.

Cost of treatment
Please refer to our fee guide.

Although no two cycles are exactly the same, medication costs usually range from $1500 - $3000 for each cycle. You should check with your extended benefits carrier to see if any of the drugs are covered, to what extent, and for how many treatment cycles.