ICSI

Everything you should know about ICSI

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an advanced fertility treatment that can help couples with male infertility fulfill their fertility.

In ICSI, a single sperm is injected directly into a mature egg to allow fertilization. This is done in the laboratory under a microscope and requires a very fine injection needle to inject the sperm into the egg.

Before ICSI treatment, the woman's eggs must be stimulated with hormones to produce several mature eggs. The eggs are then surgically removed and examined in the laboratory to ensure that they are ready to be fertilized.

ICSI is an effective treatment for severe male infertility where sperm quality or sperm count is severely impaired. ICSI can also be used in couples where other fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) have not been successful.

However, ICSI has its own risks and challenges. There is a small risk of complications during egg retrieval, and the treatment may place an emotional burden on the couple. Before deciding to undergo ICSI treatment, couples should carefully consider all the pros and cons and seek advice from an experienced reproductive medicine specialist.

Overall, ICSI is an advanced technology that has helped many couples fulfill their fertility and start a family.

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Embryo Glue

Embryo-Glue is a special gel used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to increase the chances of successful embryo implantation. The gel contains substances designed to improve adhesion between the embryo and the uterine lining.

During IVF or ICSI treatment, several embryos are usually created, only some of which are selected for implantation. The goal is to select the embryo with the best chance of successful implantation and transfer it to the uterus.

Embryo-Glue is usually applied to the uterus directly before implantation. The gel contains a mixture of hyaluronic acid, amino acids and other substances known to support adhesion between the embryo and the uterine lining.

Studies have shown that the use of Embryo-Glue can increase the implantation rate and increase the number of pregnancies. The gel may also be particularly useful for women with repeated implantation failures or poor embryo quality.

As with any fertility treatment, a thorough consultation with an experienced reproductive medicine specialist is essential. Embryo-Glue can be a promising option for couples who want to increase their chances of a successful pregnancy.

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Assisted Hatching

Hatching, also known as embryo hatching, is a procedure used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to increase the chances of successful embryo implantation. In this procedure, a small area of the embryo's outer layer, the zona pellucida, is selectively weakened or opened to make it easier for the developing embryo to break out of this shell and implant in the uterine lining. This technique is usually used in women who have had repeated unsuccessful implantation attempts or who have thickening of the zona pellucida.

There are different techniques of hatching, such as mechanical hatching by scratching the zona pellucida with a special needle or chemical hatching, where enzymes are used to soften the zona pellucida. Before the procedure, embryos are placed in an incubator in the laboratory to ensure a stable temperature and atmosphere. The use of hatching can increase the chances of a successful pregnancy and is an option for couples who have difficulty conceiving naturally. However, it is important that the procedure is only performed by experienced professionals to minimize the risk of complications.

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PICSI

PICSI (Physiological IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection) is a method in assisted reproduction used to improve sperm selection for fertilization. It involves placing sperm on special plates coated with a substance containing hyaluronic acid, which simulates the ability of sperm to bind to eggs. By observing the binding behavior of the sperm, high-quality sperm can be selected to be introduced into the egg by ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection). The use of PICSI can lead to a higher success rate in artificial insemination, especially for couples with poor sperm quality.

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IMSI

IMSI (Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection) is an advanced assisted reproduction technique that assesses sperm quality even more accurately than the conventional ICSI method. In this procedure, the sperm is viewed under a high-resolution microscope with up to 6000x magnification to detect and rule out possible morphological defects, such as abnormal shapes or anomalies. Based on this accurate assessment, only the best sperm morphologically can be selected for subsequent implantation into the egg. The use of IMSI can lead to a higher success rate in artificial insemination, especially for couples with poor sperm quality.

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Time-lapse

Time-lapse is a modern technology used in assisted reproduction that allows monitoring embryo growth in real time. In this process, a special incubation chamber is equipped with a camera that takes pictures of the embryo every few minutes. These images are then automatically compiled into a video showing the entire embryo development process. Continuous observation allows embryos to be selected that have the greatest potential for a successful pregnancy, as the embryo's development can be closely monitored. This can also reduce the number of embryos transferred to the uterus to minimize the risk of multiple pregnancies. Time-lapse is a promising method to increase the success rate of assisted reproduction while reducing the risk of complications.

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Blastocyst culture

Blastocyst culture is an advanced technique used in assisted reproduction to transfer embryos at a later stage of development. Normally, embryos are cultured for 2-3 days after fertilization and then transferred to the woman's uterus. However, in blastocyst culture, embryos are cultured for 5-6 days until they reach the state of a blastocyst. A blastocyst is an embryo that consists of about 100 cells and is already preparing for implantation in the uterus. The longer cultivation allows the quality of the embryo to be assessed more accurately, as only those embryos that develop well can reach the blastocyst stage.

Blastocyst culture offers several advantages, including a higher pregnancy rate and a lower likelihood of multiple pregnancies. The longer cultivation time also allows genetic testing to be performed to identify embryos with genetic abnormalities. Another advantage is that blastocyst culture usually involves transferring only one or two embryos into the uterus to minimize the risk of multiple pregnancies.

Blastocyst culture is a promising technique that can increase the success rate of assisted reproduction by allowing physicians to more accurately assess and select embryos. However, this technique is not suitable for all patients and must be discussed individually with the physician.